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PAST  AND  PRESENT 

OF 

JASPER  COUNTY 

IOWA 


GEN.  JAMES  B.  WEAVER 

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 


ILLUSTRATED 


VOLUME  I 


1912 
B.  F.  BOWEN  &  COMPANY 

INDIANAPOLIS.  INDIANA 


DEDICATION. 
This  work  is  respectfully  dedicated  to 

THE  PIONEERS, 

long  since  departed.    May  the  memory  of  those  who  laid  down  their  burdens 
by  the  wayside  ever  be   fragrant  as  the   breath  of   summer 
flowers,  for  their  toils  and  sacrifices  have  made 
Jasper   County  a   garden   of   sun- 
shine and  delights. 


■5137052 
V.  / 


PREFACE 


All  life  and  achievement  is  evolution;  present  wisdom  comes  from  past 
experience,  and  present  commercial  prosperity  has  come  only  from  past  exer- 
tion and  suffering.  The  deeds  and  motives  of  the  men  that  have  gone  before 
have  been  instrumental  in  shaping  the  destinies  of  later  communities  and 
states.  The  development  of  a  new  country  was  at  once  a  task  and  a  privi- 
lege. It  required  great  courage,  sacrifice  and  privation.  Compare  the  pres- 
ent conditicms  of  the  people  of  Jasper  ctmnty.  Iowa,  with  what  thev  were 
one  hundred  years  ago.  From  a  trackless  wilderness  and  virgin  land, 
it  has  come  to  be  a  center  of  prosperity  and  civilization,  with  millions  of 
wealth,  systems  of  railways,  grand  educational  institutions,  splendid  indus- 
tries and  immense  agricultural  and  mineral  productions.  Can  any  thinking 
person  be  insensible  to  the  fascination  of  the  study  which  discloses  the 
aspirations  and  efforts  of  the  early  pioneers  who  so  strongly  laid  the  founda- 
tion upon  which  has  been  reared  the  magnificent  prosperity  of  later  days? 
To  perpetuate  the  story  of  these  people  and  to  trace  and  record  the  social, 
political  and  industrial  progress  of  the  community  from  its  first  inception 
is  the  function  of  the  local  historian.  A  sincere  purpose  to  preserve  facts 
and  personal  memoirs  that  are  deserving  of  perpetuation,  and  which  unite 
the  present  to  the  past,  is  the  motive  for  the  present  publication.  The  work 
has  been  in  the  hands  of  able  writers.  Avho  have,  after  much  patient  study 
and  research,  produced  here  the  most  complete  biographical  memoirs  of 
Jasper  county.  Iowa,  ever  offered  to  the  jjublic.  A  specially  valuable  and 
interesting  department  is  that  one  devoted  to  the  sketches  of  representative 
citizens  of  this  county  whose  records  deserve  preservation  because  of  their 
worth,  effort  and  accomplishment.  The  publishers  desire  to  extend  their 
thanks  to  the  gentlemen  who  have  so  faithfully  labored  to  this  end.  Thanks 
are  also  due  to  the  citizens  of  Jasper  count\-  for  the  uniform  kindness  with 
which  they  have  regarded  this  undertaking  and  for  their  many  services  ren- 
dered in  the  gaining  of  necessary  information. 

In  placing  the  "Past  and  Present  of  Jasper  County.  Iowa,"  before  the 
citizens,  the  publishers  can  conscientiously  claim  that  they  have  carried  out 
the  plan  as  outlined  in  the  prospectus.  Eveiy  biographical  sketch  in  the 
work  has  been  submitted  to  the  party  interested,  for  correction,  and  therefore 
any  error  of  fact,  if  there  be  any,  is  solely  due  to  the  person  for  whom  the 
sketch  was  prepared.  Confident  that  our  effort  to  please  will  fully  meet  the 
approbation  of  the  public,  we  are, 

Respectfully. 

THE  PUBLISHERS. 


u 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER   I— Ix\TRODUCTORY 25 

Importance  of  General  and  Local  History — Jasper  County  Three  Score 
Years  Ago — Wonderful  Change  in  the  Scene. 

CHAPTER  II— NATURAL  FEATURES 27 

■  Geological  Characteristics — Soil — Land  Elevations — Streams  of  Jasper 
County — The  Native  Groves — Wonderful  Mirage  in  1859 — Coal  Mining 
Industry — Weather   Conditions  of  Jasper  County — Climatic   Changes. 

CHAPTER  III— CHANGE  FROM  INDIAN  TO  W^HITE  MAN'S  OCCUPANCY    37 
The  Iowa  Indians,  the  Sacs  and  Foxes — Indian  Treaties — Disputes  Between 
Iowa  Indians  and  the  Warlike  Sioux — Treaty  of  1825 — Government  Secures 
Indian    Lands — Removal    of   the    Indians — Indians    and    the    Whites — Some 
Well-known  Chiefs — Indian  Traders — The  Trail  Made  by  the  Dragoons. 

CHAPTER  IV— ORGANIZATION  OF  JASPER  COUNTY 44 

Original  Boundary  Lines — Organizing  Act  of  1846 — Organizing  Election — 
First  Officers — First  Meeting  of  County  Commissioners — Locating  the 
County  Seat — Dividing  the  County  into  Townships — Boundaries — Another 
Change  in  Township  Lines — Washington  Precinct — Government  Surveys — 
Dates  of  Township  Organizations. 

CHAPTER  V— EARLY  SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  COUNTY 54 

Adam  Tool  and  His  Companions — Mrs.  William  Highland,  the  First  Woman 
— Tool's  Tavern — Assessment  Roll  for  1847 — The  Hollanders  in  Jasper 
County — The  Pioneers — Wild  Game — First  Bad  Characters  in  this  County — 
First  Events  in  Jasper  County — First  Portable  Saw  Mill — Claim  Protection 
Societies — Going  to  Mill — Value  of  Bread — Some  Severe  Winters. 

CHAPTER  VI— COUNTY  GOVERNMENT 72 

County  Governmental  Changes — Acts  of  the  County  Commissioners — Taxa- 
ble Property  in  1849 — Acts  of  the  County  Judge — Proceedings  of  the  Board 
of  Supervisors — Drainage  of  the  Swamp  Lands — The  County  Held  Liable — 
The  County's  Finances — Abstracts  of  Tax  Books,  1910 — ^Jasper  County's 
Various  Court  Houses — First  County  Building — The  Second  Court  House — 
The  Present  Court  House — The  County  Jail — The  County  Home — Jasper 
County  Seal — Official  Directory,  1911 — New  Road  Drag  Law. 

CHAPTER  VII— COUNTY,  STATE  AND  NATIONAL  REPRESENTATION..     89 

Presidential  Vote — L'nited  States  Senators — Congressmen — Governors  of 
Iowa — State  Senators — Representatives — Early  County  Commissioners — Com- 


CONTENTS. 

„„.Mu„.i-  V  Icrks-County  J lulKes— Sheriff .-founty  Surveyors— Clerks  of 
the  District  Court— County  Attorneys— County  Treasurers— County  Record- 
crs-Countv  Coroners- County  Auditors-Prosecuting  Attorneys— Superin- 
tendents of'School— School  Fund  Commissioner— County  Supervisors— Town- 
ship Officers — Supervisors'  Districts. 

CHAPTER  VIII-AGRICULTURE,  HORTICULTURE,  STOCK  RAISING-—  100 
Jasper,  an  Advanced  County  in  One  of  the  Best  Agricultural   States  of  the 
Union— Agricultural     Census     for     1905— Yield    Per    Acre— Rainfall— Jasper 
County  Agricultural  Society— Official  Roster— Present  Officers— Prairie  City 
Agricultural  Society— Patrons  of  Husbandry. 

CHAPTER  IX-RAILROADS  AND  EARLY  TRANSPORTATION 109 

Importance  of  Railroads  in  Local  Development— First  Railroad  Project- 
Iowa  Land  Grants— Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific— Newton  &  Monroe 
Railroad— Iowa  Central  Railroad— Chicago  Great  Western  Railroad— Newton 
&  Northwestern  Railroad— Railroad  Mileage  of  County. 

CHAPTER  X— EDUCATIONAL  INTERESTS . 116 

Iowa  Public  School  System  the  Best— Early  Legislative  Acts— First  Subscrip- 
tion Schools — Early  School  Houses — School  Finances  Long  Ago — First 
Schools  in  Some  of  the  Townships — Newton  City  Schools — Occupations  of 
High  School  Graduates — Jasper  County  Schools  in  1870-76 — A  Model  School 
House — Jasper  County  Schools  in  1910 — School  Townships — Independent 
Village.  Town  and  City  Corporations — Rural  Independent  Corporations — 
Some  Statistics — Teachers'  Institutes — Wittemberg  Manual  Labor  College — 
Lynnville  Academy — Hazel  Dell  Academy — Its  Founder,  Prof.  Darius 
Thomas — Newton  Normal  College. 

CHAPTER  XI— NEWSPAPERS  OF  JASPER  COUNTY 143 

Potent  Influence  of  the  Press — First  Newspaper  in  Jasper  County — Newton 
Newspapers — The  Express — The  Journal — Jasper  County  Independent — Free 
Press — Newton  Herald — Newton  Daily  News — Newton  Record — Lynnville 
Star — Baxter  New  Era — Colfax  Tribune — Colfax  Clipper — Prairie  City  News 
— Monroe  Mirror — Kellogg  Enterprise. 

CHAPTER  XII— RELIGIOUS  HISTORY  OF  THE  COUNTY 152 

Religious  Convictions  of  the  Pioneers — First  Religious  Service  in  the  County 
— Present  Denominations  and  Memberships  in  the  County — Methodist  Epis- 
copal Societies— Newton  Methodist  Church— Tool's  Chapel — Methodist 
Churches  at  Ira,  Valeria,  Mingo,  Keilogg,  Rushville,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Reasnor, 
Colfax,  Clyde,  Fairmount,  Kilduff,  Prairie  City,  Lynnville— Methodist  Pro- 
testant Church — Newton  Free  Methodist  Church — Baptist  Churches  at  New- 
ton, Colfax,  Vandalia,  Metz,  Monroe— Presbyterian  Churches  at  Newton, 
Colfax— United  Presbyterian  Churches  at  Monroe,  Newton  and  the  Palo 
Alto  Church— United  Brethren — Congregational  Churches  at  Newton,  Prairie 
City,  Monroe,  Sully,  Newberg.  Wittemberg— Church  of  Christ  (Disciples)— 
Universalist  Church— Catholic  Churches  of  Jasper  County— Episcopal  Church 
—Mormon  Church—  Lutheran  Churches— German  Reformed  Church— Christ- 
ian Ueformed  Church— Society  of  Friends— Seventh-day  Adventist  Church- 
African   Methodist   Epixopal   Church— Young  Men's  Christian  Association. 


CONTENTS, 

CHAPTER  XIII— CIVIC  SOCIETIES  OF  THE  COUNTY 191 

Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons — Royal  Arch  Masons— Kpights  Templar 
— Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows — Patriarchs  MSilitant — Knights  of 
Pythias. 

CHAPTER  XIV— MILITARY  HISTORY  OF  THE  COUNTY 204 

President  Lincoln's  First  Call  for  Enlistments — Enthusiasm  in  Jasper  County 
— War  Meetings — Official  Action — Presentation  of  the  Havelocks — Volun- 
teer Roster  of  the  County— The  County's  Death  Roll — The  Jasper  Grays— 
Spanish-American  War — Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

CHAPTER  XV— BENCH  AND  BAR  OF  JASPER  COUNTY 229 

First  Term  of  Court  in  Jasper  County — Early  Judges — District  and  Circuit 
Courts — Jasper  County  Attorneys — The  Present  Bar. 

CHAPTER  XVI— MEDICAL  PROFESSION 248 

The  Early  "Saddle-bags"  Doctor — Wonderful  Advance  in  the  Science  of  Medi- 
cine— Physicians  of  Jasper  County — An  Honorable  List — Present  Practicmg 
Physicians — County  Medical  Societies. 

CHAPTER  XVII— BANKS  AND  BANKINGi 256 

Little  Early  Need  for  Banks — Prosperous  Times  of  the  Fifties — Specie  Pay- 
ment in  the  County — Panic  of  1857 — Newton's  Banks — Banking  at  Monroe, 
Reasnor,  Prairie  City,  Newburg,  Mingo,  Lynnville,  Baxter,  Ira,  Kellogg, 
Colfax — Bank  Failures — List  of  Present  Jasper  County  Banks. 

CHAPTER  XVIII— THE  CITY  OF  NEWTON . 269 

Beginning  of  the  City — Value  of  Town  Lots  in  1846 — Town  Plat  Surveyed — 
Early  Residents — Business  Enterprises  in  1860 — Activity  of  1875 — Subsequent 
Rapid  but  Steady  Growth — Manufacturing  Enterprises  in  1911 — Flouring 
Mills — Postoffice  History — Municipal  History — First  Town  Charter  Aban- 
doned— Fire  Department — Electric  Light  Plant — Water  Works — A  New  De- 
parture— City  Officials — Free  Public  Library — Union  Cemetery — Business 
Men's  Association. 

CHAPTER  XIX— BUENA  VISTA  TOWNSHIP 285 

Organization — Location — Concerning  the  Settlement— First  Events— Wild 
Turkeys — Village  of  Murphy — Village  of  Killduflf — Churches. 

CHAPTER   XX— FAIRVIEW   TOWNSHIP 290 

Boundaries— Organization — First  Settlement  in  Jasper  County — First  Events 
— Town  of  Monroe — Incorporation  History — Mayors — Present  Town  Offi- 
cers— Business  Directory — City  of  the  Dead — Postoffice  History — Village  of 
Fairmount — Fairview  Township  and  the  Civil  War — Veterans  Who  Re- 
enlisted. 

CHAPTER   XXI— MOUND    PRAIRIE   TOWNSHIP 300 

Location — Organization — Original  Land  Entries — Early  Settlers — First 
Events — Village   of  Metz — Village   of  Severs. 

CHAPTER  XXII— ROCK  CREEK  TOWNSHIP . 304 

Boundaries — Population — First  Land  Entries — Organization  and  First  Elec- 
tion— Fatal  Accidents — Valuations — Village  of  Turner. 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXIII— ELK  CREEK  TOWNSHIP —  306 

Situation— Organization— First  Entries  of  Government  Land— First  Religious 
Ser\'ice — Elections — Valuations— Village  of  Galesburg. 

CHAPTER  XXIV— MARIPOSA  TOWNSHIP 308 

Location  and  Organization— Land  Entries— Personal  Tax  Valuations— En- 
terprising Spirit 

CHAPTER    XXV— MALAKA    TOWNSHIP 309 

Largest  Township  in  the  County— Boundaries— Organization — Population — 
Land  Entries — A  Prairie  Township — Tax  Valuations. 

CHAPTER  XXVI— DES  MOINES  TOWNSHIP 310 

Area— Natural  Features — Population — Organization — Land  Entries — Elec- 
tions— Tax  Valuations — Towns  and  Villages — Prairie  City — A  Desirable  Lo- 
cation— Incorporation — Mayors — Local  Improvements — Postoffice  History — 
Business  Directory — Vandalia  Village. 

CHAPTER  XXVII— KELLOGG  TOWNSHIP 316 

Location — Population — Tax  Valuations — Town  of  Kellogg — Original  Platting 
— Early  Business  Enterprises — First  Events — Municipal  History — Business 
Factors  in  1911 — Postoffice — Fires. 

CHAPTER  XXVIII— INDEPENDENCE  TOWNSHIP  321 

Boundaries — Natural  Features — Organization — Tax  Valuations — A  Terrible 
Accident — Town  of  Baxter — Original  Plat — Mayors — Public  Improvements 
— Postoffice — Business  Directory — Village  of  Ira — Business  Interests — Post- 
office. 

CHAPTER  XXIX— HICKORY  GROVE  TOWNSHIP 325 

Area  and  Boundaries — Population — Unusual  Items  of  Interest — Assessed 
Valuations — Village  of  Newburg — Postoffice — Business  Interests. 

CHAPTER   XXX— LYNN    GROVE   TOWNSHIP 328 

One  of  the  Original  Civil  Precincts — Natural  Features — Tax  Valuations — 
Character  of  First  Pioneers — Early  Enterprises — Another  Early  Settlement 
Account — First  Events — Lynnville — Incorporation — Present  Business  Inter- 
ests— Postoffice — Village  of  Sully — Business  Directory — Public  Utilities — 
Postoffice. 

CHAPTER   XXXI— RICHLAND   TOWNSHIP 336 

Situation  and  Area — Natural  Featur.;s — Property  Valuation — A  Prosperous 
Farming  Community. 

CHAPTER  XXXII— POWESHIEK  TOWNSHIP 337 

Origin  of  Name— Situation— Natural  Features— Organization— First  Land 
Entries— Greencastle— Village  of  Mingo— Officials— Postoffice— Business  In- 
terests—Village of  Valeria— Commercial  Directory— Postoffice— Oswalt. 

CHAPTER  XXXIII— PALO  ALTO  TOWNSHIP 342 

Location  and  Area— Earliest  Land  Entries— Organization— The  Beginnings- 
First  Events— Interesting  Paragraphs— Town  of  Reasnor— Present  Business 
Interests — Postoffice  History. 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   XXXIV-NEWTON   TOWNSHIP...  34^ 

Organization-Boundaries-Natural  Features-Prpuirti"o"n-ETe7tio'ns-Tax" 
Valuations— Historical  Notes. 

CHAPTER    XXXV-WASHINGTON    TOWNSHIP  348 

Boundaries-Streams-Population-Organization  of  the"Towns"h7pl"at"y"of 
Colfax-Schools  and  Churches-First  Things-Medicinal  Waters-Munici- 
pal Crovernment— Incorporation— Mayors— Present  Officers— Fire  Depart- 
ment-Water Works-Postoffice-First  Important  Events-Business  In- 
terests. 

CHAPTER   XXXVI— SHERMAN   TOWNSHIP 357 

Location-Groyes-Streams-Early  Land  Entries-b7;inL7t7on-p7puTa" 
tion — Land  Valuations. 

CHAPTER  XXXVII-CLEAR  CREEK  TOWNSHIP 358 

Situation-Area-Streams-  Population  -  Elections-TaxableT- vinaie""of 
Clyde — A  Bad  Fire. 

CHAPTER   XXXVIII-MISCELLANEOUS    ITEMS  360 

Village  Plats  of  the  County-California  Gold  Seekers-Earl'y'stage'Ro'adl- 
Marnage  Record— Intoxicating  Liquors,  Prohibition,  Etc.— Unique  Temper- 
ance Election-Vote  on  the  Constitutional  Amendment-Local  Literature 
and  Authors-Total  Eclipse  of  1869-Pioneer  Woman  Called  "Good  Squaw" 
~r^^}%'^T^^]  ?""  Located  in  Jasper  County-The  Underground  Railroad 
-Old  Settlers  Society-Jasper  County's  First  Celebration-Population  Sta- 
tistics-Postoffices-Village  Plats  and  Population-Early-day  Mob  Law 
Spint-Jasper  County  Safe  Robbery-Overturning  of  a  Stage  Coach-Grand 
Jury  Incident— Ventriloquism— Valeria  Cyclone,  1896. 

CHAPTER  XXXIX-INTERESTING   REMINISCENCES....  403 

Great  Indian  Scare— Memorable  Winter  of  1848-9— Hard  Winter  of"l856-7— 
Reminiscences  of  the  Old  Court  House-A  Home  Coming-Early  Times  in 
Mound  Prairie— The  "Know  Nothing"  Political  Party 


HISTORICAL  INDEX 


A 

Acts   of   County   Commissioners 37 

Acts  of  County  Judge 75 

African  M.  E.  Church 189 

Agricultural  Societies 102 

An  Agricultural  County 100 

Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons 191 

Anti-slavery  Days 373 

Assessment   Roll  of  1847 59 

Attorneys  of  Jasper  County 232 

Auditors 95 

B 

Bad  Characters 64 

Bank  Failures 266 

Banks  and  Banking 256 

Baptist  Churches ,  164 

Baxter 322 

Baxter  Newspapers 148 

Bench    and    Bar   229 

Board    of    Supervisors 76 

Buena    Vista    Township    286 

Burton  &  Co.  Bank,  Kellogg 265 

Business    Men's   Association    283 

C 

California    Gold    Seekers 362 

Catholic    Churches    183 

Census  of  1910 377 

Census    Statistics 100 

Changes  in  Township  Lines 51 

Chicago  Great  Western   Railroad 114 

Chicago,      Rock     Island      &     Pacific 

Railroad    112 

Christian    Reformed   Church    186 

Church  of  Christ  l78 

Churches    152 

Circuit    Court    231 


Citizens'    State    Bank,    Colfax 265 

Citizens'   State    Bank,    Xewton 260 

Civic    Societies    191 

Claim    Protection    Societies   67 

Clark.   L.  D.,   Bank 260 

Clear   Creek  Township   358 

Clerks    of   District    Court 93 

Climatic    Changes    34 

Clyde    359 

Clyde    M.    E.    Church 161 

Coal    Mining    31 

Colfax    340 

Colfax   Business   Interests   353 

Colfax   Christian    Church    180 

Colfax  Fire  Department 352 

Colfax    M.    E.    Church 160 

Colfax  Municipal  Government 351 

Colfax    Newspapers    148 

Colfax    Officers    351 

Colfax  Postoffice  352 

Colfax   Presbyterian   Church 168 

Colfax    Water   Works   352 

Commissioners'    Clerks   92 

Congregational   Churches 173 

Congressmen   90 

Constitutional    Amendment,    Vote 366 

Coroners  95 

County  Attorneys   94 

County   Commissioners,  Acts  of 7Z 

County    Commissioners,    Early 92 

County  Commissioners,   First  Meet- 
ing    47 

County   Divided   50 

Count}'   Finances   78 

County  Government 72 

County  Home  86 

County  Jail   85 

County  Judge,  Acts  of 75 

County  Judges 92 

County   Medical   Societies 255 


HISTORICAL    INDEX. 


v.,„,u>    urticcrs.  1911 «^ 

County  Schools  in  1870 125 

County  Scat.  Locating •♦^ 

County  Supervisors 96 

County  Treasurers 94 

County's  War  Death-roll —1 

Court.  F\t>1  Term  of 229 

Court  House  Reminiscences 40/ 

Court  Houses 80 

Cyclone  at  Valeria 399 

D 

l)ai!y  Newspapers I'^S 

Des  Moines  Township 310 

Disciples  Church  178 

Division  of  County SO 

Doctors,  Early 248 

Drag  Law 87 

Drainage  of  Swamp  Lands 77 

E 

Early  County  Commissioners 92 

Early-day  Mob  Spirit 379 

Early  Judges 229 

Early  Physicians 248 

Early  School  Finances 119 

Early  School  Houses 118 

Early  Settlement 54 

Early  Stage  Roads 362 

Early  Times 411 

Eclipse  of  1869 369 

Educational  Interests 116 

Election,  Organizing ; 47 

Elevation  of  Land 27 

Elk  Creek  Township 306 

Episcopal  Church 183 

F 

Fairniount 296 

Fairmount  M.  E.  Church 161 

Fairvicw  Township 296 

Fairvifw    Township    and    the    Civil 

War 296 

Farm  Stai  us  101 

Farmers'  S     mgs  Bank,  Ira 265 

Fifth  Infantry  210 

Fifth  Veteran  Cavalry  __ 218 

Fifty-first  Regiment 225 


Fifty-second  Regiment 226 

Finances  of  County  78 

First  Court  House 80 

First  Death 65 

First  Events  in  Jasper  County 65 

First  Mill 66 

First  National  Bank,  Colfax 266 

First  National  Bank,  Monroe 261 

First  National  Bank,  Newton 261 

First  National  Bank,  Prairie  City 263 

First  Newspaper 143 

First  Portable  Saw-mill 67 

First  Railroad    Project 109 

First  School  House 118 

First  Schools 119 

First  Term  of  Court 229 

First  Wedding 65 

First  W^hite  Child 65 

First  Woman  Here 56 

Fortieth  Infantry 216 

Forty-fifth  Infantry 217 

Forty-ninth  Regiment 224 

Fourteenth  Infantry 213 

Fourth  Cavalry 218 

Foxes  37 

Free  Methodist  Church 164 

Friends  Society 188 

G 

Galesburg 307 

German  Reformed  Church 185 

Going  to  Mill 69 

Gold  Seekers 362 

Good  Squaw 370 

Government  Surveys 52 

Governors 90 

Grand  Army  of  the  Republic 226 

Grand  Jury  Incident 398 

Grange 106 

Great  Indian  Scare 403 

Green,  John,  Chief 41 

Greencastle 338 

Groves  29 

H 

Hard  Winter  of  1856-7     407 

Hazel  Dell  Academy 135 

Hickory  Grove  Township 325 

Highland,  Mrs.  William 56 


HISTORICAL   INDEX. 


Hollanders    in   Jasper    County 60 

Home  Coming 410 

I 

Independence  Township 321 

Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 196 

Independent  School  Corporations —  127 

Indian  Occupancy 37 

Indian  Scare 403 

Indian  Traders 41 

Indian  Treaties 38 

Indians  and  Whites 39 

Interesting  Reminiscences 403 

Intoxicating  Liquors 365 

Introductory 25 

Iowa  Central  Railroad 114 

Iowa  Land  Grants 110 

lowas 37 

Ira 324 

Ira  M.  E.  Church 157 

J 

Jail 85 

Jasper  County  Agricultural  Society--  102 

Jasper  County  Attorneys 232 

Jasper  County  Banks 267 

Jasper  County  Medical  Society 255 

Jasper  County  Organized 44 

Jasper   County   Population 377 

Jasper  County  Postofifices 379 

Jasper  County  Safe  Robbery 383 

Jasper  County  Savings  Bank 260 

Jasper  County  Seal 87 

Jasper  County  Streams 27 

Jasper  Grays 223 

Jasper's  First  Celebration 375 

Jasper's  Original  Boundary 44 

Judges 92 

Judges,  Early ^ 229 

K 

Kellogg   316 

Kellogg  Christian  Church 180 

Kellogg  Lutheran  Church 184 

Kellogg  M.  E.  Church 158 

Kellogg  Newspapers 150 

Kellogg  Township 316 

Killduff . 288 


KilldufT  M.  E.  Church 161 

Knights  of  Pythias 201 

Knights  Templar 193 

Know-nothing  Party 414 

L 

Land    Elevation 27 

Land  Grants HO 

Library,  Newton 281 

Local  Authors 367 

Local  Literature 367 

Locating  County  Seat 48 

Lutheran  Church 184 

Lynch  Law 379 

Lynn  Grove  Township 328 

Lynnville 331 

Lynnville  Academy 135 

Lynnville  M.  E.  Church 162 

Lynnville  Newspapers 147 

M 

Macy  Brothers'  Bank,  Lynnville 264 

Malaka  Township 309 

Mariposa  Township 308 

Marriage  Record 363 

Masonic  Order 191 

Medical  Profession 248 

Medical  Society 255 

Memorable  Winter  of  1848-9 406 

Meteorological  Reports 33 

Methodist  Episcopal  Churches 153 

Methodist  Protestant  Church 163 

Metz 303 

Metz  Baptist  Church 167 

Military  History  of  County 204 

Mingo . 339 

Mingo  M.  E.  Church 157 

Mingo  Trust  &  Savings  Bank 264 

Mining 31 

Mirage 30 

Miscellaneous  Commands 219 

Miscellaneous  Items 360 

Mob  Law  Spirit 379 

Model  School  House 125 

Monroe 291 

Monroe  Baptist  Church 167 

Monroe  City,  State  Capital 371 

Monroe  Congregational  Church 175 

Monroe  Newspapers 150 


HISTORICAL   INDflX. 


Monroe  Savint;>  Uaiik  -- -^1 

Mormon  Church —  ^84 

Mound  Prairie,  Early  Times 411 

Mound  Prairie  Township 300 

Mt.  Pleasant  M.  E.  Church 159 

Murphy 288 

N 

Xative  Groves 29 

Natural  Features -' 

Newburg •'^^ 

Ncwburg  Congregational  Church 176 

Newspapers  of  Jasper  County 143 

Newton 269 

Newton  &  Monroe  Railroad 112 

Newton  &  Northwe>tern  Railroad —   114 

Newton  Banks 260 

Newton  Baptist  Church 164 

Newton  Business  in  1866 272 

Newton  Business  in  1911 273 

Newton   Business  Men's  Ass'n 283 

Newton  City  Officials 280 

Newton  City    Schools 121 

Newton  Congressional  Church 173 

Newton  Daily  News 147 

Newton  Disciples  Church 179 

Newton  Electric  Light  Plant 279 

Newton  Fire  Department 278 

Newton.  First  Buildings 270 

Newton.  First  Events 271 

Newton  Flouring  Mills 274 

Newton  Herald 146 

Newton  Lutheran  Church 185 

Newton  Methodist  Church 155 

Newton  Municipal  History 276 

Newton  Newspapers 144 

Newton  Normal  College 141 

Newton.  Original   Plat 270 

Newton   Postoffice 275 

Newton  Presbyterian  Church 168 

Newton  Public  Library 281 

Newton  Record 147 

Newton  Savings  Bank 261 

Newton  Surveyed 270 

Newton  Town  Lots 269 

Newton  Township 346 

Newton  L'.  P.  Church 172 

Newton  Water  Works 279 

Nintii  <avalry 219 

Normal  <'ollege 141 


O 

Occupations  of  Students 124 

Odd  Fellows 196 

Officers  of  County,  1911 87 

Officers  of  Townships 98 

Old  Settlers'  Society 375 

Organization  of  Jasper  County 44 

Organization  of  Townships 52 

Organizing   Election 47 

Oswalt 341 

P 

Palo  Alto  Presbyterian  Church 169 

Palo  Alto  Township 342 

Panic   of   1857 258 

Patriarchs  Militant 197 

Patrons  of  Husbandry 106 

People's  State  Bank,  Baxter 265 

Physicians,  Early 248 

Physicians,  Present 255 

Population    377 

Postoffices  of  Jasper  County 379 

Poweshiek 40 

Poweshiek  Township 337 

Prairie  City 311 

Prairie  City  Agricultural  Society 105 

Prairie  City  Congregational  Church —  174 

Prairie  City  Disciples  Church 181 

Prairie  City  M.  E.  Church 161 

Prairie  City  States  Bank 263 

Presbyterian  Churches 168 

Present  Bar  __ _ 247 

Present  Court  House 83 

Present  Physicians 255 

Presidential  Vote 89 

Press  of  Jasper  County 143 

Prohibition 365 

Prosecuting  Attorneys 96 

Prosperous  Times  of  Fifties 256 

R 

Railroad,  First 109 

Railroad  Mileage 115 

Rainfall 102 

Reaper  Accident 321 

Reasnor 344 

Reasnor  M.  E.  Church 160 

Recorders    94 


HISTORICAL   INDEX. 


Reformed   Church   186 

Religious  History  of  County 152 

Reminiscences 403 

Reminiscences,  Old  Court  House 407 

Representatives 91 

Richland  Township ^ 336 

Road  Drag  Law 87 

Rock  Creek  Township  __ 304 

Royal  Arch  Masons 192 

Rural  School  Corporations 127 

Rushville  M.  E.  Church 159 


Sacs 37 

Safe  Robbery,  1868 383 

Savings  Bank  of  Newburg 263 

School    Corporations 127 

School  Finances,  Early 119 

School  Fund  Commissioners 96 

School  Houses,   Early 118 

School   Laws 117 

School  Statistics 128 

School  Townships 126 

Schools  in  1870 125 

Seal  of  County 87 

Second  Court  House 81 

Senators,  State 91 

Senators,  U.  S. 90 

Seventh  Cavalry 218 

Seventh-day  Adventist  Church 189 

Severs 303 

Sheriffs    92 

Sherman  Township 356 

Society  of  Friends 188 

Spanish-American  War 223 

Specie  Payment 257 

State  Capital  in  Jasper 371 

Stage  Roads,  Early 362 

State  Savings   Bank,   Baxter 264 

State  Savings  Bank,  Monroe 262 

State  Senators 91 

Streams  of  Jasper  County 27 

Sully 333 

Sully  Congregational  Church 175 

Superintendents  of  Schools 96 

Supervisors Id,  96 

Supervisors'  Districts 99 

Surveyors   93 


Surveys,  Government 52 

Swamp  Lands,  Drainage  of 11 

T 

Tax   Books,   1910 79 

Teachers'  Institutes 129 

Temperance  Election,  Unique 365 

Temperatures 33 

Tenth  Infantry 211 

The  Hamlin  Affair 380 

The  Havelocks 309 

The  Pioneers 61 

Third  Infantry 210 

Thirteenth  Infantry 212 

Thirty-seventh  Infantry 216 

Thomas,   Darius 135 

Tool,  Adam 54 

Tool's  Chapel 156 

Tool's  Tavern 57 

Total  Eclipse  of  1869 369 

Township  Line  Changes' 51 

Township  Officers  __" 98 

Township  Organizations 52 

Townships  Laid  Oflf 50 

Trail  of  Dragoons 42 

Treasurers,  County 94 

Treaties  with  Indians 38 

Turner 305 

Twenty-eighth  Infantry 215 

Twenty-second  Infantry 213 

Twenty-third  Infantry 214 

u 

Underground  Railroad 373 

Union  Cemetery 282 

Unique  Temperance  Election 365 

United  Brethren  Church 172 

United  Presbyterian  Churches 169 

United  States  Senators 90 

Universalist  Church 182 

V 

Valeria 340 

Valeria  Cyclone , 399 

Valeria  M.  E.  Church 157 

Value  of  Bread 69 

Vandalia    314 


HISTORICAL    INDEX. 


Vandalia  Baptist  Church 166 

Ventriloquism   398 

Village  Plats,  1900 379 

Village  Plats  of  the  County 360 

Volunteer  Roster  of  County 210 

Volunteering  for  War 206 

Vote  on  Constitutional  Amendment-.  366 

W 

War  Death-roll 221 

War  Mass  Meetings 206 

Washington  Precinct 52 

Washington  Township 339 


Weather  Conditions 33 

Wild  Game 62 

Wild  Turkeys 288 

Winter  of  1848-9 406 

Winter  of  1856-7 407 

Wittemberg  Congregational  Church.  177 

Wittemberg  Manual  Labor  College 129 

Wolf  Hunting 62 

Wonderful  Mirage 30 

Y 

Yield,  per  acre,  Farms 101 

Young  Men's  Christian  Association..  189 


BIOGRAPHICAL  INDEX 


A 

Adamson,    Abraham 800 

Adamson,    William 485 

Adkains,   Merit  W.   1299 

Adkins,  Martin 1062 

Agar,  H.  W.  813 

Allan,    Fred ' 1077 

Allan,    John 1140 

Allen,  George  M. 512 

Allfree,  Henry  I. 927 

Altemeier,   Edward   C. • 899 

Altemeier,   William   J.    837 

Anderson,  Hans  P. 1008 

Andreas,  Fred  C,  Jr. 690 

Arnold,  Rev.  Joseph 663 

Arnold,  Raford  L. 670 

Auten,  A.   C.  607 

Awtry,    Emmet 428 

B 

Bailey,   R.    H.   490 

Bailey,    William   E.   1237 

Bain,    Fred 1293 

Baker,  Albert  I. — —  510 

Baker,  B.  F. 1296 

Bale,  Leo  P. 1230 

Barbee,  Christopher  C.  1134 

Barbee,    J.    Clifford 1348 

Bateman,  Mark  W. 864 

Battels,    Beriah 519 

Battles,  Ephraim  C. 1312 

Bean,    Eugene 990 

Beard,  E.  J.  H. 448 

Benson,  Arthur  H.  1297 

Benson,  Willard  H.  1065 

Berry,  Albert  D.  1093 

Bishop,  Charles  S. 1304 

Black,  Isaiah  W. 736 


Blackledge,    Virgil 1171 

Blakely,  Z.  W. 487 

Blanford,  George  W.  '^77 

Bond,    Reece 1036 

Bond,   Richard   E.   1037 

Bond,    William 846 

Booth,  Judson  S. 1284 

Borts,  Eli   W.  1340 

Boyd,  William  M. 514 

Boyle,  James 1074 

Braley,   Claude  A.   1068 

Brantner,  Jacob  A.  1287 

Bridges,  Charles  H.   602 

Brokaw,  Andrew  J. 460 

Brown,  Rev.  Elijah  S. 888 

Brown,   James   M.   1020 

Brown,  John   S.   1027 

Brown,    Matthew 1311 

Buhrow,  Christian  W. 850 

Bump,   Benjamin  L.  1256 

Burdick,    Charles 1225 

Burkey,   Peter 1172 

Burnham,  Joseph  A. 885 

Burroughs,  William  H. 1047 

Butler,  George  C. 1241 

Butler,  Joseph  L. 648 

Byal,    Henry 1113 

Byal,   William   J.   1166 

C 

Callison,  Erville  T. 1300 

Campbell,  Abner   B.   : 1355 

Campbell,  Ira  A. 1335 

Campbell,  William  M. 1127 

Campbell,    Willis 1 120 

Cams,  Isaiah  B. 503 

Carpenter,   Frank 938 

Carpenter,  Oscar  O. 1290 

Carrier,  Abram 979 


BIOGRAPHICAL    INDEX. 


Carson,    Mrs.    Bruce 1023 

Carver,    Benjamin 1231 

Castner.    George 1262 

Caulfield.    Thomas 1206 

Chambers,    Preston 872 

Chapman,  Albert  S.  442 

Christenson,    Fred 1308 

Church,  David  W. 896 

Churchill,  Howell  L.  1178 

Churchill,  Levi  M. 908 

Clark,   Lyman   C.   737 

Claussen,    John 939 

Clements,  William  G. 421 

Cleverley,   Frank  E.   1116 

Cline,  Charles  C.  866 

Coakley,  John 567 

Coffey,  F.  J. 935 

Colfax,    Hotel 667 

Connelly,  Charles  H.  1358 

Connelly,  Fred  D. 1163 

Conwell,    Carlos 1180 

Conwell,  Orville  E. 1277 

Cool,  Frank  C.  1102 

Cool,  Melville  J. 1122 

Cool,  Peter  J. 1215 

Cooper,   William   R.   549 

Couch,    Frank 1346 

Cozad,   Felix  W.   629 

Craig,  William  A. 834 

Craven,  David  H. 898 

Crawford,  John  H.  1090 

Crawford,  W.  J. 1156 

Cross,    Jesse 1086 

Cushatt,  John   W.   1351 

Custer,  Charles  R. 956 

Custer,  John  W. 957 

D 

Dales,    William 1 687 

Davidson,  R.   P.  1223 

Dawson,   Isaac  M. 1161 

DeBolt,  Joseph 644 

DeBruyn,   Frank    K.   853 

DeBruyn,  William  C. 1072 

Decatur,    Samuel 738 

Dejong,  John  J. 1273 

Dennis,  C.  D. 565 

Dennis.  W.  L. 445 

Denniston,  W.  E. 447 


Densmore,  Frank  W. 1352 

DePenning,    Peter 1056 

Deppe,   Benjamin  F. 1144 

Deppe,   William   A.   1139 

Diehl,    George 1150 

Dodd,  Charles  E. 1333 

Dodd,    Dennis 1275 

Dodd,  Frank  J. 1255 

Dodd,    Fred 1181 

Dodd,  Samuel  P. 1109 

Dodd,    Ulysses 1331 

Dodd,    Warren 1258 

Donahue,  James  P. 667 

Dotson,  Eli  E. 464 

Duncan,  E.  L. 798 

E 

Earley,  Carrie  L. 563 

Earley,  George  G. 560 

Earp,   Walter  M.  121 

Eastman,  James 582 

Eaton,  Frederick  A. 941 

Edmundson,  David 585 

Edwards,  John  W. 1186 

Efnor,  Henry  S. 605 

Efnor,  Oscar  E. 1003 

Emery,  John   M. 492 

Engle,    Perry 425 

Esmeyer,   Barney 828 

Evans,    George 742 

Evans,  Mrs.  Joanna  V.  741 

Eyerly,  Josiah  B. 688 

F 

Failor,    Samuel 1011 

Fales,  John  M. 544 

Feldschneider,  Frederick  S. 1362 

Finch,   David 613 

Flanagan,  Owen  J.   1301 

Fleck,  David  S. 1197 

Fowler,   L.   E.   1208 

Forsyth,  Allen  W. 1038 

France,  William  H. 960 

French,  Andrew 988 

Frizzell,  Walter  E.  923 

Fugard,  Judson  H.  430 

Fugard,  Noble  J. 608 

Fuller,   Oliver  B.   1334 


BIOGRAPHICAL    INDEX. 


G 

Galusha,  Simeon  H.  452 

Gates,  Alvin  C. 508 

Gates,  Margaret  I. 848 

Gates,  Sumner  E.  848 

Gauch,    August 1133 

Gearhart,   Herley  G.  830 

Gearhart,  William  H. 854 

Geise,   Adolph 1106 

Geise,   H.   A.    1176 

Gibford,  Daniel  L. 541 

Gillespie,  A.  D. 964 

Gillespie,  Elmer  L.  934 

Gilson,   Benjamin   S.  638 

Gipson,  Albert  A.   1242 

Gipson,  Alfred  D.  1244 

Gipson,   George   H.   1246 

Goodhue,   Edward  P.   554 

Goodhue,  George  C. 1216 

Goodwin,  Edwin  J. 1146 

Gorrell,  Joseph  R. 111 

Gove,  William  S. 435 

Greenlief,  Charles  E.  683 

Greenlief,   Leonard  A.   578 

Guessford,  W.  M. 463 

Guthrie,  A.  T. 932 


H 


Hager,    August 1124 

Hager,    Fred 1317 

Hager,   Gustav  A.   1165 

Haines,  Edwin  S. 790 

Haley,    Daniel 1269 

Hall,  A.  W.  604 

Hallam,  Eathel  L. 1303 

Hamilton,   William   F.   1111 

Mummer,  Marion  R. 529 

Hampton,   Russell   R.   1155 

Hanke,    Dallas 1006 

Hans,   George  A.   1016 

Hanson,  George  E. 1211 

Harding,  J.  P. 1201 

Harmon,  L.  T. 654 

Harre,   Otto : 1341 

Hart,  George  C. 456 

Harvey.  John  H.,  Sr. 660 

Hasselbrink,    Christoph 845 

Hawkins,  J.   C. 637 


Hayes,   Andrew  J. 711 

Helming,    Thomas 1078 

Hendricks,  Fred 697 

Hendricks,    George 696 

Henry,    Ebenczer   W.   949 

Herwehe,    Henry 943 

Herwehe,    Jacob 1193 

Hews,   George 704 

Hews,   John 588 

Hiatt,  John   M. 580 

Hickey,    James 953 

Hickman,  George  W.,  Jr. 479 

Highley,  Alva  A. 723 

Hill,    Bert 1286 

Hill,  Charles   E.  1067 

Hill,  Philip  S. 1083 

Hill,    William    E.    619 

Hitchler,  George  W. 887 

Hodges,    Pleasant 1220 

Holdsworth,    William    H.    1043 

Holtz,   John   S.   651 

Horn,  Joe 426 

Horsford,  John  G. 747 

Hotchkin,    John 783 

Howard,   Andrew   H.   642 

Hummel,  James  M. 841 

Hummel,  John   P.   973 

Hut  son,    Lawrence 1239 

I 

Irwin,  Emmor  E. 666 

J 

Jeffers,  Thomas  J. 1138 

Jeffries,  Arthur  W. 109<^ 

Jennings,   Charles   H.   598 

Jennings,   W.   E. 876 

Jensen,  Herman   H. 847 

Jensnia,   Andrew   D.   901 

Jensma,  Sicco  J. 1055 

Jickling.  John  D. 1142 

Jickling,  William  R. 822 

Johnson,    Albert 826 

Johnson,  Jervis  C. 858 

Johnson,  W.  S. 972 

Jones,  John  N. 1203 

Jones,  Loyd  D. 92S 

Jones,  Thomas  M. 909 


BIOGRAPHICAL    INDEX. 


K 

Kanne,  Frederick  A. 1084 

Kanne,  Levi  H. 1169 

Kartchner,  John  C. 1152 

Kelley,  Thomas   F. 1190 

Kelly,    Jeremiah 819 

Kelly,    John 734 

Kelton,  George  B. 1061 

Kennington,  John  M. 518 

Kennington,  L.  S. 516 

Kimberley,    Frank 1148 

Kimberley,    William 1126 

Kintz,  Charles  E. 1325 

Kintz,   Commodore   P. 1319 

Kintz,  Oley  A.  1294 

Kitchel,  Ed  M. 1330 

Kitchel,  Warren  A. 1022 

Kitchin,   Mrs.    Sarah 978 

Kline,  William  M. 1205 

Kling.    Philip 659 

Kling,  William   G. 1250 

Kling.  William  J. 1014 

Klopping,  Henry  W.   871 

Klyn,    William 1196 

Kooistra,   Herman  W. 836 

Kooistra,    John 1364 

Korf,  H.  C.  536 

Krampe,    August 1153 

Kroh,  Henry  L. 816 

Krueger,    Henry 1249 

Krueger,    Theodore 1248 

Krueger,    William 1248 


Lamb,    Richard 474 

Lanil..Tt,  Elliott  E. 438 

Lamphier.    Daniel 786 

Landmesser,    Nicholas 702 

Lane.    George 1354 

Lawrence,  Avery  T. 824 

Lee,    James 1009 

Lenz,    Carl 1069 

Leonard,  Joseph  A. 1328 

Lewis,  Martin  L. 657 

Libolt,   Hiram  C.  748 

Lindsley,   H.  A.   1253 

Lister,    Alfred 856 

Lister,   Arthur 505 


Lister,    James 501 

Livingston,    Arch 907 

Livingston,  William  O. 902 

Loar,  George  W. 1360 

Logsdon,   Franklin    G.    1101 

Logsdon,  Smith   C. 1252 

Long,    Frank 1092 

Long,    George 1324 

Longley,    Lyman  A.   808 

Lotts,  William  M. 571 

Loupee,  W.   F.  930 

Lufkin,  Albert 646 

Lufkin,    Benjamin 1075 

Lunt,   Moses   B.   1049 

Lust,   Alfred   T.   715 

Lust,   Elmer 1001 

Lust.  John   W.   713 

Mc 

McCann,  Rev.  Thomas  J. 557 

McConkey,  Charles  C. 458 

McCord,  Milton  A. 471 

McElroy,  W.  O. 496 

Mclntire,   Charles   E.   1259 

McKinney,   William    B.   912 

McLaughlin,   E.   M.  S.  624 

McLellan,  Belding  R. 679 

McVay,   Warren ^ 600 

M 

Macmillan,  Albert  S.   1004 

Macy,  Charles  O. 879 

Macy,  E.  B. 921 

Maggard,    George  A.    1214 

Maggard,  Henry  H. 1315 

Malmberg,  Ed  P. 720 

Mark,   Frances  A.   1302 

Mark.    Samuel 1302 

Marshall,   George  F. 904 

Marshall,  William  J. 895 

Mason,  George  E. 1247 

Matteson,   Frank  E.   1270 

Mendenhall,  E.  P. ,.__  976 

Meredith,    Harlan 962 

Meredith,  Oliver  C. 780 

Meyer,  A.  C. 1344 

Meyer,  John  F. 840 

Miller,   August   G.   4  843 


BIOGRAPHICAI.  INDEX. 


Miller,    George   W.    857 

Miller,  Robert 1357 

Miller,  William  J.   1136 

Millgate,    George 1050 

Moore,  Barrett  E. 551 

Morgan,   Charles  H. 811 

Morgan,  V.   H. 523 

Morgan,  Walter  J. 475 

Morris,    Robert    M.   882 

Morrison,  Arthur  S.   829 

Morrison,  H.  S.  621 

Moss,    John 500 

Mowry,  Ross  R. 432 

Murdock,  William  S.  861 

Murphy,  J.   W. 924 

Myers,  Oliver  P.   040 

N 

Newcomer,    John 1 168 

Newell,  Clifton  D. 1307 

Newell,  George  W. 832 

Newell,  Herbert  E. 672 

Newell,   S.   H.   863 

Newton,  George  W.  441 

Nichols,  Miss  Hannah 656 

Nirk,  W.  C. 805 

Noah,   Calvin 1080 

Noah,  Henry 1174 

Nolin,    Cyrus 958 

Nolin,  William  H. 591 

Norton,   C.  P.   1194 

O 

Ogg,  Mason  C. 891 

Oldham,  James  A. 920 

Ortwig,  Charley  B. 791 

Owings,  J.   B.   528 

P 

Pahre,    Henry   F.   700 

Parmenter,  George  D. 673 

Parsons,  Hess  D. 1280 

Pashan,   Charles 1298 

Patterson,    John 919 

Paul,  John  S. 1104 

Paul,    William 851 

Pease,   George   H.   1226 


Pendleton,    Logan 730 

Penquite,   Maynard  E.  635 

Pentico,  Peter  P. 1040 

Perin,  George  A.  1123 

Perrin,    Henry    A. 954 

Perry,   Harrison   W.   1160 

Phelan,    Daniel 1034 

Phillips,  Thomas   R.  495 

Phipps,  P'elix  L. 1070 

Pierce,   George  P.   823 

Poage,  James   R.  1129 

Porter,   Harry  W.   915 

Porvin,  William  C. 472 

Potter,   Rev.  John   792 

Price,  Frederick  O. 1158 

Q 

Quire,  Charles  E. 1053 

R 

Ramsey,   E.    B.   525 

Reckler,    Frederick  A.    677 

Reed,   Albert    H.    538 

Rees,  Spencer  H. 633 

Reid,  Lewis  D. 653 

Reynolds,    Hayden 558 

Reynolds,  John  W. 573 

Reynolds,    Victor 968 

Richardson,    Fred 799 

Rippey,    Francis   J. , 1236 

Rippey,  William  F. 1264 

Robb,  Wilson  M. 985 

Robinson,    Ralph 465 

Rodgers,  Joseph  R. 592 

Rohrdanz,    Fred 709 

Romans,  Bert  A.  694 

Rorabaugh,   Frederick  O. 910 

Rorabaugh,   John   M.   911 

Ross,   Charles  F.  944 

Ross,  Frank  B. 1349 

Rush,    Melvin 906 

Ryan,   Rev.  James  E. 583 

S 

Saak,   Herman,  Jr. 1108 

Saak.    Louie 1175 

Sacred  Heart  Church 557 


BIOGRAPHICAL   INDEX. 


Sanderson,    Benjamin 884 

Saut-rnian.  Charles  F. 631 

Saunders,  Charles  H. 1000 

Schmitt,    Henry 743 

Schmitt,    Jacob 74U 

Schnell,  John  W. 812 

Schnell,  Louis  C. 1279 

Schnug,  Henry  P. 685 

Schultz,  Lewis  F. 994 

Schultz,  William  C.  H. 724 

Schultze,    William 699 

Schumann,  August  C. 892 

Schweinebart,   Frederick  S.   1342 

Scott,  Hugh 443 

Scott,  Robert  A.   576 

Scoville,  Charlie  B. 969 

Sellman,  Frank 491 

Shaffer,  Tobias 499 

Sharp,   Henry   D.   803 

Shaw,  Samuel   W. 965 

Sherbon,  Florence  B. 681 

Sherbon,  John    B.   681 

Sherman,  John  H.  749 

Signs,  J.  Emery 1199 

Signs,  John   W.   1327 

Signs,    Lee 1098 

Silwold,    Henry 470 

Simpson,    John 874 

Simpson,   George  W.   616 

Sitler,  Joseph   R.   626 

Skinner,  Herbert  K. 1024 

Slaght,    Nellie 454 

Slavens,   Jesse . 575 

Sloanaker,    Chester 534 

Small,  George  A. 1096 

Smith,    Alexander 732 

Smith,  1.  S. 797 

Smith,    John 675 

Smith,    Thomas,   Jr.    476 

Snider,    Amos 1184 

Southern,  John  W. 1337 

Sparks,  Jerry  W. 835 

Sparks,  John  H. 936 

Sparks,  Stephen  J. 868 

Stark,    James • 1032 

Starr,    Benson 728 

Stevens,  Squire  W. __1243 

Stewart,  Robert  N. 1200 

Stinson,    Thomas 1210 

Stolte,    Louis 784 


Strain,  David  W.  -—  744 

Stratton,  Joseph  T. 1119 

Streeter,  Thomas  A. .1266 

Sullons,  William  F. -1058 

Sumpter,  William   H.,  Jr.   1204 

Swalwell,  Jay   B.   1183 

Swalwell,   Thomas 1288 

Swearingen,    Frank  W.    788 

Swigart,   George  W. 1030 

Sylvester,   Lanham   T.   1052 

T 

Talbot,   Warren   N.  1028 

Terpstra,   Dow    W.   992 

Terpstra,  Harry  D. 692 

Terpstra,   Watson  V.  707 

Tharp,  John  W. 880 

Thomas,  H.  A. 669 

Thompson,  Clarence  E. 1188 

Thompson,  John  W. 1321 

Thorp,  W.  T.  1081 

Tice,    Madison 488 

Tice,    William    M.    1278 

Tiffany,    Carl 1314 

Tiffany,  Fremont  L. 1261 

Tiffany,    Ray 1309 

Tipton,  David  G.  1117 

Tool,  John  H. 714 

Tool,  Quinn  H. 987 

Tough,   James 795 

Tramel,  Frank  W. 1228 

Tramel,  James  J. 1114 

Tramel,   Walter  O.   1338 

Tramel,    William 1095 

Tramel,  W^illiam  A. : 1191 

Trease,  Joseph  S. 1066 

Trussel,    James 1221 

Turnbull,   William    M.    1046 

Turner,  Alice  B.  S. 483 

Turner,  James  K. 610 

Turner,  Josiah  P. 595 

Turner,  Lewis  C.  S. 480 

Turner,    Marce 735 

Turner,   Mrs.   Mary  C.   P. 806 

Turner,    O.   J.    1088 

V 

Vance,    Gershom    916 

Vandermast,  John  966 


BIOGRAPHICAL    INDEX. 


Vandike,  W.   R.  1232 

Van  Epps,  Harmon  V. 946 

Van  Kampen,  Jacob,  Jr.  1283 

Vanscoy,    Milton 1015 

Vansice,  John  M. 1272 

Varenkamp,  John   M. 1044 

Veach,  James  T. 1218 

Victoria    Sanatorium 681 

W 

Walker,  George  W. 831 

Waring,  Emal  L. 975 

Warner,   G.  H.  650 

Watt,    William 817 

Weaver,  Jacob  F. 570 

Weaver,  Gen.  James  B. 417 

Welle,    Henry 745 

Wells,  John  P. 1235 

Wells,   L.  A.  587 

Wendt,    August 478 

Westfall,   Lee   C.   820 

Wheatcraft,    John 815 

Wheeler,  Orville  A.  860 

Wheeler,  Vernon  S.  999 

Whitcomb,  Daniel  W. 614 


Whitehead,    Fred 970 

Whitehead,  George  G. 1031 

Whittaker,  John  E. 1060 

Wiggin,  Andrew  J.  593 

W'ilcox,    Edward 997 

Wildman,   Charles   W.   1041 

Willemsen,    Henry 717 

Williams,    Samuel   P.    502 

W^illiams,    Wilford 1064 

Williamson,  Warren  A. 1291 

Wilson,  Alfred  O.  1131 

Wilson,  Jeremiah  W. 951 

Wilson,  John   N.  981 

Winn,  Charles  W. 507 

Witmer.  Jacob  R.  623 

Woodrow,  John  R. 984 

Woodrow,  Joseph  M. 433 

Woody,  John   M. 894 

Wormley,   George   W.   1018 

Wright,  C.  B.  957 

Z 

Zachary,   Hartwell 718 

Zollinger,  J.  R. 522 

Zwank,    Ira 721 


RECENT  JASPER  COUNTY  COURT  HOUSE 


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JASPER  COUNTY  COURT  HOUSE 


HISTORICAL 


CHAPTER  I. 


INTRODUCTORY. 


One  of  the  most  interesting,  as  well  as  useful,  studies  to  those  of  all  ages 
is  that  of  general  and  local  history.  Especially  is  this  true  when  the  historian 
treats  of  a  county  or  state  as  it  existed  in  its  primitive  state;  tells  how  it  was 
peopled,  and  enters  into  detail  in  relation  to  the  life  and  general  manners  of 
its  pioneer  settlers.  There  is  ever  a  peculiar  fascination  about  the  rude  life  of 
the  early  settlers  of  a  country.  The  freedom  of  action,  the  unconstrained  man- 
ner with  which  they  receive  one  and  all,  and  their  generous  hospitality,  is 
indeed  fascinating. 

It  may  be  stated  that  sixty-eight  years  ago  the  part  of  Iowa  comprising 
Jasper  county  was  an  unbroken  wilderness,  inhabited  only  by  wild  beasts  of 
the  forest,  wild  birds  of  the  air,  and  the  no  less  wild  red  men,  who  roamed  at 
will  over  the  broad  prairies,  fishing  in  the  streams  or  hunting  game  that 
abounded  on  every  hand.  They  seemingly  cared  nothing  for  the  morrow — sim- 
ply lived  for  the  present.  The  thought  of  the  "pale  face"  penetrating  this 
beautiful  section  had  not  yet  seriously  disturbed  them,  and  so  they  continued 
on  in  their  daily  life  of  hunting  and  fishing,  with  occasionally  a  short  war 
between  tribes  to  relieve  the  monotony  of  their  existence.  But  the  time  was 
soon  to  come  when  these  Indians  were  to  surrender  up  their  lands  and  be 
pushed  on  toward  the  setting  sun.  All  nature  was  soon  to  be  transformed  by 
civilized  man's  hand  and  brain.  The  fair  prairies  and  sweet  scented  wild 
flowers,  painted  in  all  their  beauty  by  the  hand  of  God,  must  be  broken  up  by 
the  husbandman,  and  where  wild  flower  and  grass  grew  must  wave  the  golden 
grain  of  another  and  more  advanced  type  of  mankind. 

A  little  more  than  three  score  years  ago  all  here  was  a  wilderness;  the 
soil  had  been  unvexed  by  the  plow,  and  the  woodman's  axe  had  never  been 
heard  in  this  "green  glad  solitude."  The  cabin  of  the  settler,  its  smoke  curl- 
ing heavenward,  with  an  air  inviting  the  weary  traveler  to  come  and  rest. 


26  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

was  not  to  be  seen,  nor  even  the  faintest  trace  of  real  civilization,  but  instead 
the  boundless  sea  of  prairie  grass,  while  here  and  there  might  have  been  seen 
the  Indian  wig^vam  down  by  the  river  side. 

Behold,  how  changed  the  scene  from  that  of  the  year  1843,  when  Adam 
M.  Tool  and  his  little  band  of  comrades  first  saw  this  fair  and  fertile  domain. 
There  were  the  following  eras  of  development:  The  true  pioneer  settlement; 
the  Civil  war  period ;  the  railroad  era  and  present  highly  advancd  condition  of 
the  first  decade  of  the  twentieth  century.  Where  once  the  wigwam  of  the 
Indian  stood  in  the  forties,  a  palatial-like  residence  is  seen  today ;  where  then 
stood  the  sons  of  the  forest  gathered  together  for  the  worship  of  Manitou, 
the  "Great  Spirit,"  the  handsome  church  edifice  is  now  pointing  heavenward 
and  therein  worship  is  now  had  by  the  white  race,  using  the  worship  of  their 
fathers  and  praying  to  the  Most  High,  as  they  understand  divinity.  Change, 
wonderful  change,  is  written  on  every  hand.  Just  how  this  great  transforma- 
tion has  been  wrought  out,  the  various  steps  by  which  the  wilderness  has  been 
made  to  blossom  like  the  rose,  is  the  pleasant  task  and  duty  of  the  historian  to 
show :  and  in  the  following  pages  the  attempt  is  made,  with  the  hope  that  the 
facts  contained  therein  may  be  of  interest,  and  the  lessons  of  the  past  may 
be  instructive  to  each  and  every  reader  of  this  work. 


CHAPTER  11. 

NATURAL    FEATURES TOPOGRAPHY MINING. 

Before  entering  into  the  history  of  this  county,  as  made  by  the  present 
race  of  men,  or  even  before  mentioning  briefly  the  Indian  occupants  of  this 
portion  of  Iowa,  it  will  be  well  to  view  the  country  as  it  came  from  the  hand 
of  the  Almighty. 

Of  the  natural  features  of  Jasper  county,  let  it  be  stated  that  the  north- 
eastern part  of  the  county  lies  in  the  sub-carboniferous  group,  classified  by 
Professor  White,  the  western  limit  being  the  outcropping  of  a  bed  of  sand 
rock  near  KJbllogg,  which  is  traced  in  a  direction  from  southeast  to  north- 
west. This  rock,  which  forms  an  excellent  building  stone,  is  the  floor  of 
the  vast  coal  basin  of  Iowa  and  is  exposed  in  many  places  throughout  the 
county.  In  the  southern  part  of  the  county  limestone  of  an  excellent  quality  is 
found.  Clays  of  good  grade  are  found  throughout  the  county,  from  which 
excellent  building  brick  have  been  manufactured  from  time  to  time.  In 
places  it  is  very  suitable  for  the  making  of  crockery  and  fire  brick. 

The  soil  is  a  vegetable  mold,  evenly  mixed  with  a  finely  ground  sand, 
with  some  traces  of  aluminous  matter.  It  is  almost  everywhere  fully  one  foot 
deep  on  the  uplands,  while  in  the  valleys  and  creek  bottoms  it  is  many  feet  in 
depth,  and  for  this  reason  the  wagon  roads  in  the  pioneer  and  even  later 
times  were  almost  impassable  in  wet  seasons. 

At  Monroe  the  elevation  from  the  sea  level  is  stated  by  good  authority 
to  be  624  feet  and  that  of  Prairie  City  is  635  feet,  while  at  Newton  the  survey 
shows  an  altitude  of  940  feet.  The  water  in  the  Skunk  river  at  the  crossing 
of  the  railroad  track  is  753  feet  above  sea  level  and  the  grade  at  Colfax  is 
763  feet.  From  above  it  is  seen  that  the  surface  and  altitudes  in  various  sec- 
tions of  Jasper  county  are  varied  and  uneven. 

STREAMS    OF    JASPER    COUNTY, 

The  rivers,  creeks  and  springs  of  any  given  section  of  the  country  are 
ever  highly  prized  by  the  stranger,  as  well  as  by  the  actual  settler,  who  knows 
he  is  in  a  goodly  land  whenever  he  sees  streams  and  at  least  a  moderate 
quantity  of  timber.     One  stream  in  particular  in  Jasper  county  has  made  a 


28  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA, 

history  for  itself  that  is  known  from  ocean  to  ocean,  and  that  is  the  Skunk,  the 
south  fork  of  which  enters  Poweshiek  township  on  section  9,  and  by  action  of 
the  county  authorities  was  made  the  southern  boundary  of  Poweshiek,  Sher- 
man, Palo  Alto  and  Elk  Creek  townships,  and  the  northern  boundary  of 
Washington,  JMound  Prairie  and  Fairview.  Its  Indian  name  was  "Chicaqua," 
meaning  an  ofifensive  odor,  and  it  is  said  to  be  the  same  in  Indian  dialect  as 
"Chicago,"  both  rivers  deriving  their  name  from  the  wild  onion  which  the 
moist  character  of  the  soil  along  both  streams  allowed  to  grow  in  great  abund- 
ance. Ever  since  the  early  settlement  this  stream  and  its  bottom  lands  have 
been  a  terror  to  travelers.  The  soil  in  the  bottom  is  very  deep  and  porous, 
and  when  the  frost  is  leaving  in  the  spring  or  after  heavy  rains,  the  bottom 
becomes  one  long  mud-hole  into  which  the  early-day  immigrant  passed 
through  with  fear  and  trembling  and  thought  himself  in  luck  if  indeed  he 
escaped  without  being  pulled  out  at  least  three  or  more  times.  This  was 
known  and  dreaded  by  people  from  Maine  to  California.  At  an  early  day 
the  Skunk  river  was  wont  to  raise  out  of  its  banks  after  a  hard  rain  storm 
with  great  rapidity,  and  many  a  traveler  has  passed  over  with  water  belly 
deep  to  the  stage  coach  teams.  But  with  the  development  of  the  country 
this  has  largely  passed  away.  The  lands  are  properly  drained,  bridges  erected 
far  above  the  high  water  mark  and  light  approaches  made,  so  that  no  one 
dreads  the  crossing  of  what  was  in. the  fifties  and  sixties  a  dangerous  proposi- 
tion. So  famous  was  this  bottom  away  back  about  Civil  war  days,  that 
Harper's  Weekly  contained  an  illustration  of  crossing  the  "Skunk  Bottoms," 
in  which  a  stage  coach  loaded  with  passengers  were  sitting  swamped  in  the 
mud,  waiting  for  a  pioneer  farmer,  who  is  seen  approaching  in  the  distance 
with  a  yoke  of  oxen  to  help  the  weary  horses  in  pulling  the  coach  to  firm 
ground.  It  is  said,  however,  that  the  profanity  occasioned  could  not  be  il- 
lustrated by  Harper's  artist. 

The  North  Skunk  takes  its  source  in  Marshall  county,  flows  through 
Malaka,  Kellogg  and  the  southwest  corner  of  Rock  Creek  townships ;  thence 
through  the  center  of  Richland,  and  so  on  through  the  northeast  portion  of 
Lynn  Grove  township. 

Sugar  creek  rises  in  Hickory  Grove  township,  waters  the  eastern  part  of 
Rock  Creek  and  Richland  townships,  passing  out  on  section  25. 

Rock  creek  rises  in  Marshall  county,  flows  throug'h  Honey  Grove  and 
Rock  Creek  and  discharges  into  North  Skunk  river  in  Richland. 

Coon  creek  rises  in  Mariposa  and  is  a  branch  of  the  North  Skunk. 

Burr  and  AUoway  creeks  rise  in  Mariposa  and  empty  into  the  North 
Skunk  river  in  Kellogg  township. 


JASPE6    COUNTY,    IOWA.  29 

Indian  creek  rises  mainly  in  Clear  Creek  township  and  flows  into  South 
Skunk  river  in  the  southwest  part  of  Sherman  township. 

Cherry  creek  is  made  up  largely  of  confluents  in  Malaka  and  Newton 
townships,  discharging  into  South  Skunk  river  in  section  29,  of  Palo  Alto 
township. 

Elks  creek  gathers  its  waters  of  several  smaller  streams  east  of  the  city 
of  Newton,  flowing  through  Buena  Vista  and  Elk  Creek  townships  into 
Mahaska  county. 

Squaw  creek  heads  in  the  southern  portion  of  Mound  Prairie  township 
and  flows  into  the  South  Skunk  river  a  mile  and  one-half  west  of  Colfax. 

Watkins  creek  rises  in  Washington  township,  passes  through  Des  Moines, 
then  into  Marion  county. 

Calhoun  creek  takes  its  rise  at  Prairie  City,  drains  the  east  portion  of 
Des  Moines  township,  passes  into  the  southwest  part  of  Fairview  township, 
where  it  enters  Marion  county. 

Warren  creek  rises  in  the  south  part  of  Mound  Prairie  township  and 
'enters  South  Skunk  river  in  the  northern  part  of  Fairview  township. 

Besides  these  there  are  numerous  lesser  streams  hardly  large  enough  to 
have  a  dignified  place  on  the  map  of  the  county,  yet  which  at  times,  especially 
at  an  early  day,  were  streams  of  no  small  consequence.  For  agricultural  and 
stock  raising  purposes  the  county  has  none  too  many  of  these  streams,  the 
waters  of  which  make  glad  the  heart  of  man  and  are  duly  appreciated  by  the 
"cattle  of  the  thousand  hills." 

THE   NATIVE  GROVES. 

One  of  the  beauties  of  Jasper  county,  at  an  early  date,  were  its  numerous 
natural  groves  of  excellent  timber,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  the  fol- 
lowing : 

Hixson's  grove,  as  known  and  named  by  the  pioneers,  is  three  miles  to 
the  south  of  Newton. 

Adamson's  grove  is  really  the  southern  portion  of  Hixon's. 

Vowell's  grove  is  two  miles  to  the  west  of  Newton. 

Hammer's  grove  is  four  miles  northeast  of  Newton  on  the  North  Skunk 
river. 

Slaughter's  grove  is  to  the  south  of  the  Main  Skunk  river  and  east  of 
Colfax. 

Lynn  grove  is  situated  in  Lynn  Grove  township  and  a  part  extends  into 
Kellogg. 


30  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Black  Oak  grove  and  White  Oak  grove  are  divided  from  Lynn  grove  by 
the  North  Skunk  river. 

Shepherd's  grove  is  on  the  south  side  of  the  Skunk  river,  eight  miles 
south  of  Newton  City. 

Tool's  grove,  the  timber  land  north  and  east  of  Monroe. 

Indian  Creek  grove  and  Clear  Creek  timber,  the  wooded  lands  in  the 
northwest  portion  of  the  county. 

A   WONDERFUL  MIRAGE  IN    1 859. 

During  the  month  of  August,  1859,  H.  Ballinger  wrote  the  following 
graphic  description  of  a  beautiful  mirage  seen  by  himself  and  wife  in  this 
county.  Webster  defines  a  mirage  as  "An  optical  atmospheric  illusion  by 
which  objects  at  great  distances  are  presented  in  an  inverted  form."  But  it  is 
well  known  that  many  such  strange  phenomena  appear  without  the  image 
being  inverted,  as  in  this  case,  as  well  as  several  seen  by  the  writer  in  northern 
central  Iowa  in  the  seventies.  The  item  referred  to  as  from  the  pen  of  Mr, 
Ballinger  is : 

"I  live  about  fourteen  miles  southeast  of  Newton,  and  about  one  mile 
west  of  me  runs  the  North  fork  of  Skunk  river.  Five  miles  farther  west  runs 
Elk  creek,  and  still  farther  west  runs  the  South  fork  of  Skunk  river.  Now  a 
person  standing  in  the  door  of  my  residence  and  looking  westerly  over  these 
streams  and  divides  can  only  distinctly  see  North  Skunk  and  the  eastern 
slope  of  the  divide  between  it  and  Elk  creek,  and  over  its  summit  the  extreme 
tops  of  the  trees  comprising  the  groves  of  Elk  creek.  But  the  country  or 
divide  between  Elk  creek  and  South  Skunk  is  not  visible  to  the  eye,  being  hid 
entirely  from  the  first  divide  mentioned  at  ordinary  times.  But  yesterday 
morning,  a  little  before  six  o'clock,  I  happened  to  cast  my  eyes  westward  and 
to  my  surprise  I  beheld  Elk  Creek  grove  and  the  surrounding  country  as  well 
as  the  divide  between  it  and  South  Skunk  apparently  elevated  on  an  inclined 
plane  of  slight  elevation.  The  trees  of  the  grove  could  be  distinctly  seen  from 
their  top  to  their  roots  and  appeared  to  be  much  nearer  to  us  (my  wife  was 
now  a  spectator  with  me)  than  formerly;  whereas,  before,  the  extreme  tops 
of  the  trees  could  only  be  seen  from  our  position,  and  houses  we  had  not  seen 
before  took  their  places  majestically  in  this  beautiful  panorama  and  seemed 
also  singularly  plain,  distinct  and  nearer  to  us.  Yet  I  do  not  think  we  had 
the  satisfaction  of  seeing  it  at  its  best,  for  the  whole  affair  settled  down  out 
of  sight  in  a  few  minutes  after  our  discovery.  A  better  time,  I  think,  would 
have  been  about  sunrise  or  a  little  after." 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  JI 


THE  COAL  MINING  INDUSTRY. 


It  is  generally  understood  that  coal  in  Jasper  county  was  first  discovered 
on  the  claim  of  Hugh  Patterson,  in  1847,  it  having  been  noticed  cropping  out 
in  the  bed  of  a  small  stream  crossing  his  claim,  since  known  as  Coal  creek.  It 
was  also  found  while  digging  a  well  near  Vandalia  soon  after  this. 

In  1878  it  was  reported  in  a  former  history  of  the  mining  interests  of  the 
state  that  the  best  developed  coal  mine  in  Jasper  county  was  that  owned  by 
the  Jasper  Coal  Company,  a  half  mile  from  the  main  track  of  the  railroad. 
Several  rooms  were  opened  and  work  progressed  rapidly.  Fire  damps  were 
never  known  in  these  mines,  but  black  damps,  or  carbonic  acid  gas.  was 
sometimes  encountered.  Seventy-five  cents  a  ton  was  paid  for  mining  and  the 
men  made  about  three  dollars  a  day. 

Mines  were  also  in  operation  in  Palo  Alto,  operated  largely  by  English 
miners,  who  clung  to  customs  that  had  obtained  in  England  for  hundreds  of 
years. 

In  the  south  part  of  this  county  the  mines  were  being  operated  by  Scotch- 
men, and  there  a  large  per  cent,  of  the  workmen  were  strict  Presbyterians  in 
their  religious  faith.  These  miners  worked  at  coal  mining  winters  and  tilled 
the  soil  of  their  fanns  in  summer  time. 

In  1874  the  county  had  twenty-three  "coal  banks.''  as  they  were  then 
styled.  One  hundred  and  ninety-five  men  were  employed  in  such  mines. 
Thirty-one  thousand  tons  were  mined  and  the  value  was  placed  at  seventy 
thousand  eight  hundred  dollars. 

The  coal  inspector  in  1876  reported  twenty-eight  mines  in  the  county  in 
operation,  all  well  managed  and  lawfully  worked.  He  reported  the  coal  as 
being  from  thirty  inches  to  four  feet  in  thickness,  the  best  grade  being  taken 
from  the  Fairview  mines.  Other  excellent  mines  are  named  as  being  located 
in  Palo  Alto,  Sherman,  Mound  Prairie,  Pmveshiek  and  Richland.  One  new 
mine  was  opened  in  1877.  At  that  date  over  three  hundred  miners  were  em- 
ployed in  Jasper  county,  and  four  hundred  tons  of  marketable  coal  were 
mined  daily. 

In  1877-78  the  following  mines  were  being  operated  successfully:  Mound 
Prairie — Bear  Grove,  R.  N.  Stewart;  Sherman — Bealier.  Scott  Slaughter; 
Poweshiek — Adsit  &  Company,  E.  G.  Fish ;  Fairview^-R.  S.  Buckley,  George 
Blount.  James  Hart,  E.  E.  Edwards'.  Marshall;  Palo  Alto — Newton  Coal 
Company,  Isaac  Morgan,  John  Riley,  Jasper  Coal  Company,  William  Lister. 
Snook  Brothers'.  Robert  Davidson.  Snook  &  Walker,  James  McAllister; 
Richland — F.  L.  Downie,  A.  Eastman. 


32  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

In  1900  it  was  written  of  the  coal  business  in  Mound  Prairie  district: 
"Mound  Prairie  has  made  a  very  creditable  showing  in  many  respects.  She 
has  kept  out  of  politics  and  built  no  cities.  She  can  only  boast  of  Metz  and 
Seevers,  but  let's  see  what  she  has  done.  The  Slaughter  coal  bank  was  dis- 
covered in  1846,  by  a  young  fellow  stopping  at  Slaughter's.  He  was  out 
hunting  wild  turkey  one  morning  before  breakfast,  and  in  jumping  off  of  a 
fallen  tree,  slid  the  earth  from  a  chunk  of  coal.  This,  so  far  as  I  know,  says 
the  writer,  was  the  first  discovery  of  coal  in  Jasper  county — a  happy  accident." 

The  state  mine  inspector's  reports  ending  June  30,  1910,  shows  that  there 
were  mini';g  operations  carried  on  in  Jasper  at  that  date  in  the  following  order: 

"There  was  produced  in  this  county  333,340  tons  of  coal  during  the  year 
ending  June  30,  1909,  and  for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1910,  334,186  tons 
of  coal.  Only  one  fatal  accident  has  occurred  in  this  county  during  the  two 
years  ending  June  30,  1910,  and  seven  serious  accidents. 

"This  county  is  the  second  largest  in  coal  production  among  the  counties 
comprising  (up  to  the  present  time)  the  third  inspection  district.  Hereafter 
Jasper  county  will  be  reported  among  the  counties  of  the  second  inspection  dis- 
trict. Owing  to  the  large  development  of  mines  in  the  third  district  and  with 
a  view  to  more  evenly  divide  the  inspection  service  it  was  deemed  best  to  place 
Jasper  county  in  the  second  district. 

"Mining  operations  are,  as  heretofore,  largely  in  the  vicinity  of  Colfax 
and  Seevers,  and  the  usual  success  attend  these  operations." 

At  the  date  of  this  report  there  were  the  following  mining  companies 
operating  in  this  county:  Carson  Bros'  Coal  Company,  Newton;  Hanson  & 
Mead  Coal  Company,  Prairie  City;  John  Bruce  Coal  Company,  Monroe; 
French  Coal  Company,  Newton ;  Lister  Coal  Company,  Newton ;  Snook  Bros.' 
Coal  Company,  Newton;  Colfax  Consolidated  Coal  Company;  McAllister 
Coal  Company,  Newton;  Warrick  Coal  Company,  with  offices  at  Des  Moines. 
The  product  of  these  mines  is  all  consumed  by  the  local  trade  except  that  of  the 
four  last  named  in  the  list,  and  these  mines  are  general  shippers. 

The  report  shows  that  in  the  matter  of  accidents  for  the  two  years  in- 
cluded in  the  report  that  in  Jasper  county  there  was  one  fatal  accident,  that  of 
the  falling  and  killing  of  Paul  Binisse,  a  top  laborer,  who  met  death  by  falling 
from  a  shaft's  mouth,  while  working  in  the  Colfax  Consolidated  Coal  Com- 
pany's mines.  The  other  accidents  were  those  of  the  serious  injury  of 
Gerald  Rodgers,  Frank  Lipovach,  George  Shenton  and  V.  Tomlonvich,  the 
latter  losing  an  eye  and  the  others  having  broken  limbs. 

For  the  year  ending  June  30,  1909,  the  reports  show  that  Jasper  county 
produced  from  its  eleven  mines  333,340  tons  of  coal;  employed  519  miners; 
other  inside  workmen,  191 ;  outside  men,  61  \  total  employed,  771. 


JASPER    COUMV,    lUWA.  33 

J 11  Ihc  Nc.'ir  fnllowins^',  ^\hich  \\as  for  the  year  ending  Jnne  30,  1910,  the 
report  goes  on  to  show  that  the  ten  coal  mines  then  in  operation  produced 
334,186  tons  of  coal;  employed  493  miners;  194  other  inside  men;  70  outside 
workmen,  making  a  total  of  757  men  employed. 

The  figures  show  that  in  1910  Jasper  county  stood  hfth  among  the  coal 
producing  counties  of  Iowa.  The  list  of  counties  included  in  the  state  in- 
spector's reports  being  in  the  order  and  rank  here  given :  Monroe,  Polk,  Ap- 
panoose, Mahaska,  Jasper,  Marion,  Boone,  Wapello,  Dallas,  Wayne,  Webster, 
Adams,  Van  Buren,  Cxuthrie,  Page,  Keokuk,  Taylor,  Greene,  Lucas,  Warren, 
vScott,  Jefferson  and  Davis. 

WEATHER    CONDITIONS    OF    JASPER    COUNTY. 

The  government  reports  secured  at  the  bureau  at  Des  Moines,  for  Jasper 
county  for  the  last  third  of  a  century,  the  figures  are  as  follows,  taking  the 
month  of  January  for  a  standard  winter  mouth.  The  warmest  weather  and 
coldest  of  these  years  has  occurred  since  1898,  as  will  be  observed  In-  the  table 
1>elow  : 

]\Iean  temperature.  Highest  and  Lowest  temperature. 

1879 — 12  above  zero.  1899 — 48  above,     20  below  zero. 

1880 — 28  above  zero.  1901 — 51   above.       8  below  zero. 

1881 —  8  above  zero.  1902 — 50  above.     22  below  zero. 

1882 — 21   above  zero.  1903 — 45  above.       8  below  zero. 

1883 — 24  above  zero.  1904 — 47  above.     22  below  zero. 

1894 — 19  above  zero.  1905 — 43  above.      18  below    zero. 

1895 — 15  above  zero.  1908 — 51   above.     10  below  zero. 

1896—24  above  zero.  1909 — 56  above.      16  below  zero. 

1897 — 18  above  zero.  191  o — 40  above.      17  below  zero. 

1898 — 23  above  zero.  191 1 — 32  above.       5  below  zero. 

The  average  temperature  at  Newton  since  1878  has  been  in  the  month 
of  January,  18  degrees  above;  in  February,  20  degrees  above;  March,  33 
degrees  above;  April.  48  degrees  above:  ]\Iay,  60  degrees  above:  June.  70 
degrees  above:  July,  y^  degrees  above:  August,  yz  degrees  above;  September, 
63  degrees  above ;  October,  5 1  degrees  alw\e ;  November,  34  degrees  above ; 
December.  22  degrees  above.  The  average  for  all  years  and  all  months  is  48 
degrees  above  zero. 

Another  table  shows  that  the  highest  temperature  in  the  county,  as  indi- 
cated bv  the  Baxter  reports,  in  the  last  thirty  years,  was  in  the  month  of  July, 
1901,  when  it  reached  107  degrees  above  zero:  the  next  hottest  was  99  degrees 

(3) 


34  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

in  September.  1899,  and  August.  1900^  was  next  with  93  degrees  above  zero. 
The  coldest  was  reached  in  February.  1899.  when  it  \\as  28  below  zero;  the 
next  lowest  was  in  December.  1901.  when  it  was  22  below  and  the  next  lowest 
>^as  in  the  months  of  January  and  February,  1900,  when  it  registered  13  below. 

The  a\'erag"e  annual  rain  and  snow  fall  (precipitation  as  it's  known  in 
weather  table  parlance)  at  the  Xewton  station  from  1878  has  been  by  years 
indicated,  as  follows:  1878.  28  inches;  1879.  -^  inches:  1880.  33  inches; 
1881,  44  inches;  1882,  39  inches;  1893,  29  inches;  1894,  20  inches:  1895.  2>- 
inches;  1896.  45  inches;  1897.  27  inches:  1898,  30  inches:  1899,  27  inches; 
1900,  40  inches;  1901,  25  inches.  The  total  average  for  these  years  is  thirty- 
three  and  thirty-nine  hundredths  inches  of  water. 

After  reading  so  much  about  the  ''hard  winters"  of  early  days,  it  will  be 
of  interest  to  read  the  causes  for  a  change  to  milder  winters.  The  following 
is  from  a  scientific  standpoint,  by  the  pen  of  Dr.  Gorrell,  of  Newton,  in  191 1  : 

CLIMATIC    CHANGES. 
By  Dr.  J.  R.  Gorrell. 

Is  our  climate  becoming  milder  and  our  winters  less  severe?  If  so,  what 
is  the  cause.  There  exists  a  consensus  of  opinion  among  close  observers  of 
meteorological  conditions  that  there  has  been  a  perceptible  change  during  the 
last  fifty  years.  We  may,  they  say,  ]je  unable  to  discover  any  difference  from 
v^rinter  to  winter,  but  a  comparison  of  our  late  winters  with  the  winters  of 
ten,  twenty,  thirty,  forty  and  fifty  years  ago.  appears  to  justify  the  belief  that 
a  gradual  change  is  occurring  in  our  climate. 

There  are  those  who  believe  that  the  artificial  groves  over  Iowa  and 
adjoining  states  have  contributed  materially  to  raising  the  temperature  during 
the  winter  months.  It  is  no  doubt  true  that  the  rigor  of  the  winds  has  been 
lessened  thereby,  but  as  the  absolute  temperature  is  unaffected  even  by  bliz- 
zards, it  appears  improbable  that  the  groves  have  any  effect  on  the  climate. 
There  are  others  who  attribute  our  milder  winters  to  thermal  reg'ions  in  space 
through  which  our  solar  system  as  a  whole  is  passing.  The  solar  system  con- 
sisting of  the  sun,  the  planets  (Mercury.  Venus,  Earth,  Mars,  Jupiter,  Saturn, 
Uranus.  Xeptune ) ,  their  satellites,  the  asteroids  l)C'l\\ec!i  the  orbits  of  Mars 
and  Jupiter  and  all  meteoric  matter  and  comets  that  1)elong  to  our  system,  is 
rushing  through  space  with  a  velocity  of  thirty-nine  thousand  six  hundred 
miles  an  hour,  and  the  direction  is  so  near  a  straight  line  that  it  will  require 
many  millions  of  years  to  complete  one  revolution.  It  is  therefore  not  impossi- 
Ijle  that  the  regions  in  space  through  A\hich  we  have  l>een  passing  during  the 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  35 

last  two.  three,  four  or  five  decades  has  had  a  hig^her  tem[)erature  than  that 
through  which  we  passed  before,  because  we  may  have  approached  nearer  to 
some  other  sun  in  the  sidereal  system  to  which  our  solar  system  belongs.  The 
grove  theory  is  unsatisfactory,  and  the  effect  of  our  movement  through  space 
is  naught  else  than  speculation. 

The  heat  of  the  surface  of  the  earth  and  the  atmosphere  is  derived  almost 
wholh-  from  the  sun.  If  the  earth  is  a  molten  mass  within,  the  heat  from  that 
source^  in  hot  springs,  geysers  and  volcanoes  (if  any  of  these  have  any  con- 
nection with  the  central  lieat.  which  is  improbable)  is  so  small  that  it  need 
not  be  considered  in  a  discussion  of  climatic  conditions  and  causes. 

Some  substances  are  transparent  to  light  and  heat  that  are  opaque  to 
heat  without  light.  For  example,  if  a  pane  of  glass  is  held  between  the  face 
and  the  sun.  the  heat  passes  through  the  glass  and  the  face  is  burned.  If  the 
same  pane  is  held  between  the  face  and  an  intensely  hot  cannon  ball  that  is 
not  incandescent,  the  glass  acts  as  a  perfect  screen  and  no  heat  whatever  is 
felt  because  the  glass  is  opaque  to  dark  heat. 

John  Tyndall  was  the  first  to  call  the  attention  of  scientists  to  the  fact 
that  carbonic  acid  (carbon  dioxide.  C  O2 )  was  partially  opaque  to  dark  heat, 
and  to  suggest  its  potency  in  producing  a  milder  climate.  The  proportion  of 
carbon  dioxide  now  in  the  atmosphere  is  only  about  one-thirtieth  per  cent., 
but  being  opaque  to  dark  heat  it  absorbs  the  heat  of  the  earth  that  otherwise 
would  be  radiated  into  space,  and  thus  acts  as  a  blanket  to  keep  the  earth 
warm.  The  greater  the  amount  of  carbon  dioxide  in  the  atmosphere  the 
thicker  becomes  the  blanket,  and  the  more  heat  it  absorbs.  The  other  con- 
stituents of  the  atmosphere,  oxygen  and  nitrogen,  are  transparent  to  dark  heat 
and  would  therefore  permit  the  radiation  of  the  heat  of  the  earth  into  space, 
and  the  result  would  be  a  cold  and  lifeless  planet. 

Prior  to  the  carboniferous  era  all  the  carbon  dioxide  now  stored  in  the 
coal  measures  of  the  earth,  200,000  square  miles  in  China  and  Japan;  194.000 
in  the  United  States ;  35.000  in  India ;  27.000  in  Russia :  9.000  in  Great  Britain : 
3,600  in  Germany:  1,800  in  France:  1,400  in  Belgium.  Spain  and  other  coun- 
tries, making  a  total  of  471.800  square  miles,  was  free  in  the  atmosphere,  and 
in  consequence  thereof  there  existed  a  tropical  climate  extending  to  the  poles, 
as  is  indicated  by  the  presence  only  of  tropical  plants  in  coal  measures.  It  is 
estimated  that  the  amount  of  carbon  dioxide  in  the  atmosphere  during  that 
period  was  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  thousand  times  greater  than  the  amount 
now  in  the  atmosphere,  and  as  a  result  of  the  warm,  moist  climate,  there 
flourished  during  that  geological  era  the  most  luxuriant  growth  of  vegetation 
the  earth  has  ever  known,  and  the  succeeding  glacial  period  was  the  logical 
sequence  of  the  withdrawal  of  the  carbon  dioxide  from  the  atmosphere. 


36  JASPER    COUNTY,    k)\\  A. 

Prof.  Joseph  LeConte,  in  his  "Elements  of  Geology, "  on  page  617,  says: 
"On  account  of  its  heat  absorbing  properties,  the  carbon  dioxide  is  vastly  the 
most  important  element  affecting  the  climate.  It  now  only  forms  about  one- 
thousandth  part  of  the  atmosphere.  With  its  thermal  potency  it  will  be  seen 
that  comparatively  slight  variation  in  the  amount  would  produce  great  climatic 
effects.  Physicists  have  long  recognized  this  fact.  It  is  believed  that  doubling 
the  present  small  amount  of  carbon  dioxide,  would  produce  a  mild  climate  to 
the  poles,  and  that  halving  the  present  amount  would  bring  on  another  glacial 
period."' 

The  rapid  increase  in  the  consumption  of  coal,  and  the  inevitable  increase 
in  the  amount  of  carbon  dioxide  thrust  into  the  atmosphere  becomes  apparent 
from  the  following  facts.  The  consumption  of  coal  in  the  United  States  in 
the  year  1845  ^^'^^  ^'0^^'"  ^""^  one-half  million  tons ;  in  the  year  1864,  twenty-two 
million  tons;  in  the  year  1874,  fifty  million  tons;  in  the  year  1884,  one  hun- 
dred and  six  million  tons;  in  1894,  one  hundred  and  fifty  million  tons;  in 
1899,  two  hundred  and  forty-three  million  tons.  In  Great  Britain  in  the  year 
1845,  there  was  consumed  thirty-one  million  tons;  in  the  year  1864,  ninety 
million  tons;  in  the  year  1874,  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  million  tons;  in 
1884.  one  hundred  and  sixty  million  tons;  in  1894,  one  hundred  and  sixty-four 
million  tons;  and  in  1899,  two  hundred  and  ninety-five  million  tons.  And  the 
rate  of  increase  in  other  countries.  China  and  Japan,  India,  Russia,  Germany, 
France,  Spain,  Belgium  and  Austria-Hungary,  is  approximately  the  same. 
There  is  at  present  a  concurrence  of  opinion  among  the  highest  authorities 
that  the  w^orld's  supply  of  coal  would  probably  last  two  or  three  centuries,  but 
the  rapidly  increasing  rate  of  consumption  is  becoming  ominous.  ''The  state- 
ments of  former  years  that  the  supply  of  coal  was  inexhaustible  were  not  only 
false  and  foolish,  but  pernicious." 

The  process  of  combustion,  and  respiration,  consumes  oxygen  and  lib- 
erates carbon  dioxide  and  aqueous  vapor.  The  incalculable  combustion  of  coal 
and  oil  is  gradually  restoring  to  the  atmosphere  the  hitherto  confined  carbon 
dioxide  which  when  free  produced  a  mild  climate  the  \\orld  over,  and  will 
probably  again  create  the  same  meteorological  conditions  of  heat  and  moisture 
that  existed  during  the  Tertiary  period — a  tropical  climate  from  pole  to  pole. 


CHAPTER  111. 

CTIAXGE  FROM   IXDIAX   TO  Willi  K  MAX's  OCCUPAXCY. 

The  date  of  the  Illack  Hawk  war  was  in  183-'.  and  about  one  hnnrh-ed 
years  before  that  time  the  land  within  what  is  now  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  was 
the  huntino-  oround  oi  the  Iowa  Inchans.  the  Sacs  and  the  Foxes.  At  the  time 
of  the  Indian  war  just  mentioned,  the  whole  territory  east  of  the  Mississippi 
river  was  taken  from  the  control  of  the  red  man  and  g-iven  over  to  the  author- 
ity of  the  white  race,  to  w  horn  the  \\  orld  is  indebted  for  its  w(~inderful  develop- 
ment and  present  priceless  value.  The  Fox  Indians  were  mercilessly  driven 
from  Canada,  the  movement  for  that  purpose  being-  started  in  1714.  continuing 
with  great  vigor  under  De  Louxigney.  who  gave  them  a  terrible  defeat  on  Fox 
river.  In  r7_'N  the\'  were  dri\en  farther  to  the  west,  and  in  1746  the  most  of 
the  tribe  (those  who  had  escaped  with  their  lives  )  had  crossed  the  Mississippi. 
Subsecjuent  to  this  the  Sacs,  who  had  formed  a  ur.i(~)n  with  the  Iroquois  in 
New  ^'ork  state  and  had  dislodged  th.e  Illinois  tribes  from  their  grounds, 
which  extended  as  far  west  as  the  Des  Moines  river,  crossed  the  Alississippi 
and  also  formed  a  close  alliance  with  the  Foxes. 

The  lowas  were  at  one  time  identified  with  the  Sacs  of  Rock  River,  but 
for  some  unknown  cause  they  separated  and  started  out  as  a  band  independent. 
The  eight  leading  families  of  this  tribe  formed  classes,  or  parties,  known  by 
the  name  of  the  different  animals  or  birds,  which  they  chose  as  types  or 
symbols  of  their  respective  families — the  eagle,  the  pigeon,  the  bear,  the  elk. 
the  beaver,  the  buffalo  and  the  snake — and  were  known  severally  in  their  tribe 
bv  the  ])eculiar  manner  in  w  liich  they  wore  their  hair.  The  Eagle  family  was 
marked  by  two  locks  of  hair  on  the  front  part  of  the  head  and  one  on  the  back 
left  part;  the  ^^'olf  family  had  scattered  bunches  of  hair  left,  representing 
islands  whence  their  families  were  supix)sed  to  have  sprung:  the  Rear  family 
left  one  side  of  the  hair  of  the  head  much  longer  than  the  other:  the  F>uffalo 
familv  left  a  strip  of  long  hair  from  the  front  to  the  rear  part  of  the  head  with 
two  bunches  on  each  side  to  represent  horns :  and  so  on  through  all  the  families. 

For  a  time  the  lowas  occupied  common  hunting  grounds  w  ith  the  Sacs 
and  Foxes,  but  feuds  eventually  sprung  up  between  them  and  they  became 
greatlv  diminished  in  numbers  and  strength  by  the  onslaughts  of  their  more 
powerful  enemies.     The  princii)al  village  of  the  lowas  was  on  the  Des  Moines, 


^8  JASPER    COUNTY,    JOWA. 

in  what  is  now  \^an  Biiren  county,  and  on  the  site  of  the  town  of  lowaville. 
This  was  the  scene  of  the  great  battle  between  the  lowas  and  Sacs  and  Foxes, 
in  which  Black  liawk.  then  a  young-  man,  commanded  one  division  of  the  at- 
tacking force.  The  battle  resulted  in  the  crushing  defeat  of  the  lowas.  who 
were  driven  west  of  the  Des  Moines  ri\  er  in  dismay,  having  lost,  in  killed  and 
prisoners,  a  large  portion  of  their  former  numbers. 

INDIAN    TREATIES. 

North  of  the  hunting-  grounds  of  the  Sacs  and  ]<"oxes  were  those  of  the 
Sioux,  a  fierce  and  warlike  nation,  which  often  disputed  possession  with  their 
rivals  in  savage  and  bloody  warfare.  The  possessions  of  these  tribes  were 
mostlv  located  in  ^Minnesota,  but  extended  over  a  portion  of  northern  and 
western  Iowa  to  the  Alissouri  river.  Their  descent  from  the  north  upon  the 
hunting-  grounds  of  Iowa  frequently  brought  them  in  collision  \\  ith  the  Sacs 
and  Foxes  and,  after  many  a  conflict  and  struggle,  a  boundary  line  was  estab- 
lished between  them  by  the  government  of  the  United  States  in  a  treaty  held 
at  Prairie  du  Chien  in  1825.  But  this,  instead  of  settling  the  difficulties. 
caused  them  to  (juarrel  all  the  more  in  consequence  of  alleged  trespass  upon 
each  other's  side  of  the  line.  These  contests  were  kept  up  and  became  so  un- 
relenting- that  in  1830  the  government  bought  of  the  respective  tribes  of  the 
vSacs  and  Foxes,  and  the  Sioux,  a  strip  of  land  twenty  miles  in  width  on  both 
sides  of  the  line  and,  thus  throwing  them  forty  miles  apart  by  creating  between 
them  a  "neutral  ground,"  commanded  them  to  cease  their  histilities. 

The  boundary  line  of  this  as  surveyed  by  the  terms  of  the  treaty  of  1825. 
was  thus  fixed :  Commencing  at  the  mouth  of  the  Upper  Iowa  river  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  ]\Iississippi.  and  ascending  said  Iowa  river  to  its  west  fork; 
thence  bv  the  fork  to  its  source:  thence  crossing  the  fork  of  Cedar  river  in  a 
direct  line  to  the  second  or  upper  fork  of  the  Des  Moines  river;  thence  in  a 
direct  line  to  the  lower  fork  of  the  Calumet  river  and  down  that  ri\er  to  its 
junction  with  the  Missouri  river. 

On  the  15th  of  July,  1830,  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  ceded  to  the  United  States 
a  strip  of  country  lying  south  of  the  above  line,  twenty  miles  in  width  and  ex- 
tending along  the  line  aforesaid  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Des  Moines  river. 
The  Sioux  also  ceded  in  the  same  treaty  a  like  strip  on  the  north  line  of  the 
boundary.  Thus  the  United  States  became  into  possession  of  a  portion  of 
Iowa  forty  miles  in  width  and  extending  along  the  Clark  and  Cass  line  of 
1825,  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Des  Moines  river.  This  territory  was  known 
as  the  "neutral  ground"'  and  tlie  tri1)es  on  either  side  of  tlr.'  lino  were  allowed 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  39 

to  fish  and  hunt  on  it  unmolested  till  the  W'innehagoes  were  moved  to  it  in 
1 841. 

Thus  the  southern  houndarx-  of  the  "neutral  ground"  was  estahlished  to 
pass  through  the  northwest  portion  of  Story  county  and  Jasper  became  the 
possession  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  under  the  protection  of  the  national  govern- 
ment. 

In  1832  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  relinquished  a  strip  of  country  fifty  miles 
wide  bordering  on  the  Mississippi,  from  Minnesota  to  Missouri,  and  accepted 
in  exchange  a  reservation  of  four  hundred  sections  lying  along  the  Iowa  river. 
In  1836  the  Indians  ceded  a  strip  lying  alongside  the  lands  relinquished  in 
1832,  twenty-five  miles  wide  in  the  center  and  terminating  in  a  point  at  each 
end.  Another  treaty  was  made  with  the  allied  tribes  in  1837,  by  which  they 
agreed  to  dispose  of  all  their  land  lying  south  of  the  neutral  grounds,  but  the 
bargain  was  not  consummated. 

The  last  treaty  was  made  with  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  October  1 1,  1842,  and 
ratified  March  23.  1843.  It  was  made  at  the  Sacs  and  Fox  agency  (Agency 
Citv)  ])v  John  I'hamliers.  commissioner  on  behalf  of  the  United  States.  In 
this  treaty  the  Sacs  and  h'ox  Indians  "ceded  to  the  United  States  all  their 
lands  west  of  the  Mississippi  to  which  they  had  any  claim  or  title."  By  the 
terms  of  this  treaty  they  were  to  be  removed  from  the  country  at  the  expira- 
tion of  three  years  and  all  remaining  after  that  were  to  move  at  their  own  ex- 
pense. Part  of  them  were  remo\ed  to  Kansas  in  the  fall  of  1845,  and  the  rest 
the  spring  following.  In  the  fall  of  1843,  "iifler  the  stipulation  of  this  treaty,  a 
line  was  surveyed  northward  from  the  Alissouri  state  line  by  George  W.  Har- 
rison, which  passed  by  the  red  rocks  of  the  Des  Aloines  about  one  mile  west  of 
the  present  town  of  that  name.  The  extension  of  the  line  northward  very 
nearly  divided  section  35  Fairview,  through  the  middle.  The  western  limit  of 
the  town  of  Monroe  is  one  mile  east  of  the  line  and  the  residence  of  what  later 
was  S.  Zerley.  in  the  same  township,  stands  close  to  the  line.  This  sur\-ey 
opened  about  two-thirds  of  Jasper  county  for  settlement  and  left  a  strip  ten 
and  a  half  miles  wide  for  the  occupation  of  the  Indians  in  this  county. 

INDIANS   AND   THE   WHITES. 

At  the  date  of  the  first  settlement  in  Jasper  county  the  band  of  Indians 
still  hanging  around  the  country  was  under  the  leadership  of  lyishkekosh.  who 
was  strong  enough  to  accompany  Black  Hawk  when  he  visited  Washington 
some  vears  before.  The  work  entitled  "Pioneers  of  Marion  County"  is  the 
authority  for  the  following  concerning  this  chief  and  his  people  : 


40  JASPER    COLNtV,    U)\VA. 

Having-  endured  much  privation  during  the  winter  of  1844-5.  the  hand 
visited  the  little  settlement  at  Red  Rock  in  quest  of  hospitality.  In  the  hand 
was  Kishkekosh  and  his  wife;  Wykoma,  son  of  Wapello,  and  two  wives; 
Masha  W'apetine  and  his  wife,  and  children  helonging  to  each  family.  They 
were  entertained  at  hreakfast  by  Mr.  Mikesell.  Kishkekosh.  having  learned 
the  art  of  dining  at  the  national  capital,  passed  the  dishes  to  his  hungry  com- 
panions with  politeness,  before  helping  himself;  but  when  he  had  organized 
the  meeting,  so  to  speak,  the  \oracious  savage  sat  rex'ealed — he  had  relapsed 
from  civilization  to  barbarism  and  ate  like  all  his  mates.  He  managed  five  or 
six  cups  of  coffee,  with  solids  in  proportion.  When  pressed  "to  have  some- 
thing more."  he  drew  his  fingers  across  his  throat,  and  then,  in  further  ex- 
planation, crammed  it  down  his  Avindpipe. 

The  Indians  who  had  received  the  strip  of  land  off  the  west  side  of  Jas- 
per county  prepared  to  remove  late  in  the  autumn  of  1845.  Kishkekosh  and 
his  braN'es,  twenty  odd  in  all.  had  stored  their  heavy  articles  at  Red  Rock 
during  the  summer,  not  needing  them  while  engaged  in  hunting.  Prior  to 
starting  west,  they  repaired  to  Red  Rock  and  hired  Mr.  Mikesell  to  haul  the 
goods  to  camp.  That  night  they  camped  where  Alonroe  now  stands.  The 
weather  was  cold  and  a  heavy  snow  fell  during  the  night.  The  Indians  huddled 
together  as  close  as  possible  to  keep  warm,  and  upon  opening  out  in  the  morn- 
ing a  perfect  cloud  of  steam  arose.  Part  of  ^ilikesell's  oxen  went  astray  dur- 
ing the  night,  and  he  followed  them  clear  home,  the  snow  still  continuing  to 
fall  very  fast.  On  returning  he  found  the  Indians  all  bewildered  as  to  the 
direction  they  should  take,  and  it  took  the  chief  some  time  to  ascertain  the 
course,  when  the  journey  was  resumed  and  their  village  reached  that  night. 

Pasishamone  and  his  band  also  frequented  the  Skunk  in  this  county,  and 
at  the  time  of  the  removal  of  the  l)and  of  twenty,  just  spoken  of,  the  former, 
with  about  all  his  braves,  was  at  Agency  City  on  a  visit.  The  women,  chil- 
dren and  old  men  went  into  camp  four  miles  from  Fort  Des  Moines  to  await 
their  return,  which  was  at  the  beginning  of  winter.  Then  the  band  packed  up 
and  followed  Kishkekosh  and  his  followers. 

Another  band,  under  the  control  of  the  famous  Poweshiek,  had  a  village 
at  the  forks  of  Indian  creek,  in  what  is  now  Toweshiek  township.  Their  aban- 
doned wikeups  remained  standing  two  or  three  years  after  the  tribe  had  re- 
moved. These  wikeups  were  louilt  by  setting  corner  stakes  into  the  ground  at 
suitable  distances  for  the  intended  building.  To  these  were  fastened  poles  at 
top  and  bottom,  which  served  as  fastenings  for  the  covering  of  elm  bark.  This 
was  procured  by  girdling  the  trees  at  the  bottom  and  then  as  high  as  the  arm 
could  reach,  when  it  was  slit  and  peeled  off  in  one  sheet.     When  a  sufficient 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  4I 

number  had  been  procured,  thc\-  were  punched  at  the  ends  and  bound  with 
bark  or  thongs  to  the  poles,  care  being  taken  to  kip  them  sufficiently  to  make  a 

* 

good  joint.  The  rafters  were  notched  and  fastened  to  the  top  poles  with  bark 
or  leather  and  co\ered  in  much  the  same  fashion  as  the  sides. 

It  is  related  of  this  band  that  on  one  occasion,  in  1846.  they  visited  the 
trading  house  kept  by  Rvans.  alxjut  a  mile  west  of  where  Newton  now  stands, 
with  whom  they  succeeded  in  exchanging  a  pony  for  a  keg  of  whisky.  Aydel- 
lotte,  who  saw  them,  savs  they  were  already  well  saturated  with  fire  water,  and 
that  as  soon  as  the  transfer  was  effected  one  of  them  lashed  the  keg  to  his 
saddle,  when  they  all  jumped  on  their  ponies  and  made  off  on  a  gallop,  whoop- 
ing loud  enough  to  be  heard  two  miles ! 

John  Green  was  another  well  known  chief.  He  was  at  the  head  of  a 
small  band  of  Pottawatomies.  On  one  occasion  he  found  a  large  lump  of  iron 
pyrites  and  meeting  Mr.  Sparks,  soon  after,  informed  that  gentleman  that 
he  had  found  a  gold  min.e.  ^Ir.  Sparks,  when  he  saw  the  specimen,  unde- 
ceived the  poor  fellow,  who  had  doubtless  looked  ahead  to  a  future  when  he 
could  ha\e  whiskv  three  times  a  day,  l)0Ught  with  tlie  avails  of  his  gold  mine. 

The  liorsc  stealing  of  that  day  was  not  all  carried  on  by  the  renegade 
Indians,  as  was  sometimes  thought  by  the  pioneers,  according  to  pioneer  and 
first  settler  William  Highland,  who  declared  that  a  party  of  bee-hunters 
visited  the  countv  in  tlie  summer  of  1844  (the  wet  year)  and  were  so  unfor- 
tunate as  to  have  some  horses  stolen,  which  they  laid  to  the  Indians.  He  says 
many  cases  of  horse  theft  were  charged  up  to  Lo.  the  poor  Indian,  of  which 
they  were  guiltless.  From  time  to  time  there  were  white  men  passing  through 
the  count\-,  in  whom  no  more  dependence  could  l)e  placed  than  in  the  average 
Indian.  After  several  vears'  intercourse  \\ith  the  latter,  he  said  he  had  ne\er 
had  any  trouble  with  them,  drunk  or  sober,  l)ut  that  they  seemed  very  friendly 
and  honorable  to  him. 

iXDT AX  tradi-:rs. 

Two  \-oung  men.  whose  names  ha\  e  gone  from  the  memory  ot  the  early 
settlers,  had  been  traders  w  ith  the  Indian  tril^es  in  some  one  or  more  of  Iowa's 
lower  counties,  and  in  the  spring  of  1844  erected  a  little  shanty  in  a  small 
grove  a  mile  north  of  the  old  "Long  farm."  Their  stock  of  goods  consisted 
chieflv  of  a  barrel  of  whiskv,  diluted  one-third  with  water  for  profit's  sake  and 
not  for  the  cause  of  tem])erance.  As  soon  as  the  "store"  was  open  for  business 
a  lively  trade  was  carried  on  w  ith  the  little  band  of  Kishkekosh.  On  a  certain 
day  a  dozen  or  more  of  the  braves  visited  his  place  and  managed  to  get 


42  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

drunk.  They  then  demanded  more  \vhisk>-.  \\hich  the  dealer  refused  for  fear 
of  serious  trouble.  The  Indians  became  quarrelsome,  but  after  persisting 
some  time  without  success  they  went  back  to  their  camp  grumbling.  Soon 
thereafter  they  returned  with  a  lot  of  raw  recruits,  the  total  number  being 
three  times  as  many  as  at  first.  The  traders  became  alarmed  and  endeavored 
to  prevent  the  Indians  from  entering  the  store,  but  the  door  was  easily 
pushed  in.  One  of  the  white  men  knocked  down  three  of  the  ugly  Aluscjuakas, 
but  thev  were  ox^erpowered  by  the  shere  force  of  superior  numbers  and  borne 
to  the  floor  of  the  shantv,  where  they  were  badly  maltreated.  One  was  badly 
injured  by  a  blow  from  an  Indian  holding  in  his  hand  a  saw  he  chanced  to  get 
hold  of.  Thev  finallv  made  good  their  escape,  leaving  the  store  and  its  ''wet"' 
contents  plunder  for  the  red  men  of  the  forest.  The  white  men  found  their 
way  to  Adam  Tool's  place,  where  they  found  the  men  all  away  from  home, 
and  thev  were  not  pitied  much  by  the  good  housewife,  who  had  no  love  in  her 
heart  for  wreckless  liquor  tlealers.  They  never  engaged  in  business  again  in 
Jasper  county. 

The  same  spring  (1844)  came  ]\Iatthew  Fish,  who  also  began  to  trade 
with  the  Indians.  His  place  was  two  miles  northwest  of  Tool's  Point.  He 
ran  a  respectable  place  and  sold  no  whisky  to  anyone.  He  traded  three  }-ears 
and  then  sold  his  claim  to  a  man  named  Tucker. 

Later  in  the  season  of  1844  came  in  one  Redick,  and  he  stayed  with  one 
of  the  first  four  settlers,  ^''ance,  and  there  he  handled  whatever  the  Indians 
most  wanted.  l)ut  only  remained  a  few  months. 

Scott  &  Nichols  visited  Jasper  county  the  same  year  and  traded  with  the 
Indians,  doing  a  large  whisky  business.  They  had  located  the  year  before  at 
Red  Rock  and  in  the  summer  of  that  year  Scott,  while  hunting,  had  trouble 
\\  itli  some  Indians,  who  stole  several  articles  from  his  camp  south  of  Lvnn- 
ville.  This  maddened  the  Indians,  who  said,  "vScott,  he  have  too  much  white 
in  his  eyes."  Scott  left,  but  Xichols  remained  three  years.  His  principal 
purchases  were  ponies,  the  usual  price  l:)cing  sixteen  quarts  of  whiskv  for  a 
first-class  pony. 

THE   TRAIL    MADE    RY    THE    l)R.\(;()ONS. 

Concerning  the  trail  left  in  the  march  of  the  United  States  dragoons 
through  Jasper  county,  in  the  forties,  an  able  writer  for  the  Western  His- 
torical Companv  in  the  seventies  says : 

"Soon  after  the  treaty  of  1842  had  been  com])]etc(l.  bv  the  terms  of 
whicli  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  were  to  be  protected  from  expeditions  from  the 


jAsrF.R  corxTv.  IOWA.  43 

war-like  Sionx.  the  government  made  preparations  to  send  troops  into  the 
new  purchase  for  that  purpose.  The  infantry  was  sent  up  the  Des  Moines 
river,  arriving  at  the  Raccoon  forks  ]\Iay  g,  1843.  -^s  soon  as  the  grass  had 
started  sufficiently,  the  dragoons  detailed  to  go  as  scouts  were  sent  forward 
to  the  same  point,  by  way  of  Iowa  City.  Their  course  was  really  due  west,  as 
nearly  as  the  upland  of  the  country  would  admit  of.  and  it  crossed  very  nearly 
where  now  stands  the  city  of  Newton.  This  is  the  first  passage,  so  far  as 
can  be  ascertained,  by  white  men  through  the  central  part  of  what  became 
Jasper  county  four  years  later.  It  would  be  a  pleasure  to  record  the  halting 
places  of  the  little  journey  by  this  party,  but  it  cannot  now  be  done.  The 
little  band  hardly  dreamed  that  the  prospector's  wagon  was  close  behind,  and 
to  them  it  would  have  been  the  merest  imagination,  and  an  improbable  thing, 
had  one  of  the  party  prophesied  that  the  day's  journey  they  were  making  be- 
tween Red  Rock  and  South  Skunk  would  in  thirt}-  years  be  marked  with 
three  prosperous,  busy  towns,  and  that  on  every  July  day  over  one  hundred 
harvesters  could  be  counted  on  either  side  of  the  trail  they  were  then  making 
through  the  forest  and  prairie  grass. 

'"At  night  the  camp-kettle  bubbled,  while  the  horses  were  picketed,  the 
sentinels  placed  and  the  men  in  dusty  uniforms  collected  to  devour  their 
rations.  Pipes  and  cards  were  produced,  and,  indifferent  to  the  future,  the 
men  played  "old  sledge"'  for  an  hour,  and  then,  wrapping  their  blankets 
about  th6m,  bivouacked  beneath  the  stars  that  winked  to  each  other,  as  if 
they  knew  more  about  the  future  than  the  tired  horsemen  reposing  on  the 
prairie  grass  never  before  crushed  by  the  boot-heel." 


CH  A  IT  F.R  ^y. 

ORGAN IZATI ox    OK    JASPKR    COUNTY. 

Oriijinally.  Jasper  was  incliKlecl  in  Keokuk  county.  It  was  established 
January  13.  1846,  and  organized  March  1.  1846.  up  to  whicli  time  it  had  been 
attached  to  Mahaska  county  for  election  and  judicial  purposes.  It  was  named 
in  honor  of  Serqeant  William  Jasper,  who  won  fame  as  a  Revolutionary  sol- 
dier. The  following-  were  named  as  the  committee  to  locate  a  county  seat 
for  the  new  county  i>\  Jasi)er:  Ricliard  lusher.  E.  W .  Kirkman  and  Thomas 
Anderson,  respectively  from  Wapello.  Davis  and  Keokuk  counties.  The 
first  district  court  was  appointed  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  Matthew  D. 
Sprin,qer. 

The  boundarv  lines,  as  first  defined,  were  not  correctly  specified  by  the 
act  of  the  Legislature,  in  that  it  caused  the  county  being  set  apart  to  cover 
parts  of  adjoining  counties,  as  now  understood.  The  first  act  of  the  Legisla- 
ture was  dated  January  13.  184^).  but  four  days  later,  January  ijtb.  the 
Legislature  saw  its  error  and  so  amended  the  act  as  to  read  as  follows  : 

■■P.eginning  at  the  northeast  corner  of  township  Xo.  8t  north,  of  range 
Xo.  17  west;  thence  west  to  the  northwest  corner  of  township  X'^o.  81  north. 
of  range  21  west:  thence  south  to  the  .southeast  corner  of  township  X'o.  78 
north,  of  range  Xix  21  west:  thence  east  to  the  southeast  corner  of  township 
Xo.  78  ni'trth.  of  range  17  west:  thence  to  the  place  of  beginning."' 

TIIR   OKCANrziXr,    ACT. 

The  following  is  substantially  the  wording  of  tbe  record  of  the  act  or- 
ganizing Jasper  county  approved  Januarx'  17.   1846: 

''Section  i.  I'e  it  enacted  b\-  the  Coimcil  and  House  of  Representatives 
of  the  Territory  of  Iowa:  That  the  counties  of  Jasper  and  Polk  be  and  they 
are  hereby  organized,  from  and  after  the  date  of  March  next,  and  the  in- 
habitants of  said  counties  shall  be  entitled  to  all  the  rights  and  privileges  to 
which  by  law  the  inhabitants  of  other  organized  counties  of  the  territory  are 
entitled,  and  the  said  counties  shall  constitute  a  part  of  the  second  iudicial 
district  of  the  territory. 

"Sec.  2.  That  there  sliall  be  a  special  election  held  on  the  first  Mondav 
of  the  month  of  April,  at  which  time  the  county  officers  for  said  counties 


JASPER    COUXTV.    K)\VA.  45 

shall  be  elected:  and  also  such  number  of  justices  of  the  peace  and  constables, 
for  each  of  said  counties  as  may  be  ordered  by  the  clerks  of  the  court  for 
their  respective  counties. 

"Sec.  3.  That  it  shall  be  the  duties  of  the  several  clerks  of  the  district 
court,  in  and  for  said  counties,  to  give  at  least  ten  days'  previous  notice  of 
the  time  and  place  of  holding  such  special  election,  in  each  of  said  counties, 
grant  certificates  of  election,  and  in  all  respects  discharge  the  duties  required 
by  law  to  be  performed  by  the  clerks  of  the  boards  of  county  commissioners 
in  relation  to  elections,  until  a  clerk  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners  for 
their  respective  counties  may  be  elected  and  qualified. 

"Sec.  4.  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  clerk  of  the  district  court,  in 
each  of  said  counties,  to  discharge  all  the  duties  required  by  law  to  be  per- 
formed by  sheriffs,  in  relation  to  elections,  until  a  sheriff  for  their  respective 
counties  may  be  elected  and  qualified. 

"Sec.  5.  That  the  county  officers,  justices  of  the  peace  and  constables 
elected  under  the  provisions  of  this  act  shall  hold  their  offices  until  the  first 
Monday  in  the  month  of  August,  1846.  and  until  their  successors  are  elected 
and  qualified. 

"Sec.  6.  That  the  clerks  of  the  district  court,  in  and  for  said  counties 
of  Jasper  and  Polk,  may  be  appointed  and  qualified  at  any  time  after  the  pas- 
sage of  this  act. 

"Sec.  7.  That  all  actions  at  law  and  equity  in  the  district  court  of  the 
county  of  Alahaska  commenced  prior  to  the  organization  of  said  counties  of 
Jasper  and  Polk,  where  the  parties,  or  either  of  them  reside  in  either  of  the 
counties  aforesaid,  shall  be  prosecuted  to  final  judgment,  order  or  decree  as 
fully  and  effectually  as  if  this  act  had  not  been  passed. 

"Sec.  8.  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  justices  of  the  peace,  resident 
within  said  counties  of  Jasper  and  Polk,  to  return  all  books  and  papers  in 
their  hands,  pertaining  to  said  offices,  to  the  next  nearest  justice  of  the  peace, 
who  may  be  elected  and  qualified  for  their  respective  counties  under  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act;  and  all  suits  at  law.  or  other  official  business,  which  may 
be  in  the  hands  of  such  justices  of  the  peace  and  unfinished,  shall  be  prosecuted 
or  completed  by  the  justices  of  the  peace  to  whom  such  business  or  papers 
may  have  been  returned  as  aforesaid. 

"Sec.  9.  That  the  judicial  authorities  of  ^Mahaska  county  shall  have 
cognizance  of  all  crimes  or  violations  of  the  criminal  laws  of  this  territory 
committed  within  the  limits  of  said  counties  of  Jasper  and  Polk  prior  to  the 
first  dav  of  March  next :  Proxided.  prosecutions  be  commenced  under  the 


46  JASl'KU    CurXTV.    IOWA. 

judicial  authorities  of  said  ^fahaska  county  prior  to  the  first  day  of  March 
next. 

"Sec.  10.  That  the  said  counties  of  Jasper  and  Polk  shall  have  cog- 
nizance and  jurisdiction  of  all  crimes  or  violations  of  the  criminal  laws  of  this 
territorv  committed  prior  to  the  first  day  of  March  next,  in  cases  where  prose- 
cutions shall  not  have  been  commenced  under  the  judicial  authorities  of  Ma- 
haska county. 

"Sec.  II.     That  the  county  of  Marshall  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  at- 
tached to  the  county  of  Jasper  for  elections,  revenue  and  judicial  purposes. 
"Sec.  !_'.     (Attached  counties  of  Story,  Boone  and  Dallas  to  Polk.) 
"Sec.  13.     That  the  several  clerks  of  the  district  courts  in  and  for  the 
said  counties  of  Jasper  and  Polk,  may  keep  their  respective  offices  at  any  place 
within  their  respective  counties  until  the  county  seats  thereof  may  be  located. 
"Sec.    14.     That  Richard  Fisher,  of  the  county  of  Wapello;  E.  :\1.  Kirk- 
ham,  of  the  countv  of  Davis,  and  Thomas  Henderson,  of  the  county  of  Keo- 
kuk, be  and  thev  are  hereby  appointed  commissioners  to  locate  and  establish 
the  seat  of  justice  of  the.  county  of  Jasper. 

"Sec.   15.     (Appointed  commissioners  for  Polk.) 

■'Sec.  16.  That  said  commissioners,  or  a  majority  of  them,  shall  meet 
at  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  the  district  court  in  and  for  the  county  for  which 
seat  of  justice  they  have  been  appointed  to  locate,  on  the  first  Monday  in  the 
month  of  ]\Iay  next,  or  at  such  other  time,  not  exceeding  thirty  days  there- 
after, as  a  majority  of  said  commissioners  may  agree. 

"Sec.  17.  (Prescribed  the  oath  to  be  administered  to  the  commissioners.) 
"Sec.  18.  Said  commissioners,  when  met  and  qualified,  shall  proceed  to 
locate  the  seat  of  justice  of  the  respective  counties  for  which  they  have  been 
appointed,  and  as  soon  as  they  shall  have  come  to  a  determination,  the  same 
shall  be  committed  to  writing,  signed  by  the  said  commissioners  and  filed  with 
the  clerk  of  the  district  court  of  the  county  in  which  such  seat  of  justice  is 
situated,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  record  the  same  and  forever  keep  it  on  file 
in  his  office,  and  the  place  thus  designated  shall  be  the  seat  of  justice  of  said 
county. 

"Sec.  19.  (Provided  that  the  commissioners  should  receive  two  dollars 
per  (lay  and  two  dollars  for  every  twenty  miles  traveled  while  discharging 
their  duties.) 

"Sec.  20.  That  the  district  court  for  the  county  of  Jasper  shall  be  held 
at  the  house  of  Mathew  D.  Springer,  in  said  county,  or  at  such  other  place  as 
may  be  designated  by  the  board  of  county  commissioners  of  said  countv,  until 
the  seat  of  justice  may  be  located." 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  47 

ORGANIZING  ELECTION. 

The  duties  of  setting  off  precincts,  appointing-  judges,  setting  up  notices, 
etc..  were  performed  by  a  citizen  of  Iowa  county. 

At  the  election  held  in  April.  1846.  there  were  thirty-five  \otes  cast  for 
the  office  of  sheriff',  of  which  D.  Edmundson  received  eighteen  votes  and  his 
opponent  seventeen.  Moses  Lacy  was  one  of  the  judges  at  Elk  Creek  pre- 
cinct. The  other  polling  places  were  at  Tool's  Point  and  Lynn  Grove.  A 
return  of  the  vote  was  made  at  Iowa  City,  in  order  to  show  the  territorial 
authorities  that  the  county  was  organized  to  assume  its  rights  and  duties,  and 
also  to  KJnoxville,  where  the  vote  was  canvassed  and  declared.  John  H. 
Franklin  was  the  messenger  sent  to  Iowa  City  and  Washington  Fleenor  to 
Knoxville. 

The  officers  chosen  were :  Joab  Bennett.  John  R.  Sparks  and  ]^Ianly 
Gifford,  commissioners;  John  H.  Franklin,  clerk:  J.  \V.  Awann.  treasurer; 
Davidson  Edmundson.  sheriff;  Seth  Hemmer.  recorder;  Washington  Fleenor, 
probate  judge. 

It  will  be  understood  by  the  reader  that  the  county  was  at  first,  and  until 
1 85 1,  governed  solely  by  the  officers  known  as  the  board  of  commissioners; 
then  came  the  county  judge  system,  that  obtained  until  the  county  supervisor 
system  went  into  effect,  under  the  code  of  that  year,  when  the  judge's  powers 
were  limited  to  a  sort  of  probate  business  and  finally  in  1868  was  abolished 
entirely  and  the  office  of  county  auditor  established,  and  he  serves  as  ex- 
officio  clerk  of  the  board  of  supervisors. 

FIRST  MEETING  OF  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS, 

"Territory  of  Iowa,  Jasper  County : 

■'At  a  special  term  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners,  in  and  for  the 
county  of  Jasper,  in  the  territory  of  Iowa,  begun  and  holden  on  the  14th  day 
of  April,  A.  D.  1846.  present  John  R.  Sparks,  Joab  Bennett  and  Manly  Gif- 
ford, commissioners  of  said  court;  John  H.  Franklin,  clerk  of  the  board  of 
commissioners,  and  David  Edmundson,  sheriff  of  said  county. 

■'Ordered,  that  the  eagle  side  of  a  ten-cent  piece,  or  dime,  of  the  coin 
of  the  United  States,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  adopted  as  the  temporary  seal 
of  the  board  of  county  commissioners  of  the  county  of  Jasper,  aforesaid,  until 
a  proper  seal  may  be  provided  for  the  use  of  said  board." 

By  a  joint  resolution,  passed  January  17,  1846,  William  Edmundson  was 
authorized  to  contract  a  full  set  of  seals  for  the  counties  of  Marion,  Jasper 


^8  JASI'KK    COLNTV,    IOWA. 

and  Tolk.  and  that  ihe  same  be  paid  for  out  ot  the  territorial  treasury.     By 
this  it  would  seem  that  the  seal  of  Jasper  county  had  not  yet  been  obtained. 

The  clerk  was  authorized  to  procure  suitable  books  and  stationery  for  the 
countv.  after  which  the  board  adjourned  to  the  second  Monday  of  May  fol- 
lowiiii;-.  The  book  provided  for  the  clerk  and  commissioners'  use  was  a  thick 
account  book,  of  about  three  hundred  pages,  which  contains  all  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  that  pioneer  body,  as  well  as  the  doings  of  the  county  judge,  up  to 
January  30,  1855. 

LOCATING    THE    COUNTY    SEAT. 

Before  Ballinger  Aydellotte,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  appeared  Messrs. 
Henderson  and  Fisher,  two  of  the  three  commissioners  named  as  locating 
commissioners  in  the  county-seat  matter,  on  the  nth  of  }klay,  1846,  and  took 
an  oath  to  faithfully  and  well  perform  their  duties  in  impartially  locating  the 
seat  of  justice  for  Jasper  county.  They  swore  to  take  into  account  the 
"future  as  well  as  the  present  population  of  the  county."  Their  report  is 
carefully  preserxed  in  the  archives  of  the  county,  as  required  by  law,  and  as 
the  document  is  somewhat  of  a  curiosity,  unicjue  in  its  spelling  and  general 
make-up,  it  is  here  given  in  full  as  follows : 

"Territory  of  Iowa,  Jasper  County: 

"We,  the  undersigned  Commissioners,  appointed  by  an  x\ct  of  the  Legis- 
lature of  the  Territory  of  Iowa,  passed  at  the  session  of  1845-6,  providing  for 
the  organization  of  the  Counties  of  Jasper  and  Polk  Counties,  after  having 
1)een  duly  qualified  agreeably  to  the  provisions  of  Said  Act,  faithfully  and  Im- 
partially to  Locate  the  seat  of  justice  of  said  Jasper  county,  and  having  Ex- 
amined the  Sityation  of  said  County,  have  Agreed,  and  doe  hereby  Locate  and 
Establish  the  County  Seat  of  said  Jasper  County  on  the  Northwest  Quarter 
of  Section  (34)  Thirty-four,  Township  Eighty  (80)  of  Range  Nineteen 
(19).  Witness  our  hands  this  14th  day  of  May,  A.  D.,  1846 — and  furtfier 
Doe  Give  the  Seat  of  Justice  of  said  County  the  name  of  Newton  City. 

•'Thomas  Henderson, 
"Richard  Fisher, 

"Commissioners  to  locate  the  Seate  of  Justice  of  Jasper  County,  Iowa  Terri- 
tory." 

The  alxjve  instrument  was  hied  as  the  comniissioners'report.  witli  J.  N. 
Kinsman,  clerk  of  the  district  court.  May  25,  1846. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  49 

The  record  of  the  affair  shows  that  the  commissioners  examined  two 
other  sites  besides  the  one  at  Newton.  One  was  at  a  point  two  miles  south  of 
the  one  chosen,  situated  in  section  3,  Palo  Alto  township,  and  the  other  was 
near  the  residence  which  later  belonged  to  William  Hixon,  in  Kellogg  town- 
ship, about  three  miles  to  the  east  of  Newton.  The  general  belief  is  that  the 
site  near  Mr.  Hixon's  would  have  been  selected  as  the  point  at  which  to 
locate  Jasper's  county  seat,  had  it  not  been  for  the  "log  rolling''  carried  on  by 
the  people  of  "Fort  Des  Moines"  to  prevent  the  four  w-estern  congressional 
townships  of  Jasper  from  being  annexed  to  l\jlk  county,  which  would  have 
endangered  the  prospects  of  the  fort  itself  of  being  made  the  permanent 
county  seat  of  Polk  county.  In  that  event,  it  will  readily  be  seen  that  Des 
Moines  would  have  been  too  far  west  in  Polk  to  have  won  the  coveted  prize, 
the  county  seat.  While  the  final  result  gave  Des  Moines  what  it  wanted,  the 
latter-day  population  of  Jasper  county  have  ne\er  regretted  the  turn  which 
things  took  through  this  sharp  practice  on  the  part  of  Des  Moines'  early-day 
political  factors.  It  has  given  this  county  a  very  desirable  and  highly  valuable 
strip  of  land  six  miles  wide  on  the  western  border  of  her  fertile  domain,  in- 
cluding the  civil  townships  of  Clear  Creek,  Poweshiek,  Washington  and  Des 
Moines. 

Before  the  commissioners  had  settled  on  Newton  as  the  seat  of  justice, 
it  is  related  in  a  former  historical  compilation,  that  B.  Aydelotte  and  William 
M.  Springer  erected  a  liickory  log  building  at  Adamson's  Grove,  which  they 
proposed  to  donate  the  county  for  office  building  purposes,  but  the  offer  was 
ignored  bv  the  locating  commissioners,  w'hich  greatly  angered  the  would-be 
donors  of  a  primitive  court  house.  However,  they  were  manly  enough  not 
to  rush  into  either  injunction  or  mandamus  proceedings,  as  has  been  the  case 
in  many  another  Io\\  a  county  before  the  county  seat  question  has  tinally  been 
settled. 

Thomas  Adamson  had  a  high  pole  erected  on  the  site  selected  by  the 
commissioners.  To  this  pole  he  had  attached  a  composition  of  his  own  mak- 
ing, setting  forth  the  beautiful  location,  that  it  was  central,  and  that  here  it 
should  he  located,  because  by  so  doing  would  be  effected  the  greatest  good  to 
the  greatest  number.  Mr.  Adamson  was  a  rock-rooted  Democrat,  and  so 
were  the  locating  commissioners,  and  some  were  of  the  belief  that  the  stand 
he  took  had  much  to  do  with  the  final  locating  of  the  seat  of  justice  at  Newton. 
Be  that  as  it  may,  ''all  is  well  that  ends  well,''  and  but  few  have  ever  had 
reason  to  regret  that  Ne\\t(Mi  was  chosen.  With  the  crowning  glory  of  the 
present  new  temple  of  I'ustice,  costing  more  than  two  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars, it  is  quite  certain  that  the  time  will  never  come  in  the  county's  history 
when  a  mo\-ement  will  be  for  once  thought  of  for  moving  the  county  seat. 
(4) 


;0  JASl'KR    COIXTV.    IOWA. 

DIVIDING     THE     COL'XTV     INTO     TOWNSHIPS. 

On  Mav  14.  1846.  the  county  coniniissioneis  proceeded  to  lay  off  civil 
sub-divisions,  or  townships,  as  follows: 

"Ordered,  that  there  be  a  precinct  laid  otT  in  the  southwest  corner  of 
the  county,  to  be  called  Des  Moines  precinct.  Said  precinct  to  contain  all 
the  territory  west  of  the  Indian  boundary  line,  and  all  south  of  the"  terri- 
torial road  leading-  from  Oskaloosa  to  Fort  Des  Moines,  within  said  Jasper 
county. 

"Fairview  Township — Ordered  that  Fairview  precinct  be  bounded  on 
the  northeast  Iw  Skunk  ri\er.  on  the  south  by  the  county  line,  and  on  the 
southwest  bv  Des  Moines  precinct,  and  on  the  west  by  said  county  line  to 
said  Skunk  river. 

Elk  Creek  Township — Ordered  that  Elk  Creek  precinct  be  l)ounded  as 
follows :  Beginning  at  the  northwest  corner  of  said  county,  thence  south  to 
Skunk  river,  and  down  said  Skunk  river  to  the  south  line  of  the  county, 
thence  east  to  range  line  dividing  17  and  18,  thence  north  to  north  boun- 
darv  of  said  county,  thence  west  to  place  of  beginning." 

Lynn  Cirove  township  was  created  by  the  following  order:  /'That 
Lynn  Grove  precinct  be  bounded  as  follows :  That  said  precinct  shall  con- 
tain all  that  portion  of  territory  in  said  county  east  of  range  line  between 
17  and  18." 

The  abnve  were  Jasper  county's  original  townships,  or  precincts,  as 
sometimes  still  termed,  but  "township"'  is  the  real  name  of  the  subdivisions 
in  the  entire  state  of  Iowa. 

The  judges  of  election  in  these  newly  created  primaries  were  appointed 
bv  the  board  of  commissioners  as  follows :  In  Fairview  precinct,  Adam 
Tool.  Xewton  \\'right  and  John  Frost ;  in  Elk  Creek  precinct,  ]\Ioses  Lacy, 
Thomas  J.  Adamson  and  Xathan  Williams;  in  Lynn  Grove  precinct.  Rufus 
Williams.  M.  L.  Matthew  and  Blakely  Shoemakc :  in  Des  Moines  precinct, 
Moses  Ray,  James  Guthrie  and  Adam  Michael. 

The  first  official  act  of  County  Judge  Jesse  Rickman  (who  was  elected 
in  August.  1851.  and  immediately  took  his  seat)  was  that  of  rearranging 
the  township  lines,  which  was  accomplished  as  follows : 

"The  following  are  the  boundaries  of  Lynn  Grove  township:  Com- 
mencing at  the  northeast  corner  of  township  81,  range  17  west,  and  run  we'st 
six  miles  to  the  southwest  crirner  of  said  township  and  range;  thence  south 
to  the  southwest  corner  of  township  /S<,  range  17;  thence  east  six  miles  to 
the  southwest  corner  of  saicl  townsliiji  and  range:  thence  to  the  j:)lace  of 
beginning. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  5 1 

"The  follow  ing-  are  the  boundaries  of  Xewton  township :  Commenc- 
ing- at  the  nortlieast  corner  of  township  8i,  range  i8  west,  and  run  west 
twehe  miles  to  the  northeast  corner  of  township  8i,  range  19;  thence  south 
six  miles  to  the  southwest  corner  of  said  township  and  range;  thence  west 
two  miles  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  2,  township  80,  range  20; 
thence  south  to  Skunk  river;  thence  with  the  meanders  of  the  river  to  the 
section  line  four  miles  south  of  township  line  Xo.  79;  thence  east  to  range 
line  18;  thence  north  to  place  of  beginning. 

''The  following  are  the  boundaries  of  Elk  Creek  township:  Com- 
mencing at  the  northeast  corner  of  section  25,  township  79,  range  18  west, 
and  run  west  to  Skunk  river;  thence  with  the  meanders  of  the  river  to  the 
county  line:  thence  east  to  range  18,  thence  north  to  place  of  beginning. 

"Fair\iew  Township — The  boundaries  of  Fairview  township  are :  Com- 
mencing on  the  county  line  at  the  southeast  corner  of  section  34.  township  78. 
range  20  west,  and  run  north  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  22.  township 
79,  range  20;  thence  east  to  Skunk  river:  thence  with  the  meanderings  of  the 
river  to  the  county  line ;  thence  west  to  place  of  beginning. 

''Des  ^Nfoines  Township — Commencing  at  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
county  and  run  north  to  the  southwest  corner  of  section  18.  township  79. 
range  21  west:  thence  east  to  the  northeast  corner  of  section  21.  township  79, 
range  20 ;  thence  south  to  the  county  line :  thence  west  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning. 

Poweshiek  Township — Commencing  at  the  southwest  corner  of  section 
18.  township  79,  range  21.  and  run  east  to  Skunk  river:  thence  up  the  ri\-er 
with  the  meanders  to  the  section  line  two  miles  west  of  range  20:  thence  north 
to  the  township  line  81;  thence  west  to  the  county  line:  thence  south  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

''Clear  Creek  Township — Commencing  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
county,  and  run  south  to  township  line  81 ;  thence  east  to  range  line  20:  thence 
north  to  the  county  line :  thence  west  to  the  place  of  beginning." 

ANOTHER    CHANGE    IN  TOWNSHIP    LINES. 

In  February,  1857,  the  county  judge  saw  fit  to  make  other  changes  in 
the  territory  and  boundaries  of  the  several  townships  within  Jasper  county. 
After  that  task  had  been  completed  the  townships  of  the  county  were  as  fol- 
lows:  Rock  Creek,  Mariposa.  ^lalaka.  Clear  Creek.  Poweshiek.  Xewton, 
P)uen'i  \^ista.  Palo  Alto.  Mound  Prairie.  Des  ^^oines.  Fairview,  Elk  Creek. 
Lvnn  Grove.  This  made  twelve  townships  in  all  up  to  the  date  this  change 
was  broue^ht  about. 


0- 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 


On  March  4,  1858,  Independence  township  was  formed. 

By  election  time,  i860,  the  townships  had  been  changed  around  to  as- 
sume somewhat  their  present  standing,  Washington  township,  however,  not 
having  been  set  off  until  June,  1861,  at  request  of  petitioners  from  Mound 
Prairie  township.     Sherman  and  Hickory  Grove  were  formed  at  a  later  date. 


WASHINGTON     PRECINCT. 

1 

In  Marion  county,  to  the  south  of  what  is  now  Jasper  county,  the  set- 
tlement had  increased  to  such  an  extent  that  the  commissioners  of  Mahaska 
countv,  in  March.  1845.  erected  the  territory  now  comprised  within  the 
bounds  of  Jasper  county  into  what  they  were  pleased  to  term  "Washington 
precinct."  with  the  polling  place  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Tool.  As  there  were 
only  about  a  dozen  voters  within  the  precinct  at  that  date,  it  is  possible  that 
the  vote  was  smaller  than  at  the  election  the  year  l3efore  and  the  officers 
elected  were  doubtless  the  same  as  those  of  the  previous  year. 

THE    GOVERNMENT     SURVEYS. 

All  of  the  township  and  range  lines  north  of  the  correction  line  and 
east  of  the  Indian  Reserve  line  were  run  by  Orson  Lyon,  who  also  ran  the 
southern  and  western  line  of  township  78,  range  19.  The  correction  line  was 
laid  by  J.  E.  Whitcher  to  the  northwest  corner  of  township  78,  range  19,  and 
was  afterwards  prolonged  westward  by  Isaac  X.  Higbee.  The  tow^nship  and 
range  lines  south  of  the  correction  line,  and  east  of  the  reservation,  were  run 
bv  William  A.  Burt  of  ^Michigan,  son  of  the  inventor  of  Burt's  solar  compass. 
Both  Lyon  and  Burt  were  employed  for  several  years  in  the  surveys  of  Iowa. 
Township  78,  range  21,  was  bounded  by  John  Ball,  and  the  lines  of  the  re- 
maining townships  in  range  21  were  laid  by  Isaac  N.  Higbee.  Other  parts 
of  the  survev  in  Jasper  county  were  surveyed  out  by  ^lessrs  John  D.  Evans, 
Samuel  Whitmore.  Samuel  Jacobs.  James  (jrant  and  possibly  one  other 
surveyor. 

DATES     OF     TOWNSHIP     ORGANIZATIONS. 

These  dates  refer  to  original  formation  of  the  several  townships  of 
Jasper  county,  as  kmiw  n  today,  and  not  to  certain  changes  in  their  territory 
and  lines : 

Buena  Vista  township  was  organized  in  February,  1857. 

Clear  Creek  township  was  organized  in  the  summer  of  1849. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  53 

Elk  Creek  township  was  organized  in  ]\Iay.  1846,  one  of  the  original 
townships. 

Fairview  township  was  organized  in  May,  1846,  one  of  the  original 
townships. 

Des  Moines  township  was  organized  in  'Sla.y,  1846.  one  of  the  original 
townships. 

Hickory  Grove  township  was  organized  in  1864,  among  the  last. 

Independence  township  was  organized  in  March,  1858. 

Kellogg  township  was  organized  in  1868. 

Lynn  Grove  township  was  organized  in  1846,  one  of  the  first  sub- 
divisions. 

Mariposa  township  was  organized  in  February,   1857. 

Mound   Prairie  township  was   organized   in   February,    1857. 

]\Ialaka  township  was  organized  in  February,  1857. 

Xewton  township  was  organized  in  August,  1851. 

Palo  Alto  township  was  organized  in  February,  1857. 

Poweshiek  township  was  organized  in  1847. 

Rock  Creek  township  was  organized  September  4,  1854. 

Richland  township  was  organized  in  i860. 

Washington  township  was  organized  in  1861. 


CHAPTER    V. 

EARLY     SETTLEMENT    OF    THE     COUNTY. 

To  ha\e  been  a  pioneer  in  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  while  the  fair  and 
fertile  domain  was  yet  under  the  territorial  government  was  indeed  an 
honor  to  those  who  braved  the  frontier  hardships,  away  back  in  the  early 
forties,  when  the  Indian  was  still  in  part  possession  of  this  section  of  the 
"vast,  illimitable  and  ever-changing  West."  The  sons  and  daughters  of 
these  early  settlers  may  well  refer  to  their  ancestry  with  a  just  pride,  for 
it  was  they  who  set  the  first  stakes  to  a  civilization  now  far  surpassing  their 
most  sanguine  dreams.  Then,  too,  many  of  the  pioneer  band  and  their  off- 
spring went  forth  in  1861  in  defense  of  the  flag  of  the  Union  and  laid  down 
life  on  a  Southern  battlefield,  or  perchance  returned  maimed  for  life.  In- 
deed the  pioneer  band  who  first  invaded  the  wilds  of  Jasper  county  were  men 
and  women  of  the  truest  and  most  sterling  type  of  manhood  and  woman- 
hood. 

It  was  on  April  23,  1843,  ^  week  prior  to  the  legal  time  set  for  wdiite 
men  to  set  their  claim  stakes  in  the  "New  Purchase"  in  Iowa,  that  four 
daring,  rugged  characters,  accompanied  by  three  others,  left  their  families 
in  Jefferson  county,  Iowa  territory,  in  search  of  lands  on  which  to  build 
for  themselves  new  homes.  These  men  were  Adam  M.  Tool,  William  Hisfh- 
land,  John  Frost  and  John  Vance.  Of  the  three  men  who  accompanied 
those  just  named,  this  narrative  will  not  undertake  to  trace  further  than 
when  they  parted  from  the  four  who  are  the  subjects  of  this  item  in  the 
early  settlement  chapter  now  being  prepared  by  the  compiler  of  this  work. 

These  four  brave-hearted  pioneers  carried  ten  days'  rations,  and  blankets 
on  which  to  sleep  at  night  time,  and  traveled  a  distance  of  eight v  miles  up 
the  Skunk  river.  On  the  night  of  the  28th  of  April,  1843,  these  weary 
travelers  and  homeseekers  camped  for  the  night  at  a  point  where  now 
stands  the  town  of  Monroe.  They  prepared  their  evening  meal,  rolled  up 
in  their  blankets  and  slept  peacefully  in  that  solitude  as  yet  unbroken  by 
the  work  of  the  white  race.  The  next  day  they  passed  on  south  to  the 
trading  post  of  Dick  Parker,  at  the  red  rocks  of  the  Des  Moines,  then  the 
only  house  west  of  Jefferson  county.  Here  they  chanced  to  meet  that  now- 
historic  steamboat,  "'lone,"   which   was  slowly  making  its  way  up  the   Des 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  55 

Moines  river,  having  on  board  a  company  of  infantry,  commanded  by 
Captain  Allen,  who  was  then  building  a  barracks  at  the  Raccoon  forks 
(present  Des  ]^Ioines  City).  The  land  seekers  were  headed  for  a  "squat- 
ter's" place  whose  name  was  ]\Iosier,  in  the  Narrows  near  where  Oskaloosa 
now  stands,  but  as  if  by  the  strange  hand  of  fate,  or  Providence,  they  were 
caught  in  a  drenching,  cold  spring  rain.  They  walked  briskly  along  the 
Indian  trail  till  late  at  eventide,  finally  reaching  their  objective  point,  badly 
jaded  by  exposure. 

In  the  morning  of  the  following  day  Adam  M.  Tool  was  especially  dis- 
gusted with  his  experience  and  talked  of  returning  to  Jefferson  county  and 
there  purchasing  a  claim  of  another.  They  had  been  informed  (possibly 
by  the' trader  Parker)  that  the  Xew  Purchase  would  not  be  ready  for  set- 
tlement for  at  least  twenty  years  yet.  The  quartette  of  homeseekers  all 
seemed  to  have  a  bad  case  of  the  '"blues."  Highland  was  not  satisfied, 
but  believed  that,  on  the  whole,  they  could  not  do  better  than  retrace  their 
steps  and  stake  out  claims  up  the  river.  Finally  a  council  determined  that 
they  should  go  back  to  the  point  of  timber  in  which  they  had  camped  on 
the  night  of  the  27th.  Frost  and  A'^ance,  the  other  two,  being  footsore  and 
generally  fatigued,  thought  it  best  for  them  to  remain  at  the  "Narrows" 
until  the  wagon  loaded  with  provisions  which  was  to  intercept  their  wan- 
derings came  in  sight,  when  they  would  have  more  provisions  and  axes 
and  other  implements  with  which  to  make  some  needed  improvements.  Hence 
it  was  that  Tool  and  Highland  sallied  forth  and  made  their  way  to  the 
Skunk  Bottoms,  arriving  at  their  former  camping  spot  on  the  night  of  the 
30th  of  April.  1843.  The  next  day  was  hailed  with  great  delight,  as  that 
was  the  day  fixed  by  the  government  on  which  claims  might  legally  be 
staked  out.  They  did  not  have  the  opposition  met  with  in  later  years  in 
Oklahoma  land  lottery  days,  but  only  had  to  select  such  choice  lands  as 
their  judgment  led  them  to  believe  were  most  desirable  to  them. 

They  went  forth  at  break  of  day,  with  tomahawks  in  hand,  and  be- 
gan the  work  of  blazing  and  staking  off  their  claims.  Highland  blazing  and 
Tool  doing  the  staking  act.  That  day  they  staked  out  two  claims  and  the 
day  following  staked  the  other  two  out. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day  of  their  residence  in  the  goodly 
location,  which  vicinity  later  became  known  as  Tool's  Point,  they  ate  the 
last  of  their  "grub."  but  were  soon  delighted  to  see  the  promised  supply 
wagon.  ^^  ith  a  fresh  supply,  accompanied  by  their  partners.  \'ance  and 
Frost,  as  well  as  the  drivers.  James  A.  Tool,  son  of  the  pioneer,  and  the 
son-in-law,  ^^'ashington  Fleenor.     The  son  and  son-in-law  soon  staked  out 


r5  JASTKR    COrXTV.    IOWA. 

a  claim,  each  for  himself,  adjoining-  the  other  four  already  referred  to.  This 
land  was  about  one-half  timber  and  one  half  ])rairie.  and  each  claim  was 
supposed  to  contain  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  the  prairie  land  being 
situated  along  the  south  side  of  the  Skunk  river. 

These  men  were  all  true  as  steel  and  not  possessed  of  selfishness  or 
graft,  but  agreed  that,  as  long  as  the  men  Tool  and  Highland  had  been  the 
real  pioneers  in  staking  out  claims  there  they  should  have  the  first 
choice  of  claims.  Hence  it  was  that  the  older  Tool  took  the  claim  farther 
to  the  west,  at  the  head  or  point  of  the  grove,  while  Highland  took  the  third 
one  toward  the  east.  Then  Frost  and  \'ance  drew  cuts  to  decide  their  choice. 
A'ance's  lot  fell  between  Tool  and  Highland. 

The  law.  as  well  as  their  own  needs  and  that  of  their  families,  which 
were  soon  expected  on,  demanded  that  within  thirty  days  they  each  pro- 
vide themselves  with  cabins  on  their  several  claims.  The  six  men  above 
named  set  to  work  and  succeeded  in  building  up  as  far  as  the  plates,  one 
house  a  day.  Highland's  was  the  first  built  and  consequently  was  the 
first  erected  in  jasper  county  by  white  men.  After  having  completed  their 
cabins  these  men  went  back  to  Jefferson  county  to  meet  their  families  and 
tell  them  of  the  wonderful  country  they  had  concluded  to  settle  in.  A 
happv  meeting  it  must  have  been,  too! 

MRS.      WILLIAM      HIGHLAND     FIRST     WOMAN. 

As  Mr.  Highland  at  once  packed  up  and  moved  his  family  here,  ]\Irs. 
Highland  was  undoubtedly  the  first  white  woman  to  invade  the  wilds  of 
what  is  now  Jasper  county,  but  which  county  had  not  yet  been  organized. 
This,  the  first  family  to  be  "at  home"  in  the  county,  dated  its  coming  in 
May.  1843.  Vast  the  change  in  these  later  eventful  decades  in  Iowa's 
history  I 

As  the  township  histories  contain  much  of  the  early  settlement  and 
other  matter  concerning  the  various  sections  of  the  county,  the  only  further 
attempt  in  this  chapter  to  give  the  comings  and  goings  of  the  first  men  and 
women  who  settled  the  county,  will  be  brief  sketches  of  a  few  of  the  first 
men  whf)  located  in  the  month  of  April  and  May,  1843.  closing  the  chapter 
with  a  list  of  the  j>ersons  who  are  found  on  the  tax  list  of  1847,  four  years 
after  the  settlement  was  made  at  Tool's  Point. 

Willis  Green  visited  this  county  in  1845,  'Accompanying  James  Pear- 
son. Green  located  a  claim  while  here,  but  did  not  succeed  in  selling  his 
former  claim   in    Mahaska   count v,   so   the   ckiim   here   was   taken   l)v   Da\'i(l 


OLDEST  HOUSE  IN  JASPER  COUNTY 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  57 

Edimindson.  Green  finally  settled  in  1847  and  for  two  years  thereafter 
spent  most  of  his  time  in  hunting  bees  in  :\[arshall  and  Hardin  counties. 
Joab  Bennett  was  usually  his  comrade  on  these  bee  hunts.  Bennett  was  a 
genuine  frontiersman  and  it  is  said  of  him  that  he  could  talk  the  Indian 
dialect  fluently.  Indians  frequently  visited  Newton  to  sell  or  trade  ponies, 
and  while  other  settlers  were  getting  ready  to  buy  a  choice  animal,  expect- 
ing to  pay  ten  or  fifteen  dollars,  Bennett  would  walk  up  to  the  vender  and, 
after  a  moment's  talk,  would  walk  off  with  the  bridle  on  his  arm,  having 
paid  two  or  three  dollars  for  the  animal. 

Seven  claims  were  made  in  1843,  but  only  three  can  now  be  definitelv 
fixed  as  having  been  made  in  1844.  one  having  been  that  of  Manlv  Gifford. 
in  section  36,  township  78,  range  20.  This  man  remained  many  years  and 
made  a  prominent  and  useful  citizen.  Later  in  life  he  moved  to  Keokuk 
county.  John  Campbell  came  to  Jasper  county  in  1844.  but  whether  he 
claimed  land  that  season  is  not  certain  to  the  writer. 

The  beginning  of  a  settlement  was  made  in  the  southeast  portion  of 
the  county  during  the  summer  of  1844,  one  claim  being  taken  by  "Tandy" 
Mayfield,  and  another  by  Wesley  Stalling,  in  what  is  now  styled  Lynn 
Grove.  The  families  of  these  men  probably  did  not  arrive  until  the  spring 
or  summer  of  1845. 

'"tool's   taverx." 

Adam  Tool's  family  arrived  at  his  cabin  September  2,  1843,  ^^d, 
among  the  weeds  and  pea  vines  and  tall  grass,  they  halted  their  teams. 
built  a  fire  by  a  huge  dry  log,  and  there  cooked  and  ate  their  first  supper 
in  Jasper  county,  happy  in  the  thought  that  they  were  on  their  own  land 
and  free  to  car\e  out  a  home  worth  the  having.  The  cabin  being  too 
small  to  accommodate  the  whole  family  of  boys  and  girls  and  parents,  the 
sons  slept  in  their  covered  wagon  for  a  while.  Soon  a  shed  was  built  and 
then  more  room  was  had  for  all  hands  in  the  "house.''  However,  very  soon 
the  strong  sons  and  rugged  father,  with  ax  in  hands,  went  forth  to  the 
forest,  from  which  they  felled  trees  and  then  with  a  broad-ax  hewed  out 
and  built  a  commodious  log  house  of  good  proportions.  Their  nearest  saw 
mill  Avas  seventy-five  miles  away,  so  lumber  was  not  to  be  counted  on.  but 
all  was  worked  out  by  hard  hewing  and  chopping.  It  is  the  oldest  house 
in  the  town  of  ^lonroe  and  stood  many  years  as  a  landmark  of  those 
days  in  1843  "^^hen  it  was  built. 


58  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

As  it  turned  out.  it  came  to  be  a  pioneer  tavern,  for  lono-  before  it  was 
ready  for  real  occupancy  a  weary  traveler  wanted  lodging-  there,  and  as 
the  government  had  set  about  establishing  a  post  at  Fort  Des  Moines,  this 
being  the  nearest  house  to  the  trail  from  that  point  to  Oskaloosa,  it  be- 
came a  stopping  place  for  many  of  the  men  in  government  employ  as  well 
as  strangers  looking  up  locations  for  homes  for  themselves.  Hence  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Tool  had  to  become  real  landlord  and  landlady,  a  thing  which 
they  were  quite  well  adapted  to,  and  they  had  a  large  patronage  for  a 
time. 

Pioneer  Adam  Tool,  who  passed  from  earthly  scenes  in  the  seventies, 
was  born  in  Augusta  county.  Virginia,  July  31,  1794.  His  father  was  a 
teamster  and  young  Tool  had  to  do  his  share  at  helping  cultivate  the  soil 
in  order  that  the  large  family  might  subsist.  He  commenced  farming  on 
his  own  account,  with  one  horse,  when  but  sixteen  years  old.  He  was 
drafted  into  the  militar\-  service  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  He  married 
Susan  H.  Stinson  in  181 7  and  settled  down  for  the  struggle  of  what  proved 
an  eventful  but  prosperous  career.  In  1836  they  moved  to  Coles  countv, 
Illinois,  where  land  was  claimed,  but  on  account  of  the  fever  and  ague 
there,  he  sold  and  went  toJefTerson  county,  low^a  territory,  where  he  was 
reduced  in  property  by  reason  of  sickness,  having  lost  his  eldest  daughter, 
and  other  misfortunes  overtook  him.  It  was  in  the  fall  of  1841  when  he 
arrived  in  Iowa.  After  this  his  history  is  known  to  the  reader,  if  he  has 
read  the  fore  part  of  this  chapter. 

William  Highlands  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1803;  removed  to 
Ohio  when  a  young  man,  and  married  Ellen  Slaine.  In  1837  he  removed 
to  Illinois  and  there  became  acquainted  with  Adam  Tool.  In  September, 
1842,  he  located  in  Jefiferson  county,  Iowa,  to  await  the  opening  of  lands 
in  the  "'New  Purchase."  He  reared  a  large  family,  all  of  whom  have  long 
since  removed  from  Jasper  county  to  other  parts  of  this  (country,  one 
daughter  marrying  James  Fudge  and  moving  to  Poweshiek  county. 

Had  the  four  men  who  went  up  the  Skunk  on  a  land-hunting  expedi- 
tion in  the  month  of  April.  1843,  shot  a  deer  they  were  after  for  food 
purposes,  their  supply  then  being  about  exhausted,  the  chances  arc  that  they 
would  never  have  become  first  settlers  in  Jasper  countv,  but  such  are  the 
strange  accidents  in  all  stages  of  life. 

John  B.  Frost  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  settled  in  Fairview  township 
in  1843.  married  Miss  McCollum.  In  1847  he  sold  his  claim  to  another 
and  moved  on  farther  toward   the  setting  sun. 


JASl'Kk    COUNTY,    IOWA,  59 

John  \^ance,  the  other  named  among  the  four  who  first  located  here, 
was  born  in  Washington  county,  A'irginia;  was  a  bachelor;  made  his  claim 
and  sold  to  ^lanly  (iifford  in  1845  o^'  1846,  himself  removing  to  Mahaska 
county,  Iowa. 

Perhaps  no  better  method  is  now  obtainable  to  give  the  names  of  the 
persons  who  made  up  the  population  of  Jasper  county  four  years  after 
the  coming  of  the  four  men  already  narrated  about,  than  to  copy  the  list 
as  shown  in  the  assessment  roll  for  1847,  which  in  substance  is  as  follows, 
leaving  out  the  amounts  which  each  were  assessed  for : 

Jacob  Bennett,  Jesse  Rickman,  Peter  ■Miller,  Katherine  Good,  John 
H.  Franklin,  James  Edgar,  John  Campbell,  Ezekiel  Shipley,  M.  S.  Logs- 
don,  C.  C.  Thorp,  William  Chenoweth,  Willis  Green,  James  Fry,  Henry 
Hammer,  Sr.,  David  Edmundson,  ^^'illiam  Edmundson,  Sylvester  Tiffany, 
Martin  Adkins,  *  Elbert  Evans,  John  B.  Hammack,  John  Ship,  John  Flem- 
ing, Nathan  Brown,  Wesley  Brown,  Benjamin  Browse,  ^ladison  Tice, 
Amanda  Tice,  James  D.  Norris.  Joel  B.  Worth,  Peter  Browse,  Joseph  Hill, 
Stephen  B.  Shelladay,  ]\Iaiw  D.  Shelladay,  Jacob  Pudge,  John  Davis,  Mary- 
Baldwin,  John  Carr,  Adam  Tool,  Manly  Gifford,  Daniel  ]\Iosier,  Uriah 
Robbins,  Jeremiah  Kintz,  John  Wyatt,  John  Thorp,  Mar}^  Adamson,  John 
Rodgers,  Cyrus  Insley,  Joseph  Slaughter,  i\ndrew  Insley,  Samuel  Sewell, 
James  Guthrie,  William  C.  Harpe,  William  P.  Norris,  Robert  C.  Brown, 
Andre  J.  Brown,  Stephen  Reffel,  John  A.  Mikel,  Jacob  Bruner,  William 
Hays,  Sarah  Wyatt,  Abner  Ray,  Alex.  McCully,  Asher  Prunty,  Elias 
Prunty,  Thomas  Tuttle,  Alex.  Black,  Jacob  Booher,  John  Q.  Deakin,  Henr>' 
Shewer,  Daniel  W.  Shewer,  Samuel  H.  Shewer,  George  Anderson,  A.  An- 
derson, John  R.  Sparks,  Samuel  Mor,  Hezekiah  Northsent,  Robert  Patter- 
son, Jesse  Hammer,  Wesley  Stallings,  E.  N.  Parks,  William  Turner, 
Elijah  Friend,  David  Campbell,  Mercy  Shoemake,  Sabin  Stanwood,  J.  W. 
Swan,  Henry  Sweet,  Isaac  Myers,  A.  Davis,  Atwell  Holmes,  William 
Smith,  Ira  Hammer,  Evan  Adamson,  Abraham  Adamson,  Sims  Richman, 
Ballinger  Aydelotte,  A.  T.  Prouty,  Washington  Logsdon,  Nathan  Williams, 
R.  B.  Dawson,  William  B.  Campbell,  Jacob  Herring.  Samuel  McDaniel, 
Joseph  Cooper,  A.  J.  Smith,  William  E.  Alexander,  William  Peterman, 
John  Sherman,  John  Bisbee,  Joseph  Hiner,  Silas  Sawyer,  ^^'illiam  Welch, 
A.  B.  Miller,  George  K'ryser,  Clark  Kitchen,  Evan  Jones,  Nathan  McCon- 
nell,  W'illiam  Johnson.  Arnold  Shepherd,  David  Shepherd,  Hartwell  Hays, 
William  Highland,  John  Reed,  Ellison  R.  Wright,  Newton  Wright,  John 
C.  Baldwin  est.,  Archibald  IVIcCullon.  Washington  Fleenor.  Daniel  Spaw, 
O.  Patterson.   lames  A.  Pool.  George  Binkley,  Lann  Maradtt.  John  Snoas, 


6o  JASPER    COrXTV.    TOWA. 

John  J.  Mudi^^ett.  James  Blake.  1'.  M.  Sparks.  M.  T.  .Mather.  WilHam  T. 
Ma>iiekl.  J.  M.  Trease.  \\'alter  rnrncr.  Jabez  Starr.  John  E.  Copp,  David 
E.  Cooper.  William  J.  Biiffington.  Thomas  Mitchell.  Curtis  Dooley,  William 
Logsdon.  Wilberger  Logsdon.  Calvin  Wolf.  Zimri  Hinshaw,  David  Hin- 
shaw,  Elijah  H.  Barton,  Lewis  Adamson,  Alvin  Adkins,  Thomas  Pearson, 
Matthew  Campl>ell.  William  J.  Asher.  Joseph  Davidson,  Joseph  Logsdon, 
Maria  Proiity.  Thomas  J.  Adamson.  Seth  Hammer,  Henry  Ham- 
mer. Rachel  Hammer.  J^Jisha  Hammer.  G.  W.  Halley  James 
Elliott,  Mitchell  Robertson.  William  C.  Smith.  Blakely  Brush,  J. 
M.  Ferguson.  James  Asher.  Moses  Hames.  Henry  Hammer,  Jr.,  A.  S.  Cox, 
William  P.  Cox.  Joshua  Kent.  John  AMI  son.  Jesse  Amos,  Moses  Lacy, 
Shelby  \\Aatt.  Simon  Ballard.  I'hilip  Ballard.  John  Duke,  James  Miller, 
Cavender  Gear,  Shelton  Gear,  John  Ballarrd,  Thomas  Garden,  Isaac  Asher, 
William  Ballard.  E.  B.  Bush.  Washington  Asher.  Lemuel* Perrin.  James 
Richman,  David  La  Follett,  Joseph  Kintz,  William  B.  Meacham.  James 
Finwick.  George  Howell.  Eleanor  Maggert.  David  A.  Maggert.  Josiah 
Cox.  E.  R.  Wyatt  est..  Richard  Barker.  A.  J.  Berry.  A.  A.  Cummings, 
Daniel  Cox.  Evan  Henshaw.  Lewis  Herring,  John  Moss,  Joseph  Dodd, 
David  McKinney.  William  D.  Allen,  Henry  Adamson,  Benjamin  Adamson, 
George  Dooley.  Silas  Dooley.  Thomas  Rees,  William  M.  Springer,  Joseph 
Jones,  Albert  Ship,  William  Thomson.  L-a  Adamson,  Samuel  K.  Parker, 
Edwin  Terril.  Abraham  Peer,  Hart  Spring.  William  Howell,  William 
Rickey,  John  C.  K^artchmer,  Charles  A.  Dolson,  Joseph  Stobaugh,  Samuel 
Morrow,  Milton  Edwards,  Joseph  Hewitt,  Joel  B.  Worth,  Charles  Fry. 

THE    HOLLANDERS    IN  JASPER    COUNTY. 

As  a  result  of  the  religious  persecution  in  Holland  in  1835.  as  between 
the  government  and  the  Reformed  church  (one  class  of  its  members),  a 
colony  was  formed  under  the  leadership  of  Rev.  Plenrv  P.  Scholte,  who 
in  1846  landed  with  four  boatloads  of  these  people  in  Baltimore.  They 
went  to  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  by  canal  boats  and  on  down  the  Ohio  and 
finally  landed  in  St.  Louis,  where  they  recruited  and  finally  wended 
their  way  to  Marion  county,  Iowa,  the  objective  point  had  in 
view  by  their  leader.  They  settled  up  many  of  the  northern  townships 
in  Marion  county,  Iowa,  and  it  is  their  sons  and  daughters  who  today  are 
known  as  the  "Hollanders"  of  the  southern  townships  of  Jasper  county, 
among  whom  are  many  of  the  best,  truest  citizens  within  the  county,  being 
industrious,  religious,  temperate  and  in  all  ways  fit  subjects  of  their  adopted 
countrv. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  6l 


THE    PIONEERS. 

The  following  gem  of  a  poem  was  read  by  its  author,  the  editor  of 
the  Nezvton  Herald,  in  1904,  at  the  Louisana  Purchase  Exposition,  at  St. 
Louis,  on  the  Fourth  of  July  occasion  that  year.  It  w^as  in  the  Iowa  build- 
ing, before  an  intelligent  Iowa  audience,  and  is  very  befitting  in  this  con- 
nection, hence  will  be  given,  both  as  a  setting  to  the  chapter  now  at  hand,  as 
well  as  to  show  the  literary  talent  of  one  of  Jasper  county's  young  authors 
and  publishers  at  that  date,  George  F.  Rinehart: 

We  love  best  the  man  who  dares  to  do — 

The  moral  hero,  stalwart  through  and  through, 

W'ho  treads  the  untried  path,  evades  the  rut; 

Who  braves  the  virgin  forest,  builds  a  hut; 

Removes  the  tares  encumbering  the  soil, 

And  founds  an  empire  based  on  thought  and  toil. 

Within  his  veins   the  blood   of  humble  birth. 
His  purpose  .stsible  :is  the  roek-bound  earth. 
His  mind  expansive  and  his  pulsing  brain 
Resolving  problems   not  of  selfish   gain — 
This  man  will  never  servile  bend  the  knee — 
He  feels  the  uplift  of  the  century. 

Leviathans  for  him  forsake  the  main, 

And  monsters  leave  the  forest  and  the  plain; 

The   future  holds   no  terror  for  his  soul; 

No  avarice  collects  its  robber  toll; 

No  social  caste,  no  party  creed  nor  clan, 

To  make  him  more  a  slave  and  less  a  man. 

.    With  wants  but  few,  no  pioneer  will  crave 
A  crown  in  life  nor  plaudits  at  his  grave; 
He  leaves  behind  the  slavery  of  style, 
The  myrmidons  of  pride,  deceit  and  guile; 
Enlisting  with  the  cohorts  of  the  free. 
The  motto  on  his  shield  is  "'Liberty." 

What  cares  he  for  the  monarch's  jeweled  crown? 
For  prince  or   plutocrat,  for  fame's  renown; 
The  turmoil  and  the  strife  of  endless  greed. 
When  honest  toil  supplies  each  simple  need: 
He  seeks  not  glory,  yet  the  future  years 
Weave  bri.ditest  laurels  f(ir  the  pioneers. 

Thus  we  have  met  in  this  fair  spot  today, 

To  honor  those,  as  well  we  may, 

Who.   tliinkin;u'  deep,   perceived   (ind's  mighty  pl;in. 

And  carved  the  creed  of  liberty  for  man; 

W^ho  made  Bunker  Hill  a  spot  divine, 

And  built  at  Valley  Forge  a  nation's  shrine. 

For  emblems  of  that  liberty  so  wide, 

So  vast  that  with  eternity  it  vied, 

They  snatched  the  blue  of  heavens  for  the  scroll, 

And  sprinkled  it  with  stars  to  make  the  goal, 

Where  we  might,  far  beyond  the  crest  and  crag, 

In   liberty   and   justice   plant  the   flag. 


()2  lASI'KU    COLXTV,    IOWA. 


We  venerate  its  patriotic  pride. 
The  sacied  cause  for  which  the  martyrs  died; 
And  feeling  thus,  you  will  with  me  agree 
That  much  of  what  we  are,  what  we  may  be, 
We  owe  to  those  who  wrought  for  future  years. 
And  earned  my  toast,  "God  Bless  the  Pioneers.' 


WILD    GA.ME. 


Pioneer  lames  A.  Tool  .states  that  wild  i^ame  was  not  very  plcntiftil 
when  the  tirst  settlers  arrived.  l)tit  that  within  a  .short  time  deer  and  wild 
turkey  beeame  abundant.  The  wolf  had  always  been  in  evidence.  In  the 
winter  of  1848-9  the  snow  was  very  deep  and  it  was  so  light  that  the  tur- 
keys could  not  fly  to  their  roosts.  One  morning  If  ugh  Patterson,  living 
near  by.  went  into  Tool's  orchard  and  rode  down  and  picked  up  as  many 
turkeys  as  he  could  carry  away  with  him.  May  i,  1849,  he  states  that  he 
stood  on  the  Skunk  river  bluffs,  on  what  is  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
Silas  Nolan  farm,  and  from  that  view-point  counted  forty-one  deer.  They 
were  supposed  to  l)e  migrating,  for  the  like  had  never  been  seen  before  nor 
since  that  date. 

When  the  first  settlers  came  here  they  found  but  few^  elk.  buft'alo  or 
antelope,  though  evidences  of  large  numbers  of  receding  buffalos  was  found 
in  the  trail  they  left  visible  going  to  and  from  springs  of  water  and  streams 
where  the  noble  animals  used  to  quench  their  thirst.  There  were  but  few^ 
panthers  and  less  bear,  owing  to  the  thinness  of  the  bodies  of  timber,  af- 
fording them  but  scanty  protection  from  cold  w  intry  blasts.  Wild  cats  and 
black  wolves  infested  the  groves,  while  troops  of  coyotes  roamed  at  w  ill  on 
the  broad  prairies,  but  these  animals  were  not  dangerous,  except  that  fre- 
(juentlx-  they  feasted  on  the  pigs  and  lambs  owned  by  the  pioneers,  who  could 
not  for  did  n<it)  at  all  times  house  their  domestic  animals. 

I'erhaps  the  greatest,  most  exciting,  wolf  hunting  in  Jasper  countv  oc- 
curred in  the  winter  of  1846-7.  The  snow  was  very  deep  that  season,  aver- 
aging, it  is  said  upon  good  authority,  thirty-three  inches  on  the  level. 
Washington  Fleenor  was  the  crack  wolf  hunter  of  those  days..  There  were 
a  few-  greyhounds  owned  by  the  pioneers,  two  of  wliich  were  indeed  noble 
animals.  When  the  snow  was  not  too  deep,  these  dogs  could  easily  run 
down  a  wolf  and  handle  him  with  skill  and  success,  but  during  the  winter 
just  mentioned  the  dogs  would  soon  tire  of  the  chase.  On  one  occasion 
l'"leenor  started  out  on  horseback,  carrying  only  a  stout  club,  and  was  followed 
by  tile  dogs.  The  horse,  though  he  made  hard  work  of  it,  could  outrun 
the  wolves,  and  during  that  day  Fleenor  killed  seven  wolves  with  his  club. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  63 

It  goes  without  saying  that  the  poor  horse  he  rode  was  only  too  glad  to 
reach  his  stall  at  night-time. 

Pioneer  Sparks  stated  in  one  of  his  reminiscences  that  a  wolf  succeeded 
in  getting  at  a  calf  he  owned  and  made  a  good  meal  off  of  it,  yet  the  calf 
recovered,  he  being  bitten  and  chewed  about  his  hind  quarters.  Later,  the 
calf  was  sold  to  an  emigrant  going  to  Oregon  and  was  driven  along  the 
trail   toward   the   setting   sun. 

Owing-  to  the  fact  that  the  Indians  had  been  crowded  into  a  small  terri- 
tory in  Jasper  county,  there  were  not  many  deer  left  in  this  section  of  Iowa. 
The  treaties  of  1832  and  1842  had  caused  the  hunting  ground  of  the  In- 
dians to  be  circumscribed  to  a  small  domain.  But  by  about  18^0  more  deer 
were  to  be  seen  in  these  parts  than  before."  As  late  as  1857-8  venison  was 
by  no  means  a  rarity  in  Jasper  county.  An  early  settler  named  ]Mosier,  in 
the  winter  of  1850.  came  upon  two  fine  bucks  on  the  Skunk  bottom  lands. 
They  had  been  engaged  in  a  fight  and  had  become  entangled  by  their  great 
shar])  interlocking  horns  and  could  not  free  themselves  in  time  to  make  good 
their  escape,  hence  both  were  secured  by  Mr.  ]\Iosier. 

In  1852,  possibly  a  year  later,  William  Highland  (now  so  well  known 
to  the  reader  as  the  first  man  with  his  family  to  locate  in  Jasper  county) 
caught  a  fawn  between  his  farm  and  the  Skunk  river,  which  he  took  home 
and  confined  in  a  lot.  This  drew  many  bucks  around  the  house,  almost 
daily,  and  sometimes  they  would  approach  within  a  few  rods  of  the  dwelling. 

The  majoritv  of  the  bee  trees  had  been  discovered  and  utilized  by  a 
few  enterprising  men  long  before  the  actual  settlement  had  been  made. 
There  were  some  still  found  on  Elk  creek.  The  expert  bee-hunter  would 
hang  about  the  timber-lands  until  he  saw  a  l^ee  and  then  watch  him  till  he 
made  his  flight  for  his  home  tree  and  in  that  manner  the  bee  tree  could  be 
easily  located.  Many  hundreds  of  pounds  of  delicious  honey  were  taken 
from  some  of  these  trees.  Another  mode  employed  to  locate  the  bee  trees 
was  to  place  a  small  amount  of  honey  in  a  tin  box,  then  several  bees  were 
captured  alive  and  placed  in  the  box,  and  when  they  had  "filled  up."  one 
was  released  and  the  hunter  Avould  follow  the  bee  in  its  ''bee-line"  to  the 
tree  where  its  store  was  kept. 

Of  snakes,  it  should  be  said  that  rattlesnakes  were  never  very  numerous 
in  Jasper  county,  as  compared  to  other  sections  of  the  West.  It  is  stated  that 
Calvin  WoU.  while  walking  on  the  open  prairie,  barefooted,  encountered  a 
massasauga.  w  hich  he  stamped  to  death  with,  his  heels,  a  very  imprudent,  rash 
deed.  too.  In  the  southern  part  of  Jasper  county,  however,  the  reptiles  were 
more  ntmierous.     At  a  ledge  of  rocks  on  the  Des  Aloines  river  the  rattle- 


54  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

snakes  hibernated  during  the  winter,  and  for  miles  around  their  den  they 
were  Hable  to  be  encountered  in  the  summer  months.  About  1849  ^  party 
visited  the  ledge,  on  a  warm  spring  day,  and  managed  to  kill  over  three  hun- 
dred and  would  have  killed  many  more  only  for  the  sickening  smell  caused 
by  the  act,  which  turned  their  stomachs. 

THE    FIRST    BAD    CHARACTERS    IN    THIS    COUNTY. 

The  two  Caslner  boys,  the  hfth  persons  to  come  in  for  the  supposed  pur- 
pose of  taking  up  lands,  proxed  anything  but  good  citizens.  While  Adam 
Tool,  the  first  settler,  was  down  in  Jefferson  county  with  his  family,  after 
having  made  his  improvements,  preparatory  to  bringing  the  family  here, 
Benjamin  and  Jonas  Castner  came  in  from  Missouri.  Finding  Mr.  Tool's 
cabin  unoccupied,  they  at  once  moved  into  it.  \\'hen  the  good  pioneer  re- 
turned, rather  than  have  trouble,  he  gave  the  boys  fifteen  dollars  to  vacate. 
They  then  claimed  lands  near  by  and  built  themselves  a  cabin.  It  was  not 
long  before  it  was  noticed  that  Jonas  was  making  frequent  visits  to  his  old 
home  in  Missouri  to  see  his  father,  and  it  was  also  observed  that  whenever 
he  went  south  that  some  of  the  friendly  Indians  lost  several  ponies,  as  they 
would  come  along  and  inquiry  was  made  by  them  for  stray  ponies. 

These  Castners  committed  all  kinds  of  depredations,  at  one  time  robbing 
a  poor  Indian's  tent  during  the  absence  of  the  squaw,  of  all  the  blankets, 
buffalo  robes,  camp  kettles,  and  in  fact  everything  that  was  worth  carrying. 
That  night  when  the  Indian  returned  and  discovered  his  loss,  he  started  for 
Castner  with  a  gun  and  butcher  knife.  Arriving  at  Frost's  the  latter  per- 
suaded him  to  stay  all  night,  fearing  he  might  get  killed  if  he  went  there  in 
the  night  alone.  The  following  morning  he  went  to  Castner's  and  found 
his  goods,  but  while  there  parleying  about  them,  one  of  the  Ijoys  came  run- 
ning in.  saving  to  the  Indian.  "'I'hcre  is  a  turkey  out  here:  let  me  take  your 
gun."'  which  the  Indian  did;  but  the  young  man  forgot  to  return  and  while 
the  Indian  was  in  search  of  the  young  man  to  get  his  gun  the  goods  disap- 
peared and  he  never  saw  them  afterwards.  During  the  trouble  that  fol- 
lowed the  Indian  got  his  hand  shot  and  claimed  that  it  was  done  by  Jonas 
Castner.  In  the  fall  of  1845  Jonas  finally  got  his  just  deserts  at  the  hands 
of  a  mob  near  old  Fort  Des  Moines.  It  was  government  pay  day  at  the  fort 
and  when  Jonas  was  discovered  hanging  around,  a  party  painted  like  Indians, 
but  probably  all  whites,  seized  Jonas  and  ran  him  to  the  woods  and  gave 
him  an  unmerciful  flogging.  There  was  no  trial  and  no  f|uestions  asked. 
Thev   said  his  curses  were    frightful.      That   fall   the    family   went  to   Mis- 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  65 

soiiri,  but  afterwards  returned  to  Iowa,  bringing  a  large  amount  of  stock 
with  them,  which  mostly  died  during  the  following  winter.  Typhoid  fever 
soon  broke  out  in  the  family;  the  old  man,  his  eldest  son,  Henry,  and  sev- 
eral younger  ones  died.  The  balance  of  the  family  scattered,  some  going  in 
1862  across  the  plains.  The  Castners  were  Mrginians  bv  birth  and  several 
of  their  near  relatixes  had  ser\'ed  time  in  the  penitentiarv  of  that  state. 

FIRST  EVENTS    IN    JASPER    COUNTY. 

J 

There  always  lingers  alx)ut  the  first  happenings  of  the  settlement  of 
every  new  country  much  of  interest,  and  here  follows  an  account  of  some 
of  the  more  important  events  in  the  settlement  of  Jasper  county,  as  vouched 
for  by  James  A.  Tool,  who  dates  back  to  the  very  first  pioneer  band  of  set- 
tlers, hence  is  not  likely  to  have  been  mistaken  in  his  statements. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  what  is  now  Fairview  township,  as  well 
as  in  Jasper  county,  was  a  son.  Robert,  born  in  1843  to  \\^illiam  and  Ellen 
Highlands.  His  mother  was  the  first  white  woman  to  settle  within  Fair- 
view  township. 

The  first  wedding  took  place  at  the  house  of  Adam  Tool  in  February, 
1845.  The  parties  concerned  were  William  Hill,  a  young  officer  in  a  com- 
pany of  dragoons  then  stationed  at  Fort  Des  ]\Ioines,  and  Susan  A.  Tool. 
Rev.  Pardoe,  a  chaplain  in  the  army,  officiated. 

The  first  election  was  held  in  April,  1844,  ^"f^  the  place  held  was  at 
Adam  Tool's.     This  was  a  township  election. 

The  first  death  occurred  at  Warren's  Grove.  Tn  the  fall  of  1844  or 
spring  of  1845  a  family  settled  there  consisting  of  a  man,  wife  and  one 
child,  and  the  wife's  brother.  In  the  summer  the  brother  died  without 
medical  attendance  or  anyone  knowing  of  his  illness  until  a  few  hours  be- 
fore his  death.  John  Brown  and  James  A.  Tool  cleared  off  the  hazel  brush 
patch  and  dug  a  grave,  after  which  they  sat  up  with  the  corpse  all  night. 
The  lumber  used  for  making  the  rude  coffin  was  hewed  from  a  plank  taken 
from  the  loft  floor  of  Adam  Tool's  house.  He  was  lowered  into  his  last 
earthlv  resting  place  by  the  tender  hands  of  entire  strangers.  His  name  is 
not  now  recalled  and  no  tombstone  marks  his  resting  place,  but  his  grave  is 
within  the  corporation  of  Monroe,  on  land  later  owned  by  ]^Trs.  Huddleston. 
That  same  autumn  two  others  died  and  were  buried  in  the  same  locality. 

The  first  school  house  in  the  county  was  one  standing  near  \\'illiam 
Highlands,  on  land  later  owned  by  Lucy  Whitted.  It  was  built  of  round 
logs,  had  eight-bv-ten  window  lights,  hewed   slabs   for  floors,   seats  of  the 

(5) 


66  JASl'EK    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

same  stuff,  with  holes  bored  in  and  pins  for  legs.     The  first  teacher  was  E. 
R.  Wright.     Church  services  were  also  held  in  this  building. 

The  first  mill  of  any  kind  in  Jasper  county  was  the  saw  mill  constructed 
by  A.  T.  Sparks  in  the  fall  of  1846,  on  the  North  Skunk  river,  in  Lynn 
Grove.  By  harvest  time,  1848,  he  had  added  machinery  by  which  a  fair 
grade  of  flour  was  produced.  In  fact  it  was  no  make-shift  affair,  but  a  good 
flouring  mill  for  those  days. 

The  earlv  settlers  here  had  no  means  by  which  wheat  could  be  threshed, 
save  by  treading  it  out  with  cattle  or  horses.  The  bundles  of  grain  were 
placed  with  their  heads  inward  in  a  circle  on  the  ground.  After  being 
trampled  for  a  time,  the  straw  was  stirred  and  the  process  continued,  the 
horse  or  team  going  round  and  round,  fastened  to  a  center  pole.  This  was 
done  when  the  flail  was  not  used  instead.  Then  came  the  slow  process  of 
separating  the  chaff'  from  the  wheat.  This  was  either  done  by  waving  a 
sheet  up  and  down  to  fan  out  the  chaff  as  the  grain  was  dropped  before  it, 
or  by  taking  advantage  of  the  strong  autumn  winds,  often  brisk  enough  to 
blow  off  the  chaff  rapidly,  and,  by  frequently  stirring  the  grain,  a  consid- 
erable quantity  could  be  cleaned  in  a  day.  Threshing  machines  and  fanning 
mills  had  been  just  recently  introduced  in  the  Eastern  states,  but  the  people 
here  in  Iowa  had  not  yet  got  forehanded  enough  to  purchase  other  than  the 
necessary  plows  and  hoes. 

Here  it  may  be  stated  that  it  is  believed  the  first  threshing  machine  ever 
operated  in  Jasper  county  was  the  one  owned  by  Isaac  Cooper,  of  Polk 
county,  who  had  a  few  "jobs"  in  the  southern  portion  of  this  county  in 
1848.  This  was  an  old  "chaff-piler."  This  had  no  separator  attachment 
and  the  grain  fell  inclosed  in  the  chaff,  at  the  mouth  of  the  cylinder,  while 
the  straw  was  blown  by  the  current  created  by  the  motion  of  the  cylinder  a 
little  beyond  the  grain,  whence  it  w^as  removed  by  rakes  and  forks.  There 
are  but  few  persons  remaining  in  the  country  now  who  saw  or  used  one  of 
these  early-day  machines.  The  contrast  between  these  and  the  fine  power 
threshers  of  today,  wnth  separator,  self-measurer,  self-stackers  and  self- 
feeders  and  band  cutter  attachment,  some  of  which  such  machines  have  been 
invented  and  are  now  extensively  manufactured  in  Newton,  is  indeed  great. 
None  desire  to  go  back  to  those  days  of  flail  and  treading  out  wheat,  but. 
as  we  praise  modern  improvements,  we  should  revere  the  memorv  of  our 
forefathers  who  worked  on  in  faithfulness  until  these  good  days  of  the 
twentieth  century  were  in  sight. 

As  to  plows,  it  should  here  be  stated  that  prior  to  1846  in  Jasper  county, 
both   breaking  and   stirring  plows   were   made  bv   home  Ijlacksmiths.      The 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  6/ 

cutter-bar  in  the  one  and  the  land-side  in  the  other,  with  the  points,  were 
made  of  steel  and  the  mold-board  of  wood.  In  1846  a  Mr.  Sperry,  of  Jef- 
ferson county,  Iowa,  commenced  to  make  a  fair  mold-board  plow.  Cast 
plows  Nvere  used  some,  but  would  not  scour  in  our  soil.  The  first  harrow 
"drags"  used  were  home-made  and  had  wooden  teeth.  Many  had  the  har- 
row made  in  the  shape  of  a  letter  A. 

The  first  election  in  the  territory  of  Jasper  county  (then  in  Marion) 
was  held  in  April,  1844,  Mahaska  county  having  been  organized  in  the  Feb- 
ruary prior  to  that  date,  and  its  territory  included  that  of  present  Marion 
county  for  election  purposes,  and  by  reason  of  this,  the  little  settlement  in 
Jasper  county,  as  now  understood,  was  allowed  to  \ote  at  the  house  of  Adam 
Tool,  at  Tool's  Point.  William  Hig'hland  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace 
and  township  clerk ;  \\'ashington  Fleenor  as  constable,  and  Adam  Tool  as 
one  of  the  trustees. 

FIRST    PORTABLE    SAW    MILL. 

Perhaps  the  first  portable  saw  mill  ever  invented  was  the  product  of 
pioneer  John  Cary,  of  Jasper  county,  who  was  one  of  the  founders  of  old 
Wittemberg  College,  of  Newton  township.  He  came  to  the  county  in  1853 
and  after  the  college  had  been  decided  upon,  there  was  the  obstacle  of  lum- 
ber not  being  at  hand.  Mr.  Cary  returned  to  Ohio,  his  old  home,  and  tried 
at  various  places  there  and  in  Pittsburg  to  get  some  firm  to  construct  him  a 
portable  saw  mill,  but  failed,  for  they  said  it  could  not  be  successfully  ac- 
complished. He  finally  secured  a  firm  at  Norwalk,  Ohio,  who  followed  his 
plans  and  made  him  the  first  portable  saw  mill  of  which  history  seems  to 
have  any  definite  knowledge.  It  was  shipped  on  here  to  Jasper  county  and 
set  up.  It  worked  finely  and  cut  much  of  the  lumber  for  the  old  college 
buildings,  as  well  as  for  many  of  the  pioneer  buildings  in  Newton  and  sur- 
rounding country.  Later  the  mill  was  shipped  up  the  Des  Moines  river  and 
as  late  as  1880  was  still  being  operated.  Prior  to  this  circular  saws  had  been 
operated  by  horse-power,  or  by  stationary  engines,  but  the  Cary  portable 
saw  mill  created  a  revolution  in  the  saw  mill  industry,  east  as  well  as  west. 

CLAIM    PROTECTION    SOCIETIES. 

In  the  spring  of  1846,  a  Claim  Protection  Society  was  formed  by  the 
settlers  of  Lynn  Grove.  The  meeting  place  was  by  a  pile  of  logs  in  a  clear- 
ing on  the  farm  of  John  A.  Sparks.     All  the  settlers  in  the  vicinity  attended. 


68  jASI'KK    COU.NTV.     low   \ 

Rules  were  adopted  substantially  the  same  as  those  found  effectual  in  other 
counties.  and  the  clerk  of  the  meetino-  made  a  plat  of  the  precinct  on  which 
all  the  claims  then  made  were  noted,  and  also  registered  on  a  separate  piece 
of  paper.  When  a  newcomer  put  in  his  appearance  he  was  advised  to  in- 
spect the  plat  kept  by  the  clerk  in  order  that  he  might  see  what  land  was 
already  claimed.  Any  of  the  settlers  would  gladly  spend  a  day.  or  more  if 
need  be.  with  him  in  hunting  up  a  desirable  location.  Settlers  were  very 
sensitive  about  the  movement  of  strangers  who  were  not  fully  vouched  for. 
Jasper  county,  however,  did  not  suffer  as  much  from  claim  jumpers  as  many 
of  the  counties  further  east,  many  of  the  professionals  in  that  line  having 
been  taught  a  lesson  before  coming  here. 

Pioneer  Sparks  related  once  at  an  old  settlers'  meeting  how  he  was  ac- 
companied by  a  Mr.  Coleman,  the  surveyor  who  located  the  territorial  road 
from  Iowa  Cit\ .  and  how  they  visited  the  cabin  home  of  John  J.  Mudgett. 
The  surveyor  had  some  thought  of  locating  a  mill-site,  and  their  business 
was  mainly  to  see  if  one  could  be  found  there.  Mr.  Coleman  asked  Mr. 
Mudgett  to  give  him  the  number  of  the  section  he  was  living  on.  which  the 
latter  did,  and  then  proceeded  to  describe  the  spot  the  surveyor  had  just 
mentioned.  Coleman  interrui)ted  him  by  saying  that  he  knew  all  about  it, 
which  alarmed  Mr.  ^Mudgett.  who  at  once  became  cold  and  reserved  and  had 
no  more  information  to  offer.  Sparks  and  his  companion  soon  left.  That 
evening  Sparks,  who  well  understood  Mudgett's  change  of  manner,  made 
the  surveyor  promise  to  return  the  next  day  and  visit  the  suspicious  settler, 
in  order  to  remove  the  unfavorable  impression  he  had  created.  This  he 
promised  to  do,  and  started  off  early  the  following  day.  He  found  Mudgett, 
stayed  to  dinner,  and  returned,  leaving  his  host  fully  convinced  that  he  had 
no  covetous  intentions  regarding  his  claim. 

What  was  known  as  the  Independent  Protection  Society  was  formed 
about  1846-7,  having  in  view  the  protection  of  those  occupying  claims,  but 
without  means  of  entering  them  at  once.  The  scope  of  power  assumed  bv 
the  organizers  of  this  society  was  to  prevent  persons  from  entering  lands 
claimed  by  others  in  good  faith,  and  in  case  the  land  was  actually  taken  from 
the  claimant  to  force  settlement  which  should  be  satisfactory  to  the  first 
holder  of  such  land.  In  many  other  parts  of  Iowa  a  state  of  war  had  some- 
times arisen  over  these  collisions  of  capital  with  the  understood  rights  of 
the  first  comers;  but  in  Jasper  county  there  were  only  two  such  cases,  at 
least  of  any  considerable  note.  These  occurred  in  1848.  The  first  case  was 
that  of  A.  T.  Prouty.  who  entered  forty  acres  of  land  claimed  hv  James 
Edgar,  a  blacksmith,  which  is  now  situated  in   the  citv  limits  of   Xewton. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  69 

Prouty  had  the  patent  issued  to  his  son,  Joseph,  who  at  the  time  was  under 
age.  As  soon  as  the  transaction  was  noised  abroad,  a  meeting  of  the  settlers 
Avas  held,  which  delegated  a  committee  to  wait  upon  Prouty  for  the  purpose 
of  demanding  an  explanation.  This  he  thought  best,  everything  considered, 
to  offer,  and  compromised  with  the  stern-faced  visitors  by  executing  a  bond 
for  a  deed,  and  recjuiring  Joseph  to  make  a  deed  also,  in  favor  of  Edgar. 
Joseph  afterwards  went  to  California  and  while  there  sued  for  the  recovery 
of  the  forty,  but  without  success. 

In  the  second  case,  Prouty  had  entered  a  claim  already  claimed  by  John 
Moss,  three  to  four  miles  east  of  Xewton.  Hearing  that  the  neighbors  of 
Mr.  Moss  had  fixed  a  day  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  him  again,  he  left 
home.  The  neighbors  went  to  his  house  as  determined  as  before,  but  were 
put  off  by  Mrs.  Prouty.  who  promised  that  her  husband  would  pay  Moss  a 
fair  price  for  his  claim.  The  sum  was  agreed  upon  and  the  trouble  thus 
settled. 

Another  statement  is  that  the  land  was  entered  by  Prouty's  daughter, 
Alaria,  who  made  the  settlement;  but  the  girl  did  not  entirely  give  up  till 
the  crowd  of  "Protectionists'"  had  first  appeared  in  front  of  the  house  and 
as  an  evidence  of  what  might  happen  to  her,  they  applied  a  coat  of  tar  and 
feathers  to  the  front  gate  post. 

GOING  TO  MILL VALUE  OF  BREAD. 

People  today,  who  eat  of  the  fancy  brands  of  roller  ])rocess  flour, 
little  dream  of  what  hardships  their  forefathers  endured  in  striving  to 
secure  bread  on  which  to  feed  their  families.  Seventy-five  to  one  hundred 
miles  from  a  mill,  and  that  run  by  an  uncertain  water  power  and  crude  ma- 
chinery (sometimes  without  a  bolting  mill  attached),  made  milling  very 
uncertain  in  pioneer  days  in  Jasper  county.  Tn  the  winter  of  1843-4.  it  is 
related  of  .\dam  Tool.  William  Highlands  and  John  Frost,  that  they  made  a 
trip  to  Locust  Grove  mill,  some  twenty-five  miles  northwest,  on  the  Skunk- 
river,  arriving  there  Saturday  night.  The  miller  would  not  run  his  mill  on 
Sunday,  but  agreed  if  a  certain  man  could  be  hired  to  run  his  mill  on  Sun- 
dav  he  might  grind  their  grain  for  them.  The  man  was  secured  and  the 
grain  was  ground,  so  tliev  started  home  early  Monday  morning.  It  re- 
quired ten  days  to  make  the  trip. 

In  1844  it  became  necessary  for  the  same  party  to  have  milling  done 
again.  Both  corn  and  money  were  scarce  articles.  There  was.  however,  a 
man  named  Elder  who  had  corn  to  sell  at  twenty-five  cents  a  bushel.     They 


JO  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

all  secured  the  necessary  amount  except  Mr.  Highlands,  who  had  no  money 
with  which  to  pay  for  corn,  and  his  acquaintance  was  too  slight  to  ask  credit 
of  Mr.  Elder.  But  finally  Adam  Tool  and  John  Vance  went  his  security  for 
five  bushels  of  corn.  That  was  all  the  bread  stuff  the  family  had  from  that 
date  until  the  new  corn  crop  was  old  enough  to  grate.  This  will  show  what 
value  was  placed  on  early  bread-stuft's. 

In  1845  a  mill  was  erected  by  Mr.  Duncan  on  the  Skunk  river  north  of 
Oskaloosa. 

Another  milling  trip  may  suffice  to  show  early  milling  trials.  In  the 
winter  of  1845-46  the  snow  was  deep  and  drifted  so  that  it  was  almost  im- 
possible to  cross  the  prairie  between  Tool's  Point  and  Fort  Des  Moines, 
therefore  all  travel  from  and  to  Des  Moines  left  the  prairie  road  four  miles 
west  of  where  Pella  now  stands,  and  followed  the  Des  Moines  river,  which 
gave  a  timber  road,  consequently  there  was  no  broken  road  from  Tool's 
Point,  in  the  direction  of  the  mill,  nearer  than  eight  miles.  Bread-stuffs 
were  fast  running  out  and  must  soon  be  provided  for,  so  the  neighborhood 
turned  out  to  break  the  roads,  starting  from  John  Frost's.  They  broke  two 
miles  of  the  road  the  first  day,  and  returned  home  for  the  night.  The  next 
day  by  hard  work  they  succeeded  in  getting  clear  through,  and  stopped  for 
the  night  at  the  house  at  the  end  of  the  snow-shoveled  highway,  rejoicing 
in  their  success. 

In  the  winter  of  1846-7,  James  ^loss,  with  an  ox  team,  went  to  Dun- 
can's Mill,  on  the  South  Skunk  river,  near  Oskaloosa.  On  his  return  trip 
he  was  caught  in  a  northwest  blizzard.  It  became  very  cold,  the  team  and 
himself  became  bewildered  and  laid  out  all  night.  When  he  was  finally 
found  he  w  as  badly  frozen  and  later  both  feet  were  amputated  at  the  instep. 
There  were  no  surgeons  or  doctors  here  and  it  is  said  James  Pierson  per- 
formed the  surgical  operation  with  a  pocket  knife  and  sa\ed  the  young 
man's  life. 

In  the  winter  of  1847-48  the  snow  was  so  very  deep  on  the  prairies 
that  it  took  all  of  the  men,  oxen  and  horses  in  the  neighborhood  two  days  to 
break  a  road  from  Elk  creek,  near  the  Dan  Gifford  place,  to  the  Lynn  Grove 
mill.  The  neighborhood  having  been  out  of  all  meal,  flour  or  bacon  for  about 
four  or  five  weeks,  had  subsisted  during  that  long  period  on  pounded  and 
boiled  corn,  grated  potatoes  and  wild  meat.  The  same  winter,  Nathan 
Hammer  took  two  yoke  of  cattle,  hitched  to  his  wagon,  and  with  a  grist  of 
corn  went  over  the  same  road.  The  snow  was  so  deep  he  uncoupled  his 
wagon,  put  the  hind  wheels  on  the  front  axles,  loaded  on  his  grist  and  com- 
pleted his  journey  to  the  mill,  where  he  stayed  all  night.     The  next  dav  he 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  /  I 

Started  for  home,  and  was  caught  in  a  southwester  which  filled  up  the  tracks 
of  the  previous  day.  He  became  very  cold  and  when  he  arrived  home  his 
feet  were  badly  frozen.  They  foolishly  applied  a  poultice  of  roasted  turnips, 
and  he  was  obliged  to  wear  moccasins  until  spring. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


COUNTY  GOVERNMENT. 


The  county,  as  well  as  the  state  and  nation,  must  ha\e  good  men  at  the 
head  of  its  government  in  order  that  the  best  results  be  obtained.  In  the 
main,  Jasper  count\'  has  been  ruled  by  men  of  intelligence  and  honesty,  there 
have  l)een  exceptions  to  this  rule.  ho\ve\er.  The  large  defaulters  chron- 
icled in  many  other  parts  of  the  commonwealth  have  not  burdened  the  tax- 
payers of  this  county  to  any  great  extent.  In  common  with  other  counties, 
it  took  some  time  to  get  used  to  the  various  governmental  changes,  as,  for 
instance,  in  the  matters  of  a  change  from  the  county  commissioner  system 
to  that  of  the  almost  one-man  power  of  the  old  county  judge  system  adopted 
by  Iowa  in  1851  ;  then  the  change  to  the  county  supervisor  system  in  1861, 
by  which  the  county  judge  was  almost  entirely  shorn  of  his  authority,  and 
the  county  controlled  by  one  man  from  each  township  within  the  countv,  all 
of  whom  formed  the  county  board.  Then,  in  1868-9,  the  creation  of  a 
county  auditor  system — the  finest  system  yet  conceived  of  for  accurately 
keeping  the  accounts  of  the  county — by  which  the  auditor  becomes  ex-officio 
clerk  of  the  board  of  supervisors.  The  various  methods  of  levying  and 
collecting  taxes,  caring  for  the  highways  and  the  unfortunate  poor  in  the 
county — these  and  a  score  more  of  things  which  have  gone  through  change 
after  change,  have  each  and  all  required  time  and  good  judgment  in  order 
to  simplify  and  readjust  the  old  and  understand  the  new  methods  of  carrv- 
ing  on  a  good  and  popular  government  Aside  from,  possibly,  two  items  in 
our  county  affairs,  the  ])resent  system  needs  but  little  legislative  revision  to 
Ik-  in  harmony  with  just  and  |)0])nlar  laws  for  the  affairs  of  running  the 
ninety-nine  counties  of  Iowa — the  matter  of  better  ecjualization  of  taxes  and 
more  business-like  methods  for  building  and  maintaining  public  roads.  Here 
there  is  no  doubt  that  a  field  is  open  for  great  improvement.  J'roperly  ex- 
pended, tile  vast  sums  of  money  collected  for  road  and  bridge  purposes 
could  l>e  made  to  make  many  times  the  number  of  good  miles  of  roads  that 
now  exist  in  everv  countv  in  Iowa. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  73 

ACTS  OF  THE   COUNTY   COMMISSIONERS. 

The  wheels  of  county  government  were  set  in  motion  April  14,  1846, 
with  the  following-  as  county  officers  in  charge  of  affairs :  Joab  Bennett, 
John  R.  Sparks  and  Manly  Gifford.  commissioners;  John  H.  Franklin,  clerk; 
J.  W.  Swain,  treasurer;  David  Edmundson.  sheriff;  Seth  Hammer,  recor- 
der; AVashington  I'leenor,  probate  judge. 

The  first  order  given  by  the  commissioners  was  "That  the  eagle  side  of 
a  ten-cent  piece  or  dime,  of  the  coin  of  the  United  States,  l)e  and  the  same 
is  hereby  adopted  as  the  temporary  seal  of  the  board  of  county  commis- 
sioners of  the  county  of  Jasper,  aforesaid,  until  a  proper  seal  may  1)e  pro- 
vided  for  the  use  of  said  board."' 

Now  will  follow  the  more  important  acts  of  the  board,  in  aljout  the 
chronological  order  they  transpired,  as  seen  by  the  records  of  the  county. 
But  before  introducing  the  record  on  these  matters,  it  will  be  best  to  state 
that  the  name  of  tlie  county  seat  was  changed  as  follows ; 

Chapter  22.  of  the  acts  of  the  First  General  Assembly  of  Iowa,  ap- 
pro^•ed  February  3,  1847,  reads  as  follows:  "Section  i.  Be  it  enacted  by 
the  General  Assembly  of  the  state  of  Iowa,  that  the  name  of  the  town  of 
'Newton  City,'  the  county  seat  of  Jasper  county.  l)e  and  the  same  is  hereby 
changed  to  that  of  'Newton.'  " 

At  the  July  meeting"  of  the  county  board,  the  first  tax  was  made  a 
matter  of  record,  it  lieing  a  lev}'  of  four  mills  for  county  purposes  and  a  half 
mill  for  school  purposes.  At  the  same  time  the  treasury  was  in  receipt  of 
twenty-five  dollars  from  Jacob  Bennett,  who  paid  his  license  to  keep  a 
grocery  in  Newton. 

The  following  day  tlie  following  order  was  made:  "That  John  R. 
Sparks  be  appointed  as  agent  for  the  county  of  Jasper,  to  act  as  such  to 
borrow  money  for  and  to  enter  at  the  land  office  at  Iowa  City  the  cjuarter 
section  of  land  that  the  town  of  Newton  is  located  on,  for  the  seat  of 
justice  of  Jasper  county,  who  shall  use  all  exertions  to  procure  funds  for 
the  same  by  paying  an  interest  not  to  exceed  twenty  per  cent." 

October  4.  1847 — That  day  the  court  house  erected  by  Evan  Adamson 
was  accepted  and  an  order  allowing  him  the  sum  of  one  hundred  seventy-five 
dollars  in  "town  money,"  which  amounted  to  the  eighty-seven  dollars  and 
fiftv  cents  voted  him  in  full  for  the  construction  of  the  first  court  house  of 
the  county. 

lanuarv  4,  1848 — The  clerk  was  instructed  to  give  notice  that  there 
would  be  a  sale  of  lots  in  Newton,  commencing  on  the  31st  day  of  January, 


74 


TASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 


1848.  and  that  it  would  be  continued  from  day  to  day  until  a  sufficient  sum 
had  been  realized  to  defray  the  expenses  of  entering  the  land  selected  for 
county  seat  purposes. 

April  10,  1848— The  board  assumed  control  and  jurisdiction  over  Mar- 
shall county,  by  establishing  a  township  in  that  territory  of  the  name  of 
Minerva  Creek,  with  a  polling  place  at  the  house  of  George  W.  Halley. 

At  the  meeting  in  July.  1848.  the  board  levied  a  four-mill  tax  on  the 
dollar  for  county  revenue,  two  and  a  half  mills  for  state  purposes,  and  a 
half  mill  for  school  purposes. 

Silas  Dooley.  sheriff  and  assessor,  was  allowed  thirty  dollars  for  as- 
sessing the  county,  summoning  jury,  etc. 

The  board  also  ordered  that  the  portion  of  the  state  road  running 
from  Granville  Hendry's,  in  :\Iarion  county,  to  Fort  Des  Moines,  which  lay 
in  Jasper  county,  be  declared  open  for  travel. 

At  the  October  2.  1848.  meeting  of  the  board,  Joab  Bennett  was  em- 
ploved  to  ceil  one  of  the  small  rooms  in  the  court  house,  for  which  he  was  to 
receive  sixteen  dollars  in  "town  funds." 

Nathan  Williams  and  Thomas  J.  Adamson  became  the  purchasers  of 
out-lots  Nos.  18  and  19  in  Newton,  toward  which  they  applied  as  part  pay- 
ment a  stove  valued  at  twelve  dollars. 

At  this  same  meeting  of  the  board  difficulty  was  found  relative  to  the 
county  borrowing  money  and  the  following  orders  were  made:  "That  the 
county  be  forthcoming  to  Nathan  Williams  and  John  R.  Sparks  for  money 
to  enter  the  town  quarter  the  seat  of  justice  of  Jasper  county;  whereas,  the 
said  Williams  and  Sparks  borrowed  money  of  A.  T.  Prouty,  and  gave  their 
own  individual  notes  for  the  same  to  enter  said  land,  and  the  same,  or  a 
large  part  of  it,  still  remains  unpaid,  the  county  commissioners  now  assume 
the  payment  of  the  same,  and  all  interest  and  accruing  interest  and  costs  that 
mav  accrue  on  the  same. 

"Ordered,  that  John  B.  Hammock  be  appointed  commissioner's  agent 
in  the  stead  of  Nathan  Williams  to  borrow  any  moneys  or  use  any  reason- 
able means  of  getting  money  on  the  faith  of  the  county,  to  pay  the  expense 
of  entering  the  seat  of  justice  of  Jasper  county." 

The  money  had  been  borrowed  on  the  expectation  that  an  apportion- 
ment of  school  money  was  to  be  made  to  the  county,  and  it  had  been  stipu- 
lated by  the  makers  of  the  note  that  they  were  allowed  to  borrow  this  till 
the  county  would  be  able  to  replace  the  money  in  the  school  fund  commis- 
sioner's hands  out  of  a  subsequent  tax  levy.  It  was  a  sort  of  "accommoda- 
tion"' paper  which  operated  then  as  it  has  later,  to  fool  the  parties  who  gave 
it  worse  than  anybody  else. 


JASPER   COUNTY,   IOWA.  75 

At  the  July  meeting  in  1849,  the  county  treasurer  reported  the  receipts 
for  the  last  year  to  have  been  $266.42  in  county  orders  and  $312.50  in 
"town  orders." 

The  board  then  levied  taxes  as  follows:  County,  four  mills;  state,  two 
and  a  half  mills;  school,  one  mill. 

The  total  amount  of  taxable  property  in  1849  was  $94,366.  There  were 
one  hundred  and  seventy-six  persons  liable  to  pay  a  poll  tax.  There  were 
eight  silver  watches,  and  $4,842  in  coin  and  bank  notes  in  possession,  but 
it  is  likely  that  all  was  not  given  in  then,  as  is  the  case  nowadays.  There 
were  also  three  hundred  and  one  horses  over  two  years  old,  six  hundred  and 
eighty-eight  head  of  cattle  o\'er  two  years  of  age  and  two  mules.  The  num- 
ber of  sheep  listed  was  seven  hundred  and  ninety-four  and  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  sixty-three  swine — "prairie  rooters."  Four  carriages  were 
found  by  the  assessor,  but  not  a  single  piano  within  Jasper  county! 

In  March,  1850,  the  record  shows  that  "The  late  treasurer  paid  over 
the  sum  of  $365.23.  the  amount  of  tax  for  1849  received  by  him." 

Jesse  Rickman,  school  fund  commissioner,  made  his  report  to  the  board, 
showing  that  the  net  sum  collected  and  in  his  hands  was  $421.23. 

April,  185 1 — Ordered  that  the  trustees  of  the  parsonage  of  the  mission 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  have  a  deed  for  lot  No.  8  in  block  No.  25. 
This  donation  to  the  church  was  among  the  last,  if  not  the  last,  acts  of  the 
county  commissioners  whose  office  had  been  legislated  out  and  they  gave 
way  to  the  newly  created  office  of  county  judge,  which  obtained  until  an- 
other ten  years  had  rolled  around  and  the  supervisor  system  had  been  estab- 
lished in  all  Iowa  counties  by  the  provisions  of  the  code  of  185 1.  The  last 
board  of  commissioners  adjourned  July  28,  1851. 

ACTS    OF   THE    COUNTY    JUDGE. 

Jesse  Rickman  was  elected  as  Jasper  county's  first  county  judge.  His 
first  act  was  to  rearrange  the  townships  of  the  county,  and  when  he  had  per- 
formed this  task  there  were  seven  sub-divisions  in  Jasper  county.  His  next 
act  was  to  issue  marriage  license  to  \\^illiam  Hammer  and  Ruth  Hinshaw ; 
the  document  bears  date  of  August  14,  1851. 

August  30,  1856,  the  old  court  house  was  sold  at  auction  to  Caleb  Lamb 
for  one  hundred  fifty  dollars. 

In  Septem1>er  of  the  same  year  last  named,  the  county  treasurer  was 
compelled  to  furnish  a  bond  for  thirty  thousand  dollars,  instead  of  the 
sixteen  thousand  dollar  bond  given  before,   for  the  reason  that  the  countv 


j6  JASPKR    COrXTV.    IOWA. 

expected  the  next  levy  to  bring  to  his  hands  about  twenty-five  thousand  dol- 
lars. This  additional  bond  was  signed  bv  P.  G.  D.  Morton,  J.  W.  Macy, 
Taylor  Pierce  and  M.  A.  Blanchard. 

December  lo.  1856,  the  county  treasurer  reported  that  the  tax  lists 
for  1848.  184c),  1850  and  1851  hnd  been  lost.  It  was  therefore  ordered  that 
he  ha\e  credit  ior  the  amount  of  tax  delinquents  on  those  lists,  which 
amounted  to  two  hundred  eighty-se\en  dollars. 

February  17.  1857.  the  county  judge  again  made  changes  in  the  bound- 
aries of  certain  townships  in  this  county  and  created  other  new  ones. 

During  the  Legislature  of  1856-7  a  law  passed  requiring  the  county 
judge  to  affix  his  warrant  to  the  tax  book  of  1854,  ordering  the  treasurer  to 
collect  the  taxes  delinquent  therein,  and  that  the  treasurer  proceed  to  collect 
said  taxes,  and  he  was  also  ordered  to  pay  over  all  nionev  he  had  collected 
prior  to  the  passage  of  that  act.  The  county  was  made  accountable  to  the 
treasurer  for  any  damages  lie  might  sustain  in  making  the  collections  called 
for. 

In  the  autumn  of  i860  the  county  judge  submitted  to  vote  the  question 
whether  a  sufficient  portion  of  the  swamp  land  fund  should  l^e  di\-erted  for 
the  pur}X)se  of  erecting  necessary  l)ridges  and  for  the  redemption  of  bonds 
issued  for  the  building  of  the  court  house. 

December  31.  i860,  the  county  judge  made  a  contract  with  J.  W.  May 
to  build  a  bridge  at  Parker's  Ferry,  on  South  Skunk,  to  be  completed  bv  the 
first  of  the  following  April,  for  which  he  was  to  receive  four  hundred  eightv- 
five  dollars.  On  the  same  day  B.  Manning  received  his  warrant  for  con- 
structing a  bridge  at  ^Manning's  Ferry,  for  which  he  was  to  be  paid  seven 
hundred  eighty-six  dollars. 

The  last  act  of  the  county  judge  before  handing  over  the  reins  of 
county  government  was  to  fix  the  boundary  lines  l)etween  Fairview  and  Elk 
Creek  townships. 

PROCKEDIXG.S  OF  THE  BOARD  OF  Sl'PERVISOR.S. 

The  first  board  of  county  supervisors,  as  ordered  hx  the  new  law,  held 
its  session  the  first  week  in  January.  1861.  The  first  board  was  made  up  of 
the  following  gentlemen:  David  McCord  (chairman).  William  N.  Harrah, 
C.  M.  Davi.s,  Morris  Gating,  Salem  Jeffries,  Reuben  Johnson.  John  Mc- 
Cracken,  G.  W.  Chinn.  Caleb  Jorrlan.  James  E.  Butler,  Andrew  G.  Groves. 
William  G.  Romans.  Perry  Matteson,  Eli.sha  Flaugh  and  George  Ryan. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  /J 

Among-  the  earliest  acts  of  the  board  of  supervisors  may  be  mentioned 
the  dividing-  of  Mound  Prairie  township  and  the  formation  of  a  new  town- 
ship to  be  known  as  Washington.     This  was  dated  June,  1861. 

At  the  same  session  of  the  board  it  was  learned  that  two  thousand  dol- 
lars of  interest  was  due  and  delinquent  to  the  permanent  school  fund.  S.  G. 
Smith,  county  attorney,  was  directed  to  push  the  collection  of  the  same  as 
speedily  as  possible. 

The  board  decided  to  apply  one-half  of  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of 
swamp  lands  to  the  drainage  of  the  sanie,  anfl  the  other  to  building-  bridges. 

DRAINAGE  OF  TtlE  SWAMP  LANDS. 

At  the  September  meeting  of  the  board  came  up  the  important  matter 
of  drainage  of  Jasper  county's  swamp  lands.  It  was  resolved  that  the 
drainage  commissioner  be  authorized  to  expend  such  sums,  not  exceeding 
three  hundred  dollars,  as  he  might  deem  necessary  in  the  townships  of 
Poweshiek,  Clear  Creek,  Elk  Creek,  Fairview  and  Palo  Alto,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  draining  the  swamp  lands  therein.  Underground  drains  were  to  be 
used  and  the  work  was  to  be  paid  for  in  the  lands  at  one  dollar  and  twenty- 
five  cents  per  acre,  unless  in  case  where  the  lands  were  worth  more,  when  the 
lands  were  to  be  sold  and  contractors  paid  in  cash. 

In  June,  1862,  the  board  agreed  with  John  Henry,  X.  L.  Williams  and 
others,  representing  a  company  formed  for  the  purpose,  to  transfer  the 
swamp  lands  lying  adjacent  to  the  road  crossing,  either  at  Parker's  or  ^lan- 
ning's  Bridge  over  South  Skunk  river,  to  the  company  on  condition  that  the 
proposed  corporation  should  construct  approaches  to  the  stream  which  should 
be  above  the  high  water  mark,  as  well  as  drain  the  lands  transferred.  In 
exchange  for  this  the  company  was  granted  the  privilege  of  taking  tolls  for 
crossing  the  bridge  selected  by  them,  the  amount  to  be  regulated  by  the 
board. 

At  the  same  session  the  committee  on  poor  was  instructed  to  inquire 
into  the  expediency  of  purchasing  a  poor  farm. 

In  1863  the  board  agreed  with  the  Mississippi  &  Missouri  Railroad 
Company  and  the  \\'estern  Stage  Company  to  have  a  sufficient  roadway 
made  across  Skunk  bottom  at  Parker's  Bridge,  the  county  contributing  four 
thousand  dollars,  the  railway  one  thousand  dollars,  and  the  stage  company 
five  hundred  dollars. 


-s 


JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 


THE   COl^NTV    HELD  LIABLE. 

In  1873,  or  possibly  a  year  later,  one  John  Hessdorfer  and  family 
passed  through  Jasper  county  on  his  way  to  Nebraska.  While  crossing  the 
South  Skunk  bottoms  his  team  became  frightened,  backed  off  the  bridge 
and  in  the  fall  one  of  the  children  was  killed  and  other  meml^ers  of  his 
family  injured  and  the  wagon  badly  broken  up.  Mr.  Hessdorfer  employed 
W'inslow  &  Wilson,  attorneys,  to  bring  action  against  Jasper  county  in  his 
behalf.  The  case  was  tried  in  ]^Iahaska  county,  and  he  was  awarded  a  ver- 
dict of  four  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  This  county  appealed  the  case 
to  the  state  supreme  court.  In  the  meantime  J.  ^^^  Wilson  has  been  ap- 
pointed administrator  for  the  deceased  child,  and  he  brought  suit  to  recover 
the  value  of  the  child's  services  till  it  should  have  become  of  age,  claiming 
five  thousand  dollars  therefor.  It  was  a  long-drawn-out  case,  with  com- 
promise here  and  there,  and  finally  resulted  in  the  county  having  to  pay  the 
plaintiff,  in  October.  1876.  the  sum  of  four  thousand  dollars  and  costs,  to  be 
paid  in  installments. 

THE    county's    FINANCES. 

Perhaps  there  is  no  better  way  to  show  the  thrift  and  growth  of  the 
county  in  the  last  third  of  a  century  than  to  give  the  assessed  valuation  for 
the  year  1878  and  that  of  1910: 


Assessed 
Valuation, 
Townships.  1878. 

Newton    $2^2.425 

Clear  Creek 249.825 

Washington   412,348 

Hickory  Grove 228,850 

Prairie  City 194,650 

Palo    Alto 318.108 

Mariposa    218.289 

Jasper  City,  Ind.  D 180,350 

Lynn    Grove 257,505 

Rock  Creek 275,590 

Richland    244.569 

Kellogg    329-564 

Des  Moines 408,647 


Assessed 
Valuation, 
Townships.  1878. 

Monroe    8313,410 

Sherman     259,266 

Colfax    1 16,672 

\'andalia 31,992 

Fairview    423,876 

Lynnville,  Ind.  D 106,860 

Poweshiek    275,678 

Independence   241,473 

Malaka   370-3i5 

Ruena   Vista 335,941 

Elk   Creek 356.410 

Mound   Prairie 276,776 

Newton.  Ind.  D 691.949 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  /() 

ABSTRACT   OF   TAX    BOOKS    I  QIC. 

Real  and  Personal  Property.  Total  Tax. 

Clear  Creek   $  292,320  $   10.566.36 

Independence   342,065  11,349.12 

]Malaka 369.635  11,711.97 

Hickory   Grove 344-885  10,570.1 1 

Rock  Creek    286,330  9,724.34 

Kellogg-    309,790  1 1,136.50 

Newton 437-265  i5'274-39 

Sherman 304-95O  10,441.02 

Poweshiek    278,360  9,665.67 

Washington    317..125  9,867.62 

Mound  Prairie   378,435  11,790.91 

Palo  Alto 367,730  12,987.58 

Buena  Vista 403,465  13,272.24 

Richland Z^7'7^':^  12,260.96 

Lynn  Grove   37^-370  13,078.23 

Elk  Creek 371-125  12,780.00 

Fairview 479-320  15,808.42 

Des  Moines   414-540  I3»i95-7i 

Mariposa    356,045  11,191.86 

Town  or  City  corporation — 

Monroe    253,235  i3,i74-53 

Jasper  City 159^965  9-003.36 

Baxter    166,840  9,1 10.99 

Prairie  City   230,035  12,160.99 

Sully   78.185  4-141-23 

Lynnville    54-6io  2,909.89 

Mingo ■ 47.555  1,788.79 

Greencastle 50,730  i-9i3-89 

Vandalia 32-375  1,568.12 

Reasoner    50,330  2,211.12 

Newton  (City) 2,158,152  120,997.88 

Colfax    287,690  30.330-73 

Corporations    926,069  34,677.60 


Total    $11,249,241     $470,662.13 


80  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

JASPER    county's    VARIOUS    COURT    HOUSES. 

The  term  "court  house"  is  sometimes  wrongly  applied.  It  may  mean 
simply  a  place  for  holding  various  kinds  of  court,  or  it  may  also  mean  a 
county  building-,  or  buildings,  wherein  courts  are  held,  as  well  as  office 
rooms  for  the  various  county  officials,  such  as  recorder,  treasurer,  etc.  So 
in  speaking  of  the  "first  court  house"  in  any  given  county  it  is  always  well 
to  understand  which  construction  is  placed  on  the  building  being  talked 
about.  Here  in  Jasper  county,  the  organizing  act  of  the  Legislature  of  the 
territory  of  Iowa  had  one  section  which  reads :  "That  the  district  court  of 
Jasper  county  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  Matthew-  D.  Springer,  in  said 
countv,  or  at  such  other  place  as  may  be  designated  by  the  board  of  county 
commissioners  of  said  county,  until  the  seat  of  justice  of  said  county  may 
be  located." 

In  accordance  with  the  above  provision,  the  first  term  of  court  was 
held  at  ]\Ir.  Springer's  residence,  in  Buena  Vista  township,  or  rather  in  Palo 
Alto  tow^nship,  near  the  line  between  the  tw-o  townships  named.  It  was 
held  in  the  cabin  of  Mr.  Springer  which  he  had  erected  the  autumn  before 
(1845)  and  to  which  he  had  added  a  small  room  in  which  the  court  might 
be  held.  While  it  was  the  first  court  house,  it  was  not  a  public  building 
owned  by  Jasper  county,  at  all,  but  the  residence  of  Mr.  Springer.  (See 
Bench  and  Bar  chapter  for  the  first  court.) 

The  reader  of  today  and  later  generations  may  be  interested  in  a  descrip- 
tion of  this,  the  pioneer  "court  house,"  so  called. 

It  stood  where  the  highway  now  makes  an  elbow^  on  the  Samuel 
Squares  farm.  It  w-as  built  of  small  round  hickory  logs,  about  eight  inches 
in  diameter  and  w^as  in  size  sixteen  feet  square  and  about  eig"ht  feet  high. 
Clapboards  were  nailed  over  the  cracks  inside  to  keep  the  snow  and  wind 
out  as  much  as  possible.  It  had  what  they  called  then  a  "continental"  chim- 
ney— that  is,  holes  Ijored  into  the  w^alls,  pins  driven  therein,  and  then  weath- 
erboarded  w'ith  clapboards,  thus  forming  a  flue  for  conducting  the  smoke 
abo\e  the  roof  of  the  building.  A  lane  was  cut  through  the  brush  from  the 
"court  house"  to  the  prairie.  Judge  Williams,  of  Muscatine  or  Davenport, 
was  the  first  judge  of  the  Jasper  county  district  court,  and  it  is  related  that 
while  in  session  (the  term  lasted  about  an  hour)  several  deer  were  seen 
roaming  about  and  finally  entered  the  lane,  cut  through  the  underbrush  be- 
tween the  court  house  and  prairie  and  the  court,  iudge  and  all,  went  out  to 
see  the  animals. 


JASPER    COUXTY,    IOWA.  8l 

FIRST    COUNTY    BUILDING. 

The  first  real  court  house  of  Jasper  county  was  that  built  in  1847  ^y 
Evan  Adanison  and  turned  over  to  the  commissioners  by  him  October  4th 
of  that  year,  for  which  the  board  paid  him  the  sum  of  eighty-seven  dollars 
and  fifty  cents.  It  was  constructed  of  green  native  lumber.  The  contract 
was  awarded  to  Mr.  Adamson  April  5,  1847,  ^^^  ^^  called  for  a  building 
eighteen  by  thirty  feet  and  one  story  high.  This  building  served  well  its 
original  purpose  until  the  second  court  house  was  built  in  1857. 

THE  SECOND  COURT   HOUSE. 

During  the  winter  of  1855-56  much  excitement  arose  over  a  proposed 
removal  of  the  court  house  site  from  the  public  square  to  Park  block,  in 
Nbrth  Xewton.  March  3.  1856,  a  petition  was  presented  to  County  Judge 
Rickman,  asking  him  to  submit  the  question  of  removal  in  April  following. 
A  remonstrance  Avas  also  presented,  when  it  was  learned  that  the  petition 
contained  four  hundred  nine  names  and  the  remonstrance  seven  hundred 
sixty-two.  The  Judge  ruled  that  there  be  no  election  called.  The  case  then 
went  to  tlie  district  court  and  the  judge  of  that  tribunal  ordered  that  the 
county  judge  call  an  election, — at  least  to  let  the  proposition  be  voted  upon 
at  the  spring  election, — which  was  carried  out  and  resulted  in  a  defeat  to 
the  removal  petitioners,  by  a  majority  of  four  hundred  sixty-eight. 

When  it  was  decided  to  build  a  better,  larger  court  house,  in  1857,  the 
old  one  was  sold  to  Caleb  Lamb  and  removed  to  his  farm  near  Newton, 
where  it  stood  for  many  years. 

The  second  court  house  being  demanded.  Judge  Edmundson  made  a 
contract  with  John  Hyde  for  the  construction  of  a  foundation  of  a  building 
that  should  be  ample  for  many  years  to  come,  and  the  record  shows  that  on 
August  15,  1857.  Hyde  was  allowed  $150  as  a  part  of  the  September  pay- 
ment on  the  court  house  contract;  on  the  22d  he  was  paid  $150  more;  on 
the  29th,  $200  more.  William  Rodgers  was  paid  $225  for  superintending 
the  work.  October  loth,  Hyde  was  allowed  $1,159  and  November  3d, 
$3,814,  drawn  in  thirty-two  warrants. 

Eebruary  22,    1858,  the  Judge's  record  shows  that  he  had  sold  bonds 
one  and  four  to  A.  A.  Kellogg  at  seventy-eight  cents  on  the  dollar,  the  same 
being  pavable  at  the  St.  Nicholas  Bank,  New  York  City.     Other  bonds  were 
disposed  of  at  eightv  cents  on  a  dollar. 
(6) 


82  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

October  30,  185S.  the  county  indite  ordered  81,981.43  to  be  paid  to 
Contractor  Hyde  on  the  contract,  and  the  record  says  he  added,  "this  com- 
pletes the  sum  of  $26,600  which  has  been  paid  on  the  court  house,  and  for 
which  J.  P.  Huskins.  agent  of  John  Hyde,  the  contractor,  has  receipted  for 
as  payment  in  full  for  contract  and  all  extras  in  and  about  the  building. 
The  house  is  therefore  received  from  the  hands  of  the  contractor." 

An  early  description  of  this  building  reads  thus:  "The  building  is 
located  in  the  center  of  the  public  square;  its  form  is  oblong,  being  fifty  feet 
wide  by  sixty-two  long,  with  porticoes  projecting  from  each  front  twelve 
feet.  It  is  two  stories  high,  with  a  basement  seven  feet  high  beneath,  the 
latter  built  of  sandstone;  the  portion  above  ground  is  faced  with  white  lime- 
stone, the  bases  to  the  columns  and  antae  being  of  the  same  material.  The 
walls  are  built  of  brick.  The  first  story  is  fourteen  feet  high,  and  contains 
four  rooms,  each  seventeen  and  a  half  by  twenty-three  and  a  half  feet,  and 
two  halls,  each  ten  feet  wide,  occupied  by  the  county  officers.  Two  stair- 
ways lead  to  the  second  story,  w^hich  contains  the  court  and  jury  rooms. 
The  court  room  is  thirty-seven  by  forty-seven  feet,  and  nineteen  feet  high, 
and  both  jury  rooms  are  ten  and  a  half  by  sixteen  feet  in  size.  The  entire 
height  of  the  top  of  the  cupola  is  eighty-three  feet.  The  columns  of  the 
portico  are  Ionic." 

The  first  court  house  was  not  removed  until  October,  1859,  and  the 
following  appeared  in  the  Free  Press,  the*i  published  here :  "Once  it  was  the 
house  of  the  town.  I  remember  well  when  all  the  business  of  the  county  was 
conducted  in  it.  Thither  we  used  to  go  every  Tuesday  night  to  the  post- 
office  to  hear  our  old  townsman.  Jesse  Rickman,  the  postmaster,  read  over 
the  list  of  mail  matter  brought  in  by  Valentine  Adamson.  It  was  not  until 
the  spring  of  1853  that  we  got  mail  over  once  a  week,  and  that  was  brought 
every  Tuesday  by  Val  Adamson,  and  we  used  to  gather  around  the  old  court 
house  while  'Jess'  Rickman  opened  the  mail.  In  that  same  old  house  w'e 
used  to  ha\e  both  law  and  gospel  dealt  out  to  us." 

It  was  in  this  old  house  that  many  of  the  early  county  laws  and  ap- 
propriations were  made.  With  its  passing,  came  in  a  new  and  better  era  of 
county  government. 

Court  house  number  two.  the  one  erected  in  1857.  was  the  one  in 
which  stood  the  treasury  safe  which  in  1868  was  broken  into  and  robbed  of 
about  three  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  in  cash. 

This  structure  stood  and  served  well  its  purpose  until  the  present  mag- 
nificent temple  of  justice  was  placed  on  the  ground  where  the  old  one  stood. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    TOWA.  83 

THE    PRESENT    COURT    HOUSE. 

This  building,  second  to  but  few,  if  any,  on  Iowa  soil  today,  was  dedi- 
cated April  6,  191 1,  and  cost  the  county  in  round  figures  the  sum  of  two 
hundred  thousand  dollars,  which  included  the  fixtures,  etc. 

The  first  act  of  the  board  of  supervisors  looking  to  the  erection  of  this 
splendid  court  house  was  in  1908,  when  the  board  called  an  election  for  the 
purpose  of  getting  an  expression  of  the  people  on  this  subject.  Popular 
consent  was  easily  obtained.  In  February,  1909,  a  contract  was  let;  work 
commenced  April  i,  1909.  and  the  building  was  dedicated  Thursday,  April 
6.  191 1,  Judge  Horace  E.  Deemer,  of  the  supreme  bench  of  Iowa,  deliver- 
ing the  speech. 

The  building  is  one  hundred  twenty  feet  and  eight  inches  long  and 
eighty  feet  wide.  The  tower  is  one  hundred  forty  feet  high  from  the  curb- 
ing on  the  street  below*.  There  are  sixty  rooms  and  four  vaults  in  the  struc- 
ture and  an  electric  clock  in  each  suite  of  rooms  in  the  building,  all  regu- 
lated by  the  master-clock  in  the  rooms  of  the  auditor's  office.  The  contract 
price  for  the  court  house  was  $140,825.71  ;  the  heating  plant,  $15,500;  archi- 
tect and  superintendent,  $7,900;  furniture,  etc.,  $36,000,  making  a  total  ex- 
penditure of  $200,225.  This  magnificent  building  is  constructed  of  the 
celebrated  Bedford  (Indiana)  stone,  the  best  building  limestone  to  be  found 
in  the  country.  A  minute  description  is  needless  here,  for  be  it  rememljered 
that  long  after  the  pages  of  this  county  history  are  worn  and  turned  yellow 
W'ith  age,  in  all  human  probability  this  building  will  stand  in  all  its  massive 
beauty. 

It  may  be  well,  however,  to  add  this  concerning  the  new  (1911)  tem- 
ple of  justice :  The  four  emblematic  paintings  are  by  Edgar  Cameron,  of 
Chicago,  and  are  each  illustrative  of  some  incident  in  Jasper  county's  his- 
tory. On  the  south  side  of  the  rotunda  is  a  scene  of  a  prairie  fire  and  a  herd 
of  buffalo;  on  the  east  is  a  group  of  Unitd  States  soldiers,  camped  on  the 
banks  of  Skunk  river,  west  of  Newton,  in  the  early  forties;  on  the  north  a 
scene  of  the  departing  Indian  and  the  coming  of  the  white  man.  his  cabin 
and  domestic  surroundings;  on  the  west  side  may  be  seen  the  soldier  boys 
leaving  for  the  front,  in  Civil  war  days,  in  which  are  to  be  seen  the  teams 
and  the  relatives  of  the  newly  enlisted  men,  with  waving  flags  as  they  bid 
home  and  loved  ones  "good  bye."  These  paintings  are  all  real  works  of  art 
and  add  materially  to  the  charm  of  the  building. 

The  filing  cabinets  and  book  racks  are  all  steel  and  fitted  w^ith  sliding 
fronts,  dust  and  light  proof,  for  the  preservation  of  papers.     In  addition  in 


84  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

those  offices  needing-  them  are  large  fire-proof  vaults,  as  large  and  liglit  and 
comfortable  to  work  in  as  the  oflfice  rooms  proper. 

On  the  first  floor  is  a  room  set  apart  for  the  exclusive  use  of  the  Grand 
Arniv  of  tho  RciHiMic.  in  whicli  there  is  everything  attractive.  In  its 
border  of  mural  decorati^ui  are  painted  the  names  of  nineteen  of  the  import- 
ant battles  of  the  Civil  conflict,  including  Manassas  and  the  windup  at  Ap- 
pomattox. 

.\nother  si)ccial  and  modern  feature  of  this  court  house  building  is  the 
spacious,  elegantly  equipped  ladies'  rest  room,  on  the  first  floor,  easily  ac- 
cessible to  the  street.  Here  the  ladies  from  town  and  country  may  while 
away  an  hour  and  rest. 

On  tlie  same  floor  is  an  assembly  room,  which  is  finely  furnished  and 
here  farmers  and  others  may  hold  public  meetings.  This  easily  seats  two 
hundred  persons. 

Hie  clock  in  the  tower  is  tiie  latest  achievement  in  time-pieces.  It  is 
fitted  with  an  automatic  attachment  so  that  every  day  it  winds  itself  and 
each  night  it  turns  on  the  electric  lights  which  show  through  its  eight-foot 
dial  to  the  four  sides  of  the  public. square.  One  thousand  two  hundred  dol- 
lars of  its  cost  was  made  uj)  by  private  donations  of  Jasper  county  citizens. 

Aside,  perhaps,  from  the  Des  Moines  (Polk  county)  public  building, 
nothing  in  all  Iowa  compares  with  this  beautiful,  modern  court  house.  The 
following  gentlemen  were  associated  in  the  production  of  this,  Jasper 
county's  latest  public  l)uilding:  Proudfoot  &  Bird,  architects;  James  Row- 
son  &  Son,  contractors;  Norman  A.  Price,  superintendent;  Frank  Sellman, 
auditor;  supervisors  during  its  construction,  D.  S.  Fleck,  chairman  of  the 
board.  W.  O.  Livingston.  J.  F.  Khse  and  C.  F.  Sauerman. 

At  the  dedication  of  this  l)uilding  there  were  one  Imndred  and  twenty 
names  entered  in  a  book  provided  for  the  occasion,  showing  those  present  at 
the  exercises  who  had  seen  the  erection  of  the  old  court  house  of  1858.  In 
this  "book  of  fame,''  as  it  was  appropriately  styled,  the  oldest  man  to  sign 
his  name  was  C.  A.  Dotson,  of  Colfax,  aged  ninety  vears  and  who  came  to 
Jasper  county  in  1848.  The  youngest  man  to  sign  was  J.  A.  Blackwood, 
aged  fifty-five  years  and  who  was  three  years  old  when  the  old  court  house 
was  erected.  Then  another  feature  of  this  record  book  was  tlie  signing  of 
the  same  by  the  oldest  living  settler  in  Jasper  county,  the  venerable  R.  F. 
McKJinney,  who  is  not  the  oldest  person,  but  the  oldest  settler  now  living  in 
the  county,  he  having  arrived  here  in  1846.  at  the  age  of  seven  vears.  three 
years  after  tlie  first  wliite  man  liad  invaded  the  county's  domain. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA,  85 

John  B.  Owens,  of  Newton,  aged  seventy-three,  signed  with  the  same 
pen  which  was  used  hy  him  on  a  hke  occasion  for  the  1858  court  house, 
having  retained  the  same  during  all  these  long,  eventful  years. 

The  chapter  on  "Reminiscences"  in  this  volume  will  contain  an  article 
from  the  ready,  graphic  pen  of  J.  H.  I'\igard,  of  Newton,  which  will  round 
out  the  history  of  Jasper  county's  last  two  court  houses.     (See  index.) 

DETAILED   FACTS   CONCERNING  THE   BUILDING. 

Authorized  at  election November  3,  1908 

Contract    let February    18,    1909 

Work   commenced April    i.    1909 

Building   completed April    6,    191 1 

Length 120    feet   and   8   inches 

Width    80    feet 

Height  to   cornice 56   feet 

Height  of  tower 140   feet 

Number  of   rooms 60 

Number   of    vaults 4 

Diameter  of  clock  faces 7   feet 

Contract  price    $140,825.71 

Heating  plant    15,500.00 

Architect   and    Superintendent    7,900  00 

Furniture,  etc 36.000.00 

Total   $200,225.71 

THE    COUNTY   JAIL. 

The  first  permanent  and  separate  jail  for  Jasper  county  was  erected  in 
1877,  at  a  cost  of  a  contract  price  of  fourteen  thousand  six  hundred  dollars, 
to  John  W.  Rice,  who  gave  l)onds  to  the  amount  of  ten  thousand  dollars  for 
the  faithful  performance  of  his  work.  It  is  a  brick  building,  just  to  the 
southwest  of  the  public  square.  It  is  a  jail  and  sheriff's  house  combined  and 
is  a  neat,  modern  structure,  always  kept  clean  and  sanitary.  The  contract 
was  let  in  December,  1876,  and  the  building  was  first  opened  in  1877.  In  its 
rear  is  the  city  water  works  and  lighting  plant,  with  the  new  high  steel  water 
tower  overlooking  it. 


86  JASl'ER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

THE  COUNTY   HOME. 

The  present  county  home  was  built  through  a  contract  entered  into 
April  1 6,  1896,  with  S.  T.  Roberts,  of  Des  Moines.  The  building  commit- 
tee consisted  of  J.  C.  Donahey,  chairman.  Ed.  Cook  and  Alfred  Davey.  The 
building  was  completed  in  October  of  the  same  year  the  contract  was  made. 
A  one  mill  tax  levy  was  made  on  the  property  of  the  county  for  the  erection 
of  this  building.  The  election  was  had  with  the  general  election  in  Novem- 
ber, 1895,  at  which  this  proposition  had  1,613  ^otes  for  and  1,545  against 
the  building. 

Times  change  with  the  administration  of  different  sets  of  county  offi- 
cials, as  will  be  observed  by  reading  the  two  resolutions  concerning  this  poor 
farm. 

At  the  April  session  in  1896,  the  board  resolved:  "We  will  not  here- 
after allow  payment  for  any  but  substantial,  such  as  supplies  and  clothing, 
and  positively  refuse  to  allow  payment  for  green  apples,  plums,  cranberries, 
peaches,  high  grade  flour  in  no  case  save  sickness  and  then  on  an  order  from 
the  attending  physician." 

Way  back  in  Commissioner  Burton's  administration,  a  quarter  of  a 
century  ago,  he  states  to  the  writer  that  he  had  one  man — an  inmate  of  the 
place — to  raise  poultry  to  the  amount  of  over  four  hundred  chickens  and 
two  hundred  turkeys.  When  fully  grown,  he  saw  fit  to  dole  these  chickens 
and  turkeys  out  to  the  old  men  and  women  who  had  poor  appetites.  He 
was  called  up  on  the  carpet  and  the  board  found  much  fault  with  him,  think- 
ing that  he  should  sell  such  provisions  and  feed  the  inmates,  regardless  of 
age  and  health,  on  the  plain  foods  such  as  the  more  hearty  could  live  upon. 
Mr.  Burton  let  his  holy  indignation  Che  came  from  old  Virginia)  rise  and 
arose  in  his  seat  and  exclaimed :  "So  long  as  I  have  charge  of  the  poor  fann 
I  will  do  just  as  I  have  done  and  when  you  don't  like  my  style  you  simply 
say  so  and  I  will  resign  my  position  to  another."  This  ended  it — he  went 
ahead  and  heard  no  further  murmuring  from  the  stingy  board. 

The  last  report  of  the  county  auditor  gives  the  following  concerning 
the  report  of  the  superintendent  of  the  county  home  of  Jasper  county :  Num- 
ber of  inmates  January  i,  1910,  thirty -nine:  admitted  in  1910,  eight;  total, 
forty-seven.  Number  of  deaths  during  1910,  se\en :  number  discharged  in 
1910,  six:  total  enrolled  January  i,  191 1,  thirty-four. 

Total  expenditures  for  1910,  including  groceries,  clothing,  coal,  to- 
bacco, furniture,  feed  and  stock,  improvements,  doctor's  bills,  steward  and 
stewardess,  with  payment  on  lighting  plant.  $8,614.   Total  sales   from   the 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  8/ 

county  farm  for  1910,  $3,981  ;  net  gain  in  invoice  during  1910,  $988.75. 
Outside  the  county  home,  the  expenses  were  $5,020.  For  the  three  preced- 
ing- years  the  figures  were:     In  1906,  $5,969;  1907,  $6,119;  1908,  $5,813. 

THE  JASPER    COUNTY    SEAL. 

As  has  been  previously  noticed,  the  first  seal  of  this  county  was  im- 
provised by  using  the  imprint  of  a  ten-cent  coin  piece.  Then  later  the  county 
commissioners  were  allowed  to  purchase  a  real  seal,  which  was  in  the  lat- 
ter part  of  the  forties  or  early  in  the  fifties.  This  seal  is  the  same  in  use 
today.  It  is  quite  emblematic.  It  is  composed  of  the  figure  of  an  American 
eagle  sitting  on  the  edge  of  ''union,''  or  a  striped  shield,  which  shield  is 
resting  on  the  beam  of  a  huge  plow  turning  a  heavy  furrow  of  virgin  sod. 
In  the  rotunda  of  the  new  court  house  in  Xewton  this  design  has  been  en- 
larged to  cover  a  space  described  by  a  circle  not  less  than  eight  feet  in 
diameter.  It  is  in  colors  made  by  the  different  tints  of  the  marble  flooring. 
The  only  lettering  on  the  seal  is,  ''Seal  of  Jasper  County,  Iowa." 

OFFICIAL   DIRECTORY I9II. 

Auditor.  H.  S.  Rayburn;  deputy  auditor.  C.  O.  Edge;  clerk,  Frank 
Wilson;  deputy  clerk,  Harvey  Gribben;  treasurer,  O.  B.  Kipp;  deputy  treas- 
urer. Blanche  Kipp;  recorder,  R.  H.  Bailey;  deputy  recorder,  Fay  Horn; 
sheriff,  W.  S.  Gove ;  deputy  sheriff,  Harry  Gove ;  county  superintendent, 
Olive  Shriner;  deputy  county  superintendent,  Edith  Parvin;  county  attorney, 
Ross  R.  Mowry;  county  surveyor,  W.  F.  Byers;  coroner.  James  C.  Hill; 
members  of  board  of  supervisors,  D.  S.  Fleck,  C.  F.  Sauerman,  ^^^  O.  Liv- 
ingston. 

NEW     ROAD     DRAG     LAW. 

In  the  winter  of  1910-11,  the  Iowa  Legislature  passed  a  new  road  drag 
law,  of  which  the  following  is  one  of  the  sections : 

"Section  2.  The  township  trustees  shall  from  time  to  time  designate 
what  districts  shall  be  dragged,  which  must  include  all  the  mail  routes  and 
all  the  main  traveled  roads  within  the  township;  they  shall  at  their  regular 
meeting  in  April,  or  at  a  special  meeting  called  for  that  purpose,  appoint  a 
superintendent  of  dragging,  who  shall  be  a  resident  of  the  township,  or  any 
citv  or  town  within  said  township,  who  shall  serve  for  one  year  unless 
sooner  removed  by  the  board:  they  shall  fix  the  amount  of  his  compensa- 
tion, which  shall  not  exceed  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  day  and  actual 


88  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

expenses  for  each  day  of  eight  hours  while  engaged  in  necessary  work  for 
the  township,  and  for  giving  notice  to  contractors  who  shall  be  required 
to  drag  he  shall  receive  such  additional  compensation  as  the  board  may  di- 
rect; they  shall  furnish  suitable  road  drags  for  the  township  and  pay  for 
same  out  of  the  township  road  funds;  they  shall  adopt  a  suitable  form 
of  notice  to  be  given  by  the  superintendent  of  dragging  when  ordering  the 
roads  dragged,  stipulating  the  manner  of  serving  same." 

It  is  believed  that  this  new  law  will  serve  to  greatly  facilitate  the 
making  of  improved  roads,  and  Jasper  county  has  already  put  the  law  into 
force.  There  are  several  excellent  *'road-drags"  manufactured  within  this 
county,  one  of  which  is  made  entirely  of  steel  and  is  adjustable  in  its 
operation. 


CHAPTER     VII. 

COUNTY,    STATE    AND    NATIONAL    REPRESENTATION. 

The  chief  object  of  this  chapter  is  to  give  the  reader  a  complete  Hst 
of  all  county  officers ;  also  to  inform  him  as  to  who  have  represented  the  people 
of  Jasper  county  in  state  and  national  official  positions.  It  may  serve  as  a 
fair  political  index  of  the  county  since  the  early  days  to  the  present,  as  in 
cases  the  vote  is  given  on  certain  officers,  showing  the  party  strength. 

PRESIDENTIAL     VOTE. 


1848— 

Zachary  Taylor   (D)   Elected. 
1852— 

Franklin  Pierce  (D) 

Winfield  Scott   (Whig). 
1856— 

James  Buchanan  (D)  Elected. 

John  C.  Fremont  (R). 
i8"6(^- 

Abraham  Lincoln  (R)   Elected 

Stephen  A.  Douglas  (Northern  D) 

John  C.  Breckenridge  (South.  D). 
1864— 

Abraham  Lincoln  (R)  Elected. 

George  B.  McClellan  (D) 
1868— 

U.  S.  Grant  (R) 2.999 

Horatio   Seymour    fD)  .  .  .  .    1.282 
1872— 

U.  S.  Grant  (R) 2.848 

Horace  Greeley  (Lib.  D)  .  .       942 
1876— 

Rutherford  B.  Hayes  (R)  .  . 

Samuel  J.  Tilden  (D) 


1880— 

James  A.  Garfield  f  R)  .  .  .  . 

\Mnfield  Scott  Hancock  (  D) 

James  B.  Weaver  (Gr'enb'k) 
1884— 

Grover   Cleveland    (D)  .  .  .  . 

James  G.  Blaine  (R) 

John  P.   St.  John   (Prohi.) 


Benjamin  Harrison   (R)  .  .  . 

Grover   Cleveland    (D)  .  .  .  . 
1892— 

Benjamin  Harrison  (R)  .  .  . 

Grover   Cleveland    (D)  .  .  .  . 

James  B.  A\^eaver  (Peo.)  .  . 
1896— 

William  Mcl\iinley  (R) 

William  J.  Bryan   (D) 

John  M.  Palmer  (Nat.  D)  .  . 

John  Levering  (Prohi.)  .  .  .  . 
1900 — 

\\'illiam  McKinley  (R.) 

William  J.  Bryan  (D.) 

John  G.  Wooley  (Prohi.).. 


3.162 


2.734 
2,997 


3.138 
2.340 

3.i7<^> 
2.556 


3-7T3 

2.747 


3. 161 


90 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 


1904— 

Theodore   Roosevelt    {R)  ■  .    3.962 

Alton  B.  Parker  (D) 1,942 

Silas   C.    Swallow    (Prohi.) 
Eugene  V.  Debs  (Soc.) .... 


1908 — 

William  H.  Taft  (R).. 
William  J.  Bryan  (D)  . 
E.  W.  Chafin  (Prohi.). 
Eugene  V.  Debs  (Soc.)  . 


3o43 
2,889 


UNITED    STATES    SENATORS. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  United  States  Senators  from  Iowa 
first  General  Assembly  failed  to  elect  a  U.  S.  Senator. 


The 


1848-58— George  W.  Jones  (D) 
1848-55 — Augustus  C.  Dodge  (D). 
1855-65 — James  Harlan  (Whig). 
1858-70 — James  W.  Grimes  (R). 
1866-72 — James  Harlan  (R). 
1865-67 — Samuel  J.  Kirkwood  (R). 
1870-72 — James  B.  Howell  (R). 
1871-77 — George  G.  Wright  (R). 
1 872-1908— William  B.  Allison  (R). 
1 877- 1 894— J.  H.  Gear  (R). 

CONGRESSMEN. 


1877-81 — Samuel  J.  Kirkwood  (R). 
1881-83— James  McDill  (R). 
1 882- 1 894— James  F.  Wilson  (R). 
1 895- 1 900 — John  H.  Gear  (R). 
1900-10 — Jonathan  P.  Dolliver  (R). 
19 10 — few  months — Hon.  Lafayette 

Young  (appointed). 
1908 — Albert  B.  Cummins  (R). 
19 II — W.  S.  Kenyon  (R). 


Since  1875  the  congressmen  from  the  sixth  district  have  been  as  follows 


1875-78 — Ezekial  Sampson. 
1879-80 — James  B.  Weaver. 
1881-83— John  C.  Cook. 
1883-84— M.  E.  Cutts. 
1885-86— M.  E.  Cutts. 
1887-88 — James  B.  Weaver. 


1889-90 — James  B.  Weaver. 
1891-92 — ^John  F.  Lacy. 
1893-94 — Fred  E.  White. 
1895-06 — John  F.  Lacy. 
1907-08 — D.  W.  Hamilton. 
1909-11 — N.  E.  Kendall. 


GOVERNORS     OF     IOWA. 


1846-50 — Ansel   Briggs    (D). 
1850-54 — Stephen  Hemstead  (D). 
1854-58 — James  W.  Grimes  (Whig). 
1858-60— Ralph  P.  Lowe   (R). 
1860-64 — Samuel  J.  Kirkwood  (R). 
1864-68— William  M.  Stone   (R). 


1868-72— Samuel  Merrill  (R). 
] 872-76 — Cyrus  C.  Carpenter  (R). 
1876-77 — Samuel  G.  Kirkwood  (R). 
1878  (part)— Sam'l  G.  Newbold  (R) 
1878-82— John  H.  Gear  (R). 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  9 1 

1 882- 1 886—  1895-97— 

Biiren  R.  Sherman  (R) 2,073  F.  M.  Drake  (R) 2,875 

L.  G.  Kinnie  (D) 695  W.  J.  Babb  (D) 1,414 

D.  M.  Clark  (P) 687  1897-190CK- 

1885-1889—  Leslie  M.  Shaw  (R) 3,116 

William  Larrabee    (R)  .  .  .  .    2,756  F.  E.  White  (D) 3*240 

C.  E.  Whiting  (D) 2,462  1900- 1902 — 

1889-1891 —  Leslie  M.  Shaw  (  R) 3-33^) 

—  Hutchison  (R) 2,791  F.  E.  \\'hite  (D) 3.009 

Horace  Boies  (D) 2,276  1901-1908 — 

1891-1893 —  Albert  B.  Cummins  (R)...    3,434 

Hiram  C.  Wheeler  f  R)  ....    3,077  T.  J.  Phillips  (D) 2,190 

Horace  Boies  (D) 2,695  1908-1912 — 

1893-1895 —  B.  F.  Carroll   (R) 3,3^7 

Frank  D.  Jackson  (R) 3,075  Fred  E.   White    (D) 2,825 

Horace  Boies  (D) 2,365 

STATE    SENATORS. 

The  state  senators  who  have  lived  in  Jasper  county  and  represented 
this  district  have  been  as  follows : 

EHsha  Flaugh,  tenth  General  Assembly. 

M.   D.  Doud.  twenty-first  and  twenty-second  General  Assemblies. 

Perry  Engle,  twenty-third  and  twenty-fourth  Assemblies. 

Dr.  J.  R.  Gorrell,  twenty-eighth  Assemblies. 

F.  L.  Maytag,  twenty -ninth  to  thirty-third  Assemblies. 

REPRESENTATIVES. 

! 

First  General  Assembly.  John  Kinsman. 
Sixth  General  Assembly,  David  Edmundson. 
Seventh  General  Assembly,  S.  B.  Shelledy. 
Eighth  General  Assembly,  C.  ^L  Davis. 
Tenth  General  Assembly.  Salem  Jeffries. 
Eleventh  General  Assembly,  David  Ryan. 
Twelfth  General  Assembly,  M.  W.  Atwood. 
Thirteenth  General  Assembly.  Caleb  Bundy. 
I         Fourteenth  General  Assembly,  John  P.  Beatty. 


92 


ASl'KR    COUNTY.    IOWA. 


Fifteenth  Cieneral  Assembly.  George  M.  \\ilson. 
Sixteenth  General  Assembly.  Georg-e  M.  Wilson. 
Seventeenth  General  Assembly.  Joel  W.  Deweese. 
Eighteenth  and  Nineteenth  (General  Assemblies.  Eli  E.  Dotson. 
Twentieth  General  .\ssembly.  \\'illiam  H.  McColloch,  H.  B.  C.  Ward. 
Twentv-first  and  twenty-second  General  Assemblies,  Aaron  Custer. 
Twenty-third,  twenty-seventh  General  Assemblies,  Samuel  B.  Powers. 
Twenty-fourth  and  twenty-fifth  General  Assemblies,  C.  N.  Doane. 
Twenty-sixth  General  Assembly.  X.  A.  Wells. 
Twenty-eighth  General  Assembly,  W.  W.  Hawk. 
Twenty-ninth  General  Assembly,  AV.  W.  Hawk. 
Thirtieth  to  thirty-third  General  Assemblies.  John  E.  Offill. 
Thirty-third  General  Assembly,  William  R.  Cooper. 

EARLY     COUNTY    COMMISSIONERS. 

1846 — John  R.  Sparks,  Joab  Bennett,  ]\Ianly  Gifford. 

1847 — ^lanly  Gifford.  Nathan  Williams,  John  R.  Sparks. 

1848 — Same   as    1847. 

1849 — J*'hn  R.  Sparks,  Nathan  Williams,  John  B.  Hammack. 

1850 — Nathan  Williams,  John  R.  Sparks,  James  A.  Tool. 

1 85 1 — James  A.  Tool,  Willis  Green,  Levi  Plummer. 

commissioners'  clerks. 

1846 — John  H.  Eranklin.  1847 — Jesse    Rickman     (to    fill    va- 

1847 — Washington  Eleener.  cancy). 

1848 — Jesse  Rickman. 

COUNTY     judges. 

This  office  was  abolished  by  law  in  1868. 
1852 — Jesse    Rickman.  1862 — Riley  Ashley. 

1856— William  P.  Norris.  1864— J.  A.  Harris. 

1838 — David    Edmundson.  1866 — O.  C.  Howe. 

SHERIFFS. 

1846-7— David  Edmundson.  1850 — Ballinger  Aydelotte. 

1848 — Silas   Dooley.  1832 — Rilev  Ashlev. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 


93 


854— J.  A.  Shellady. 
856 — William  Kromer, 
857 — D.  E.  Longfellow. 
858— J.    T.    Hull. 
860-R.  Ashley. 
864 — Chancy   Howard. 
866 — James  'SI.  Rodgers. 
872— \\'.  C.  Hawk. 
874 — J.   R.  Zollinger. 
879 — James  S.   Hunter. 
88  T — James  S.  Hunter. 
883— H.  L.  Weston. 
88  s— H.  L-  \\'eston 


1887— M 
1889— I. 
1891— M 
1893-M 
1895— D. 
1897— D. 
1899— C. 
1 90 1 — C. 

1903— :^r 

1905 — M. 

1908 — F. 
1 910 — W 


.  A.  McCord. 
L.  Patton. 
.  A.  McCord. 
.  A.  McCord. 

R.   Tripp. 

R.  Tripp. 

H.  Hook. 

H.  Hook. 
.    B.    Moberly 
.  B.  Moberly. 

H.    Russell. 
S.  Gove. 


COUNTY    SURVEYORS. 


846— Silas  Sawyer. 
848 — Samuel  SI.  Coleman. 
849 — Elisha  Hammer. 
852 — ^John  Q.  Deakin. 
856— W.   P.   Cole. 
858— S.  W^  Foreman. 
860— E.  T.  Preston. 
866 — John  Collier. 


1868 — Charles  C.  Turner. 
1872 — Aaron  S.  Stuver. 
1876 — \\'illiam   L.   LeFever. 
1879 — William  L.  LeFever. 
1881 — Willard  F.  Byers.  serving  un- 
til 1906. 
1906— P.  R.  Rice. 
1908 — W.  F.  Byers.  still  serving. 


CLERKS     OF    THE     DISTRICT     COURT. 


847 — Thomas  J.  Adamson. 
848— Peter  :\Iiller. 
850 — William  ^L  Springer. 
832— W.    P.    Xorris. 
854 — C.    C.    Turner. 
857 — Joseph  B.  Hough. 
861 — Owen  Davis. 
865 — John  A.  Seaton. 
869— A\'.  R.  ^rcCully. 
877^ — Leroy  B.  Westbrook. 
878— L.  B.  \\^estbrook. 
880— ^L  P.  Doud. 
882— :^L  P.  Doud. 
884— G.  W.  Harlan. 


1886 — George    W.    Harlan. 
1888— X.  Townsend. 
1890 — X.  Townsend. 
1892 — John  L.  Mathews. 
1894 — John    S.    Mathews. 
1896 — John   A.   Mathews. 
1898— t.    H.    Kapple. 
1900 — J.  A.  Mathews. 
1902 — Earnest  Early. 
1904 — Earnest   Early. 
1906— P.  H.  Healy. 
1908— P.  H.  Healy. 
19TO — Frank  A\'ilson. 


94 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 


COUNTY     ATTORNEYS. 


1886— J.  A.  Kerr. 
1888— W.   G.   Clements. 
1892 — E.  J.  Salmon. 
i8g6— O.  C.  Meredith. 
1900 — Henry  Sihvolcl. 


1904 — P.  H.  Creagen. 
1902 — P.  H.  Creagen. 
1906 — E.  P.  ]\Ialmberg. 
1908— E.  P.  Malmberg. 


COUNTY     TREASURERS. 


Up  to  1804  the  office  of  treasui 
The  records  show,  however,  that  the 
sitions  in  Jasper  county  : 
1846 — J.  \V.  Swann. 
1848 — John   E.   Copp. 
1850 — Henry  Rodgers. 
1854— A.  T.  Ault. 
1858 — Elisha  Hammer. 
1862— J.  W.  Wilson. 
1 864 — Thomas  Arthur. 
1866 — Josiah  B.  Eyerly. 
1872 — E.   H.   Bartow. 
1876 — George  Z.  Anderson. 
1878— S.  E.  Zinn. 
1879— D.  G.  Winchell. 
1881— D.  G.  Winchell. 
1883— S.   H.   Galusha. 


er  and  recorder  was  one  and  the  same, 
following  served  in  their  respective  po- 

1885— S.   H.   Galusha. 
1887— A.  K:  Brown. 
1889 — A.  K.  Brown. 
1 89 1 — Erank  R.  W^itmer. 
1893 — Frank  R.  Witmer. 
1895 — Willard  Howard. 
1897 — Willard  Howard. 
1899 — Henr}^  Galusha. 
1 90 1 — Frank  E.  Robins. 
1903 — Frank  E.  Robins. 
1906 — Phillip  Scharf. 
1908— O.  B.  Kipp. 
1 9 10 — O.  B.  Kipp. 


COUNTY  RECORDER. 


1846 — Seth  Hammer. 
1848 — John  E.  Copp. 
1830 — Henry  Rogers. 
1858 — Elisha  Hammer. 
1862— J.    W.   Wilson. 
1864 — Thomas  Arthur. 
1865 — John  C.  Wilson 
1869— G.  W.  Chinn. 


1873— W.  H.   Hough. 

1877 — Williamson   N.   Carrothers. 

1878— W\   B.   Russell. 

1879— S.  S.  Wilson. 

1880 — Thomas  M.  Rodgers. 

1882 — Thomas  M.  Rodgers. 

1884 — Ezra  Adkins. 

1886 — Ezra  Adkins. 


JASPER    COUXTV,    IOWA. 


95 


1888 — Jo  Cunningham. 
1890 — Jo  Cunningham. 
1892— J.   W.   Jeffries. 
1894— J.   W.   Jeffries. 
1896— A.  G.  West. 
1898 — Fred  A.  Eaton. 


1900 — A.   J.    Streeter. 
1902 — A.   J.    Streeter. 
1904 — James  Campbell. 
1906 — E.  E.  Erwin. 
1908— R.    H.    Bailey. 
1910 — R.  H.  Bailey. 


COUNTY     CORONERS. 


852 — Thomas  J.  Adamson. 

854 — David  S.  Fuller. 

856 — Joseph  Hickman. 

858 — Hugh  Rodgers. 

864 — W.  M.  Carrothers. 

866— Hugh    Newell. 

868— David  S.  Stiver. 

871 — Hugh  Rodgers. 

876— E.  W.  Mitchell. 

878— Hugh  Xewell. 

879 — Hugh  Newell,  until   1887. 

887— T.  J.  Robins. 


1889— T.    J.    Robins. 
1 89 1 — Hugh   Newell. 
1893 — Hugh  Newell. 
1895 — Hayden  Reynolds. 
1897 — Hayden  Reynolds. 
1899— H.'C.  Gill.' 
1901 — T.  H.  Jacobs. 
1903 — S.  M.   Robinson. 
1906 — C.  E.  Boyd. 
1908 — James   C.    Hill. 
1 910 — James   C.   Hill. 


COUNTY   AUDITORS. 


This  office  was  created  and  that  of 
auditor,  since  that  date,  being  ex-officio 
isors. 

868-9—0.   C.   Howe. 
869— G.  R.  Ledyard. 
871 — G.   R.  Ledyard. 
873— G.   R.   Ledyard. 
875— G.   R.   Ledyard. 
877— G.  R.  Ledyard. 
879 — Moses  Greenleaf. 
881 — Moses  Greenleaf. 
883— B.   \y.   Brown. 
885— B.  \y.  Brown. 
887— J.  T.  Hunt. 


county  judge  abolished  in  1868.  the 
clerk  of  the  lx)ard  of  county  super- 

1889— J.  T.  Hunt. 
1892 — J.  M.  Rayburn. 
1894 — J.  'SI.   Rayburn. 
1896 — Frank  Fisk. 
1898 — Joseph    Horn. 
1900 — Joseph  Horn. 
1902 — Eugene  Bean. 
1904 — Eugene  Bean. 
1906 — Frank  Sellman. 
1908 — Frank    Sellman. 
19 TO — H.  S.  Rayburn. 


g()  JASPKK    COUNTY.    IOWA. 


PROSECUTING    ATTORN  KVS. 


183 i_H.  J.  Skiff.  1 85r)— William   B.    Sloan. 

1853— J.  N.  Edgar.  1857— D.  L.  Clark. 

Following  this  came  the  office  of  district  attorney,  which  did  away 
w  ith  the  office  of  prosecuting  attorney. 

SUPERINTB^TDENT    OF    SCHOOLS. 

1858— Albert  Lufkin.  1887— J.  \V.  Iliff. 

1862— James  Porter.  1889— C.  O.  McClain. 

1864— D.  Thomas.  1891— C.  O.  McClain. 

1866— David  Craig.  1893— ^^I.  A.  Walsh. 

1868— Sanford  J.  Moyer.  1895— Minnie  A.  Walsh. 

1872— C.    D.   Hipsley.  1897— E.  C.  Meredith. 

1876 — W.  G.  Work.  1899 — Libbie  Dean. 

1878 — M.   A.   Mayfield.  1901 — Libbie  Dean. 

1879 — R-  -^-  ^lathews.  1903 — J.  E.  Roberts. 

]88i— R.  A.   Mathews.  1906— Laura   W.    Killduff. 

1883 — Daniel    Miller.  1909 — Olive  Shriner. 
1885— Daniel  Miller. 

SCHOOL     FUND     COMMISSIONERS. 

This  was  an  office  that  was  abolished  when  that  of  superintendent  of 
schools  was  created  in  1858.  The  commissioners  were:  1851,  Jesse  Rick- 
man:  1853.  T[arve\-  J.  Skiff;   1857.  James  G.  Afeek. 

COUNTY     SUPERVISORS. 

The  governing  power  of  all  Iowa  counties  since  i86t,  when  the  one- 
man-power  county-judge  system  was  shorn  of  its  authority,  has  been 
vested  in  the  board  of  supervisors.  Up  to  about  1871  there  was  one  su- 
pervisor from  each  township  within  the  county,  but  at  that  time  it  was 
changed  to  three  and  sometimes  five  (according  to  population)  for  the  en- 
tire county,  the  same  representing  districts,  in  which  they  must  reside. 
Under    the  former  supervisor  system  the  list  in  Jasper  county  was : 

1861 — David  McCord,  chairman;  William  N.  Harrah.  C.  M.  Davis, 
Morris  Cating,   Salem  Jeffries.   Reuben  Johnson.   John   McCracken,   G.   W. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  97 

Chinn,  Caleb  Jordan,  James  E.  Butler,  A.  G.  Groves,  William  G.  Romans, 
Perry  Matteson,  Elisha  Flaiigh,  George  Ryati. 

1862 — David  McCord,  chairman;  Reuben  Johnson,  James  Shaw, 
Joseph  Dodd,  Salem  Jeffries,  E.  Flaugh.  .V.  McDonald,  William  N.  Harrah, 
Caleb  Jordan,  R.  L.  McCroy,  \\\  G.  Romans,  John  McCracken,  James  E. 
Butler,  A.  G.  Groves,  IMorris  Gating,  C.  M.  Davis. 

1863 — E.  Flaugh,  chairman;  J.  E.  Butler,  D.  McCord,  Reuben  John- 
son, Isaac  Porter,  Nicholas  Graffis,  \\"m.  X.  Harrah,  Caleb  Jordan,  James 
Shaw,  Salem  Jeffries,  Manly  Gifford,  F.  Gary,  A.  W.  McDonald,  Joseph 
Dodd.   Levi   Plummer. 

1864— C.  M.  Davis.  M.  Griffis,  Thomas  Haskett,  Manly  Gifford.  R.  B. 
Dawson.  J.  A.  Killin.  A.  W.  ]VlcDonald.  L.  Plummer,  E.  H.  Bartow,  C. 
Jordan,  D.  McCord,  J.  McCracken,  J.  E.  Butler,  J.  Dodd,  George  Ryan, 
W.  N.  Harrah,  chairman. 

1865 — Joseph  Dodd,  George  Ryan,  John  Taylor,  R.  S.  Williams, 
Thomas  Haskett.  R.  B.  Dawson,  John  Sumpter,  John  A.  Fillin,  A.  W.  Mc- 
Donald, E.  H.  Bartow,  P.  H.  Doud,  Caleb  Jordan,  John  Breeden,  C.  M. 
Davis,  W.  R.  Skiff,  James  E.  Butler,  John  Taylor,  W.  N.  Harrah,  chair- 
man. 

1866— E.  H.  Bartow,  chairman;  A\'.  R.  Skiff,  Joseph  Dodd,  C.  M. 
Davis,  John  Taylor,  Joel  Osgood.  James  Shaw.  M.  W.  Atwood,  P.  H. 
Doud,  William  R.  McCully,  James  E,  Butler,  John  Breeden,  James  Rhine- 
hart.  R.  B.  Dawson.  Henry  Hammer,  Wesley  Davis,  R.  S.  Williams. 

1867 — C.  M.  Davis,  chairman;  M.  W.  Atwood,  Henry  Hammer,  Jacob 
Kipp,  W.  Davis,  G.  W.  Shafer,  J.  F.  Lamb,  G.  W.  Chinn,  Addison  White, 
James  Shaw.  H.  C.  Peer,  E.  H.  Bartow,  J.  G.  Mudgett,  Joseph  Dodd,  Salem 
Jeffries,  J.  F.  Beatty.  D.  Edmundson. 

1868 — C.  ^L  Davis,  chairman:  \\'esley  Davis,  J.  J.  Mudgett,  Henry  Ham- 
mer, J.  F.  Lamb.  J.  P.  Beaty,  H.  C.  Peer,  J.  Kipp.  Joseph  Dodd,  Addison 
White,  A.  W.  McDonald,  D.  Edmundson,  William  J.  Rippey,  G.  W.  Chinn, 
E.  H.  Bartow,  Thomas  Peer,  Riley  Ashley. 

1869 — Riley  Ashley,  Jacob  Kipp,  J.  L.  Smith,  J.  L.  Laughlin,  H.  C. 
Peer.  Addison  White,  C.  M.  Davis,  chairman. 

1870 — J.  P.  Beatty,  Reuben  Johnson,  J.  L.  Smith,  C.  M.  Davis,  J.  C. 
Hiatt.  E.  Ross,  George  Harst,  J.  I-.  Laughlin,  A.  W.  McDonald,  A.  J. 
Hamilton.  \Y.  Carrothers,  J.  Kipp,  C.  D.  Conwell,  Wesley  Davis,  H.  C. 
Peer.  F.  E.  Phelps.  D.  P.  Craven.  A.  White,  D.  Edmundson.  chairman. 

1871 — Elisha  Flaugh,  chairman:  A.  W.  McDonald.  George  Harst. 

(7) 


^8  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Under  the  later  system  of  the  1871  code,  this  county  has  had  but 
three  supervisors,  the  county^  being  divided  into  supervisor  districts.  Those 
serving  as  such  have  been: 

1872 — George  Harst,  chairman;  Daniel  Arnold,  John  C.  Hiatt. 
1873 — George  Harst,  chairman;  Daniel  Arnold,  John  Burton. 
1874 — Daniel  Arnold,  chairman;  John  Burton,  W.  G.  Romans. 
187^ — W.  G.  Romans,  chairman;  John  Burton,  Jesse  Slavins. 
1876 — W.  G.  Romans,  chairman;  Jesse  Slavins,  C.  N.  Doane. 
1877 — S.   G.   Butters,   chairman.  Jesse   Slavin.   C.   N,   Doane. 
1878 — S.  G.  Butters,  chairman;  C.  N.  Doane,  Daniel  Arnold. 
1879 — B.  W.  Brown,  long  term. 
1 88 1 — Henry  S.  Effnor,  long  term. 
From  this  time  on  one  supervisor  was  elected  each  year  as  follows : 

1882— A.  R  Smith.  1895— ^^'.  J.  Miller. 

1883 — William  Byall.  1896 — John  T.  \\^inters. 

1884 — John  Roberts.  1897 — Ed  Cook. 

1885— James  Stark.  1898— W.  J.  Miller. 

1886— William   Byall.  1899— C.  T.   Shill. 

1887— E.   H.   Burton.  i90C^G.  C.   Hart. 

1888 — James    Stark.  1901 — William  Dentsch. 

1889— W.  H.  Daft.  1902— C.  T.  Shill. 

1890 — J.  C.  Donahey.  1903 — Geo.  C.  Hart. 

1891 — Alfred  Davey.  1904 — J.  H.  Hise. 

1892— W.  H.  Daft.  1906— F.  J.  Klise. 

1893 — J.  C.  Donahey.  1908 — D.   S.  Fleck,  G.  W.  Parsons. 

1894 — Alfred  Davey.  1910 — \\'.  O.   Livingston. 

TOWNSHIP     OFFICERS I9II-I2. 

Justices  of  the  Peace — Hickory  Grove  township,  A.  H.  Palmer;  Inde- 
pendence, W.  R.  Vandike;  Independence,  Harry  Hazlett;  Newton,  M.  J. 
Carey;  Newton,  J.  W.  Allfree;  K'ellogg,  F.  L.  Phipps,  Kellogg,  J.  N.  Stuart; 
Richland,  H.  Laskewitz;  Buena  Vista,  P.  C.  Welle;  Mound  Prairie.  Will- 
iam Mabie;  Mound  Prairie,  William  Gist;  Washington.  W.  H.  Hagendorn; 
Washington,  P.  H.  Cragan :  Des  Moines,  T.  J.  Cowman;  Des  Moines,  F.  E. 
Cooper:  Fairview.  M.  W.  Bateman;  Elk  Creek.  A.  J.  Hayes;  Lynn  Grove, 
J,  H.  Shaw;  Lynn  Grove,  R.  L,  Sparks. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA,  99 

Townfehip  Clerks — Hickory  Grove,  Frank  Beatty ;  Mariposa,  T,  O. 
Sheek;  Malaka,  L.  H.  Weseman;  Independence,  R.  M.  Lane;  Clear  Creek, 
J.  A.  Leonard;  Poweshiek,  L.  C.  Westfall;  Sherman,  J.  H.  Mallicoat;  New- 
ton, G.  W.  Edge;  Kellogg,  H.  S.  Roth;  Rock  Creek,  W.  H.  Burroughs; 
Richland,  V.  B.  Bailey ;  Buena  Vista,  R.  F.  Agar ;  Palo  Alto,  R.  L.  Rees ; 
Mound  Prairie,  W.  S.  Westbrook;  Washington,  Ira  J.  Mead;  Des  Moines, 
Hugh  G.  Little:  Fairview.  W.  M.  Livingston;  Elk  Creek,  W.  D.  McKinney; 
Lynn  Grove,  C.  F.  Briggs. 

supervisors'    districts. 

District  Xo.   i — Clear  Creek,  Poweshiek,  IMalaka,  ^Mariposa.  Sherman, 

Independence,  north  one-half  of  Newton. 

1 
District  No.  2 — Hickory  Grove,  Rock  Creek,  Kellogg,  Richland,  Buena 

Vista,  Lynn  Grove,  south  one-half  of  Newton. 

District  No.  3 — Elk  Creek,  Washington,  Mound    Prairie,    Palo    Alto, 

Fairview,  Des  Moines. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

AGRICULTURE,   HORTICULTURE    AND    STOCKRAISING. 

The  United  States  is  an  agricultural  country;  Iowa  is  classed  as  one 
of  the  best  agricultural  states,  and  Jasper  county  is  considered  among  the 
most  advanced  agricultural  counties  within  the  state  of  Iowa.  Here  the 
farmer  is  king.  By  the  aid  of  improved  machinery,  he  is  able  to  draw  from 
this,  the  richest  soil  on  earth,  an  abundance  of  all  that  is  produced  by  suc- 
cessful agriculturists,  fruit-growers  and  stock  raisers.  It  may  be  said 
that  outside  the  lively  manufacturing  industries  at  Newton  and  other  points 
within  Jasper  county,  and  the  fairly  good  mining  interests,  that  the  county 
is  purely  a  farming  section,  where  the  farmer  has  grown  rich,  comfortable 
and  happy  in  the  thought  that  he  has  l^een  able  to  provide  for  his  own  family 
and  at  the  same  time  produce  enough  to  feed  the  vast  army  of  men  and 
women  in  Eastern  countries  who  have  to  depend  on  the  West  and  its  rich 
soil  for  about  all  they  consume.  Especially  has  corn  been  successful  here. 
For  a  number  of  years  Jasper  won  the  banner  for  raising  the  most  corn  of 
any  of  the  ninety-nine  counties  in  Iowa,  Polk,  Pottawattamie,  Page  and  Har- 
rison being  the  only  real  rivals  for  honors. 

The  state  census  compendium  for  1905 — the  last  official  document  on 
these  matters — gave  the  following  on  Jasper  county : 

"Population  1900.  26,900;  area  in  square  miles,  720;  county  settled 
in  1843;  produced  in  1905 — Bushels  corn,  5,587,482;  bushels  wheat,  64,863; 
bushels  oats,  1,287,410;  bushels  barley,  57,854;  bushels  ry-e,  3,289;  tons 
clover,  4.192;  tons  timothy,  49-999;  tons  millet,  950;  tons  wild  hay.  3.81 1; 
bushels  clover  seed,  367;  bushels  timothy  seed,  4.706;  bushels  potatoes, 
209.369 ;  bushels  sweet  potatoes,  2,438 ;  bushels  sweet  corn,  24,046 ;  eggs  and 
poultry.  $272,323;  dairy  products,  $306,201;  fruits.  $117,985;  value  farm 
animals.  $3,236,468;  value  railroad  and  other  corporations,  .$3,704,276;  value 
personal  property,  $9,438,984;  value  of  lands,  $22,882,960;  value  of  town 
lots,  $4,734,820;  total  value.    $40,761,040. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  101 


YIELD    PER   ACRE,    RAINFALL,    ETC. 


Since  1890  the  average  yield  per  acre  for  the  ordinary  crops  in  Jasper 
county  has  been  as  follows : 

1890 — Corn,  thirty  bushels;  wheat,  twelve  bushels:  oats,  seventeen 
bushels ;  barley,  thirty-five  bushels :  potatoes,  forty-five  bushels ;  hay,  two 
tons. 

1891 — Corn,  forty-four  bushels:  wheat,  fourteen  bushels:  oats,  forty- 
one  bushels:  1)arley.  thirty-six  bushels:  potatoes,  one  hundred  and  sixtv-two 
bushels :  hay,  two  tons. 

1892 — Corn,  thirty-one  bushels;  wheat,  eleven  bushels;  oats,  twenty- 
nine  bushels;  barley,  twenty- four  bushels;  potatoes,  fifty-seven  bushels:  hay, 
one  ton  and  a  half. 

189^^ — Corn,  thirty-nine  bushels;  wheat,  eleven  bushels:  oats,  twenty- 
four  bushels;  barley,  twenty-five  bushels;  potatoes,  seventy- four  'bushels; 
hay,  one  and  seven-tenths  tons. 

1894 — Corn,  thirteen  bushels:  Avheat.  twelve  bushels:  oats,  twenty  bush- 
els: barley,  fifteen  bushels:  potatoes,  fifty-six  Imshels :  hay.  one-half  ton. 

1895 — Corn,  forty-seven  bushels:  wheat,  eighteen  bushels;  oats,  fifty- 
one  bushels :  barley,  twenty-four  bushels ;  potatoes,  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
two  bushels:  hay.  one  ton  and  a  half. 

1896 — Corn,  forty-four  bushels:  wheat,  fourteen  bushels:  oats,  twenty 
bushels ;  barley,  twenty-five  bushels :  potatoes,  eighty-one  bushels :  hay,  two 
tons. 

1897 — Corn,  thirty-one  bushels:  wheat,  thirteen  bushels:  oats,  thirty 
bushels :  barley,  twenty-four  bushels :  potatoes,  sixty  bushels :  hay.  one  and 
eight-tenths  tons. 

1898 — Corn,  thirty-two  Imshels:  wheat,  sixteen  bushels:  oats,  thirty- 
one  bushels:  barley,  thirty  bushels:  potatoes,  ninety-three  bushels:  hay.  four 
and  four-tenths  tons. 

1899 — Corn,  forty-five  bushels:  wheat,  sixteen  bushels:  oats,  forty-two 
bushels :  barley,  thirty  bushels ;  potatoes,  ninety-three  bushels :  hay.  one  and 
a  half  tons. 

1900 — Corn,  forty-three  bushels:  wheat,  eighteen  bu.shels :  oats,  twenty- 
nine  bu.shels:  barley,  twenty- four  bushels:  potatoes,  seventy- four  bushels: 
hay.  one  and  six-tenths  tons. 

1901 — Corn,  thirtv  bushels:  wheat,  fifteen  bushels:  oats,  twent^'-six 
bushels ;  barley,  twenty-eight  bushels :  potatoes,  fifty-five  bushels :  hay.  one 
and  six-tenths  tons. 


I02  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

1902 — Corn,  thirty-seven  bushels;  wheat,  twelve  bushels;  oats,  twenty- 
six  bushels:  barley,  twenty-eight  bushels;  potatoes,  fifty-three  bushels;  hay, 
one  and  eight-tenths  tons. 

The  averages  for  all  these  years  has  been — Corn,  thirty-five  bushels 
per  acre;  wheat,  fourteen  bushels;  oats,  thirty-one;  barley,  twenty-six  bush- 
els: potatoes,  seventy-eight  bushels;  hay,  one  and  six-tenths  tons. 

i 
RAINFALL    FROM    MAY     1ST    TO    SEPTEMBER    1ST. 

1893,  fifteen  inches:  1894,  seven  inches;  1895,  twenty  inches;  1896, 
twenty-seven  and  a  half  inches;  1897,  eight  and  three-quarters  inches;  1898, 
fourteen  inches;  1899,  fifteen  inches;  1900,  twenty-one  inches;  1901,  ten 
inches;  1902,  twenty-nine  inches. 

The  average  rainfall  for  these  years  was  sixteen  and  eighty-seven  hun- 
dredths inches.  The  greatest  crops  were  produced  in  the  year  when  there 
was  the  greatest  rainfall,   1896. 

A(;RICULTrRAL    SOCIETIES. 

The  Jasper  County  Agricultural  Society  dates  its  history  from  1855, 
during  which  year  a  county  fair  was  held  near  the  house  of  Da\id  Edmund- 
son,  in  a  tent  made  of  cloth  borrowed  for  that  purpose.  A  membership  fee 
was  charged,  which  enabled  the  society  to  pay  its  little  premium  list.  One 
hundred  and  thirty-six  premiums  were  awarded  at  the  fourth  fair  held  by 
this  society.  Mrs.  McCord  showed  the  best  grade  of  butter  and  Mrs.  E. 
Guthrie  the  best  loaf  of  bi'ead.  Evan  Adamson  was  the  sole  exhibitor  of 
apples  grown  within  Jasper  county. 

The  officers  of  the  society  in  1858  were:  C.  M.  Davis,  president;  R. 
Shearer.  J.  \\\  Blackwood,  vice-piesidents:  H.  S.  Winslow,  secretary;  P.  S. 
Ritter.  treasurer:  C.  Taylor,  John  Litner,  Z.  Mendenhall.  E.  S.  Winslow,  A. 
Hursh.  Stephen  Xeedham,  E.  \\'.  Cozard.  \\'i11iam  Mann.  E.  D.  Duncan.  R. 
S.  Williams,  managers. 

Tn  1859  one  hundred  and  thirteen  premiums  were  awarded.  Only  one 
bull  was  exhibited  that  could  give  an  authentic  pedigree.  The  only  fruit  on 
public  exhibition  was  a  specimen  of  fine  grapes  by  D.  E.  Longfellow. 

The  society  harl  for  its  president  in  1860  A.  Failor.  with  D.  E.  Long- 
fellow as  secretary. 

In  December,  1859,  an  effort  was  made  to  secure  .suitable  fair  grounds 
for  the  annual  exhibition  of  Jasper  county  ])roducts,  and  at  a  Januarv  meet- 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  IO3 

ing  of  that  year  it  was  resolved  to  enclose  ten  acres  of  the  intended  purchase 
with  a  fence  seven  feet  high.  It  was  also  then  decided  to  pay  sixty  cents  on 
a  dollar  of  the  premiums  awarded  in  October.  The  receipts  had  been  one 
hundred  thirty-two  dollars  and  twenty-five  cents  and  the  expenditures  eightv- 
four  dollars  and  forty-six  cents,  leaving  a  balance  on  hand  of  forty-seven 
dollars  and  forty-nine  cents. 

The  fair  of  i860  was  a  decided  improvement  over  the  1859  exhibition, 
the  number  of  entries  being  three  hundred  and  seventy -one.  Adamson 
showed  some  good  varieties  of  home-grown  apples  and  Longfellow  some 
fine  grapes,  while  E.  B.  Johnson's  display  of  small  fruits  was  excellent. 
Twelve  thoroughbred  cattle  were  enclosed  in  the  pens  of  entries.  A  trotting 
match  was  run  and  a  span  of  mules  drew  six  thousand  two  hundred  and 
thirty-eight  pounds.  The  cash  receipts  that  year  was  one  hundred  eighty- 
four  dollars  and  thirty-five  cents. 

What  was  styled  the  Central  Iowa  District  Association  was  held  at 
Newton  in  August.  186 1.  It  may  be  of  some  interest  at  this  remote  date  to 
note  the  receipts  and  expenditures  for  this  fair. 

Receipts — 

Four  hundred  and   seven  membership  tickets $  407.00 

Single   tickets    607.00 

Restaurant  receipts    80.15 

Per  cent 223.10 

Rent  of  grounds   15.00 

From  State  of  Iowa    200.00 

Total $io32-35 

Expenditures — 

Premiums   awarded    $1,346.25 

Paid  repairs  to  fence,  stalls,  etc 54-00 

Paid  lumber  bill    70.28 

Paid  privies,  police,  gate  hands,  etc 126.27 

Paid    printing    12.00 

Paid  Mrs.  Sanford  labor   5.00 

Paid  Treasurer's  assistant   and  expenses 3.00 

Total    St  .628.80 


104  JASfliR    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

One  of  the  interesting,  exciting  and  novel  exhibits  of  the  occasion  was 
the  cooking  match  in  which  ^liss  Hattie  Winslow.  aged  fourteen  years,  won 
the  premium  of  eight  dollars  offered  by  the  society  to  the  person  who  could 
cook  a  meal  of  victuals  in  the  least  time,  in  the  best  manner.  In  forty-eight 
minutes  she  prepared  the  following  dishes,  which  were  enjoyed  greatly  by 
the  committee  on  awards:  Warm  biscuits,  fried  chicken,  tomatoes,  pota- 
toes, cabbage,  tea  and  coffee. 

Coming  down  to  a  little  later  date,  it  is  discovered  by  the  records  that 
in  June.  1875,  the  society  purchased  an  addition  to  the  old  grounds,  paying 
for  the  same  the  sum  of  one  thousand  three  hundred  dollars,  and  again  in 
Tune,  1881.  a  nine-acre  tract  additional,  costing  the  society  one  thousand 
"fifty  dollars.  This  makes  the  present  (1911)  fair  grounds  to  contain  almost 
thirty-six  acres  of  ground,  just  south  of  th€  city  proper,  on  high  rolling  land 
and  amid  sightly  surroundings,  where  are  annually  held  the  county  fairs  and 
also  the  circuses,  etc..  which  from  time  to  time  come  to  Newton. 

The  following  have  served  as  presidents  and  secretaries  of  the  agri- 
cultural society:  Rev.  Thomas  Merrill.  1855,  president,  and  A.  Failon.  sec- 
retary; (the  president's  name  will  come  first  in  this  list)  James  Deland,  A. 
Failor,  1856:  C.  M.  Davis.  IT.  S.  Winslow,  1858;  the  records  are  deficient 
until  1860.  when  the  president  was  A.  Failor,  secretary.  Thomas  Arthur;  A. 
Failor,  Thomas  Arthur.  1861  ;  William  R.  Skiff.  J.  A.  TTarris,  1862;  William 
R.  Skiff,  J.  A.  Harris.  1863;  William  R.  Skifl'.  J.  J.  Vaughan,  1864;  A.  Car- 
rier. J.  J.  \^aughan,  1865:  A.  K.  Emerson.  J.  J.  Vaughan,  t866;  A.  K.  omer- 
sun.  J.  J.  N'aughan.  1867;  Capt.  J.  H.  Tait.  F.  W.  Allum.  1868:  A.  Failor. 
L.  \\'.  Allum.  7869;  A.  Failor.  F.  W.  Allum.  1870:  A.  Failor.  William  R. 
McCullv.  1871  ;  another  break  in  the  records;  A.  K.  Emerson.  John  W.  Al- 
free.  1886;  A.  K.  Emerson.  A.  K.  Failor.  1887;  A.  F.  Harrah.  A.  Failor, 
1888;  A.  Tx.  Emerson.  J.  J.  A^aughan.  1889;  C.  N.  Doane,  J.  J.  Vaughan, 
1890;  A.  L.  Harrah.  J.  J  \^aughan.  1891 ;  A  L.  Harrah,  Arthur  J.  Wright, 
1892;  A.  F.  Harrah,  Arthur  J.  Wright.  1893;  H.  D.  Parsons.  Arthur  J. 
Wright.  1894;  H.  D.  Parsons.  J.  R.  Crawford.  1895;  T^.  D.  Parsons,  J.  R. 
Crawford.  1896:  H.  D.  Parsons.  S.  G.  Russell.  1897;  H.  D.  Parsons,  A. 
Failor,  1898;  H.  D.  Parsons,  A.  Failor,  1899;  H.  D.  Parsons.  I.  C.  Khrf, 
iQoo;  H.  D.  Parsons.  I.  C.  T\orf.  1901 ;  W.  J.  Miller.  C.  W.  Campbell.  1902; 
A.  Stewart.  C.  W.  Campbell.  K)03  :  same  in  1904-5;  Fouie  Aillaud,  E.  E. 
Fambcrt.  1906:  Fouie  .\illaud.  Emma  Fufkin.  1907;  Fouie  Aillaud,  E.  F. 
McMurray.  1908:  C.  F.  Saucrman.  J.  H.  dribbon.  1909;  C.  F.  Sauerman,  F 
E.  Meredith.  1910-1 1. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  I05 

These  annual  fairs  have  always  been  kept  alive  and  much  interest  has 
been  manifested  \\ith  the  passing  years.  The  present  grounds  are  well  im- 
proved and  contain  all  that  can  be  desired  by  exhibitors  anywhere.  Good 
premiums  are  offered  each  year  and  a  large  attendance  usually  obtains,  be 
the  weather  fair  or  otherwise. 

The  following  are  the  officers  for  the  present  season :  President,  C.  F. 
Sauerman :  vice-president,  J.  C.  Haiffeigh :  secretary.  F.  E.  Meredith :  treas- 
urer. Joe  Horn.  The  directors  elected  to  serve  one  year  are  X.  J.  Morgart, 
Hickorv  Grove:  J.  W.  Jeffries.  Des  Moines  township;  J.  P.  Taylor.  Lynn 
Grove  township;  Tleorge  Moore.  Kellogg  township;  H.  D.  Parsons.  Malaka 
township;  Mike  Hummell.  Fairview  township;  Louie  Aillaud.  Xewton  town- 
ship ;  O.  J.  Turner.  Rock  Creek  township ;  William  Carrier,  at-large.  Those 
elected  for  a  term  of  two  years  are  C.  \\'.  Craven,  Mariposa  township;  B.  F. 
Baker,  Clear  Creek  township;  E.  E.  Dotson.  Washington  township;  Fred 
Hager,  Independence  township;  D.  E.  Donahey.  Xewton  township;  R.  B. 
Yowell,  Des  Moines  township;  L.  C.  Watts,  Richland  township.  Those 
elected  for  a  term  of  three  years  are  F.  H.  Russell.  Xewton;  H.  C.  Strater, 
Fairview  township;  H.  L.  ]\loffitt,  Sherman  township;  W.  A.  Livingston. 
Buena  Vista  township :  John  Meyer.  Palo  Alto  township :  Fred  C.  Andreas. 
Elk  Creek  township;  E.  L.  Duncan,  Poweshiek  township;  W.  J.  Miller. 
Mount  Prairie  township. 

Among  the  more  recent  improvements  made  at  the  fair  grounds  may  be 
mentioned  the  new  track  built  in  1910,  said  now  to  be  the  best  half-mile  track 
in  Iowa. 

PRAIRIE    CITY    AGRICULTURAL    .SOCIETY. 

In  1870  a  society  known  by  the  above  name  was  organized  at  Prairie 
Citv.  in  this  county.  Perhaps  no  better  statement  can  be  made,  at  this  late 
late,  of  this  fair  than  that  written  in  the  XcTi'fon  Jounml  by  its  editor,  who 
was  in  attendance  and  wrote  as  follows: 

'Tn  company  with  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  others  from  Xewton.  we 
were  at  Prairie  City  at  the  fair  last  Thursday.  With  good  roads  and  fair 
weather,  the  drive  thither  was  one  of  the  most  pleasant  that  we  know  of. 
\\'e  found  a  large  number  of  people  on  the  grounds,  not  less  than  two  thou- 
sand at  one  time  during  the  day.  The  number  of  entries  was  about  five 
hundred.  There  was  an  excellent  showing  of  fine  large  horses,  but  few  cat- 
tle, one  pen  of  sheep,  and  quite  a  fair  showing  of  hogs.  In  Floral  Hall  were 
to  be  seen  some  excellent  specimens  of  flowers  and  the  handiwork  of  ladies. 


106  JASl'EK    COL' N  TV.    U)\VA. 

The  trotting  race  in  the  afternoon  was  indeed  exciting  and  closely  contested, 
being  won  by  Tirapevine.'  owned  by  D.  C.  Gifford.  Governor  Kellogg  failed 
to  arrive,  but  the  balloon  went  up  about  five  o'clock.  All  day  the  weather 
had  been  threatening,  and  at  a  little  after  five  the  rain  came  down  in  tor- 
rents and  continued  until  about  midnight.  The  experience  of  many  of  our 
people  in  getting  home  through  the  rain  is  laughable  to  relate,  and  all  agree 
that  the  visit  to  the  Prairie  City  fair  this  year  could  not  be  set  down  as  a  dry 
time." 

Two  hundred  and  fifty-eight  premiums  were  awarded  to  exhibitors  on 
the  al>ove  occasion.  After  a  time  this  association  went  down  and  now  Xew- 
ton  has  the  only  annual  exhi1:)ition  in  the  county. 

PATRONS    OF    HUSBAXnRY. 

This  was  an  order  that  sprang  into  existence  perforce  of  the  very 
needs  of  that  time,  and  which  was.  not  as  has  been  supposed  by  some,  a 
failure  in  the  broader  sense  of  the  word,  for  through  it  the  legislative  bodies, 
both  state  and  national,  were  induced  to  listen  to  the  petitions  of  farmers 
and  laborers  in  general.  Many  of  the  present-day  reforms  have  been  made 
possible  by  the  work  of  what  was  termed  the  ''Grange.''  or  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandr\\  movement.  This  movement  was  organized  and  in  good  working 
form  early  in  the  seventies,  but  in  Jasper  county  it  had  reached  its  greatest 
strength  in  1874.  when  there  were  about  sixty  well  organized  Granges  in 
operation.  Its  primary  object  was  to  make  higher  the  standard  of  living 
among  the  farming  classes  of  America.  When  it  was  fairly  known  what  its 
true  aim  and  object  was,  there  were  designing  men.  men  who  had  been  thus 
far  a  failure  in  life's  conflict,  and  who  hoped  to  gain  by  Ixx-oming  identified 
with  the  new  movement,  who  sought  and  in  many  cases  were  admitted  to  the 
Granges.  Xo  sooner  had  the  order  been  well  founded  than  tliere  was  one 
element  who  desired  at  once  to  do  away  with  the  "middle  men"  of  this 
countr\-  and  take  upon  themseUes  the  duties  of  running  retail  and  whole- 
sale stores,  mills,  creameries  and  farm  implement  factories  and  warehouses. 
They  also  sought  to  enter  the  political  arena  and  have  a  direct  voice  in  legis- 
lation, all  of  which  was  highly  ])rnper.  in  a  way.  but  as  it  was  managed  it 
proved  too  much  of  a  task  for  a  new-born  order  to  successfullv  carrv  out. 
TTence  instead  of  the  real  object,  that  of  teaching  farmers  a  better  method  of 
<l()ing  things,  it  really  came  to  be  a  hot-bed  for  political  wire-pullers  and 
office-seekers  to  feather  their  own  nests,  to  the  detriment  of  the  masses  of 
the  membership  of  the  Grange.     To  this  class  r)f  men  must  lie  charged  the 


JASPER    COUXTY,    TOWA.  lO/ 

final  downfall  of  the  great  order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry  in  this  country, 
including  the  numerous  Granges  in  Jasper  county.  By  1878  the  numl>er  of 
Granges  in  this  county  had  decreased  to  about  fifteen. 

Among  the  many  good  results  of  the  Jasper  County  Grange  may  be 
mentioned  the  formation  of  a  Farmers'  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  in 
1874.  with  E.  N.  Gates  as  president;  J.  \\\  Alfree.  secretary;  H.  L.  Moffatt, 
treasurer,  with  directors  from  each  to\\nsliip  in  this  county. 

Another  feature  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry  here  was  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Jasper  County  Co-operative  Association,  formed  also  in  1874. 
with  its  chief  place  of  transacting  its  business  at  Newton.  The  first  .stock- 
holders were  J.  W.  Murphy,  J.  W.  Alfree,  James  Lee,  H.  L.  Mofifatt  and 
Caleb  Lamb.  The  paid-up  capital  was  four  thousand  seven  hundred  dollars. 
This  was  more  fortunate  than  most  of  the  "Grange  stores"  in  the  country, 
in  that  it  made  some  net  profit  each  year  during  its  existence. 

An  ele\ator  was  erected  at  ]\Ionroe,  this  county,  in  1873  by  the  Patrons 
in  that  locality,  and  it  was  owned  and  operated  by  them  two  years  and  more, 
when  the  property  was  sold  without  loss  to  the  stockholders. 

In  the  earlv  months  of  1874.  when  word  came  from  the  distressed  and 
destitute  settlers  of  northwestern  Iowa,  asking  for  help  for  the  hundreds 
who  had  lost  heavily  by  reason  of  the  grasshopper  scourge,  none  gave  more 
lil)erally  than  memljers  of  the  Granges  in  Jasper  county.  And  again,  when 
the  cry  went  up  from  drouth-stricken  Kansas  and  Nebraska  the  year  fol- 
lowing, car  load  after  car  load  of  grain  and  clothing  and  provisions  were 
sent  from  here,  as  well  as  large  sums  of  ready  cash.  Surely  in  the  last  day. 
when  the  motives  and  virtues  of  all  men's  hearts  shall  be  made  manifest, 
the  names  of  the  members  of  these  Granges  in  Jasper  county  shall  be  re- 
corded as  ha\ing  done  what  they  could  for  their  brother  farmers  in  distress 
and  want. 

•Times  changed,  more  equal  laws  were  made  concerning  freight  rates, 
warehouse  privileges,  etc..  and  one  by  one  the  Granges  dropped  out  of  exist- 
ence until  the  order,  once  so  thriving,  went  down.  But  in  its  stead,  came 
many  farmers'  clubs  and  other  associations  by  which  the  mutual  efforts  of 
farmers  have  Ijeen  the  means  of  doing  much  good  in  both  social  and  indus- 
trial wax  s.  The  farmer  has  at  last  learned  that  he  has  plenty  to  do  to  farm 
after  improved  methods  and  the  business  man  has  learned  a  lesson  taught 
him  bv  the  Granger  movement,  that  it  is  l>est  to  not  exact  too  great  a  profit 
on  the  goods  he  seeks  to  sell  to  the  toiling  masses  of  agriculturists  in  this 
country.  !More  and  more,  the  American  farmer  is  coming  to  be  looked  upon 
as  holding  the  balance  of  ix)wer  in  his  hands.     His  present  bank  account  is 


io8  jasim:r  couxtv,  iowa. 

causing  even  Wall  street  to  "sit  up  and  take  notice,"  and  in  times  of  panics 
he  has  only  to  keep  a  cool  head  and  plow  corn  in  Jasper  county  to  be  one  of 
earth's  independent  kings. 

At  this  writing  (1911)  there  are  but  a  few  Granges  operating  in  this 
county,  which  includes  the  one  known  as  the  old  Buena  Vista  Grange,  which 
has  always  kept  up  its  organization,  This  Grange  was  organized  in  August, 
1872.  bv  the  late  -\ndrew  Failor.  at  the  home  of  J.  W.  Murphy,  who  was 
its  first  worthy  master.  This  Grange  owns  a  good  hall  at  Adamson's  Grove, 
well  lighted  and  heated.  Its  table  seats  forty-two  persons.  Between  seventy- 
five  and  one  hundred  persons  still  belong  to  this  order  in  Buena  Vista  town- 
ship. Meetings  are  held  each  month  and  members  are  constantly  being 
added.  This  always  was  one  of  the  strongest  Granges  in  Jasper  county.  It 
was  here  that  was  set  on  foot  the  present  Farmers'  Institute,  as  well  as  the 
Farmers'  Co-operative  Mutual  Telephone  System. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

RAILROADS    AND    EARLY    TRANSPORTATION. 

There  is  no  internal  improvement  that  has  done  so  much  to  develop  the 
country  as  its  railroads.  The  printing  press,  the  railroad  and  the  electric 
telegraph  wire,  combined  with  the  later  telephone  systems,  certainly  moved 
the  world  as  Archimedes  little  dreamed  it  could  be  moved.  Up  to  within 
about  a  half  century,  all  new  countries  were  required  to  be  opened  by  the 
hardv  pioneers,  and  their  agricultural  and  mineral  resources  well  developed 
before  the  capitalists  would  invest  their  money  in  building  railroads.  Now 
railroads  are  first  built  and  the  people  follow  on  by  freight  and  passenger 
train  transportation.  Jasper  county  was  not  so  fortunate  as  to  have  been 
provided  wdth  railroads  in  advance  of  its  first  settlement,  but  long,  weari- 
some years  were  endured  before  the  stage  coach  and  freighting  wagons  were 
superseded  by  the  iron  horse  speeding  over  the  iron  and  steel  rails  of  a 
steam  railway.  But  today  the  "Kingdom  of  Jasper"  is  crossed  and  recrossed 
by  a  network  of  railways  that  afford  ample  transportation  for  all  that  comes 
from  the  richness  of  the  soil,  and  from  its  mineral  deposits,  as  well  as  its 
vast  manufacturing  industries,  the  raw  and  completed  materials  of  which 
come  in  and  go  out  by  rail  in  vast  quantities. 

FIRST   RAILROAD   PROJECT. 

The  county  judge  of  this  county  in  October,  1853,  ordered  an  election 
on  the  question  of  railroads,  which  reads  as  follows : 

"Ordered,  that  there  be  an  election  held  in  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  on 
Monday,  the  21st  day  of  November,  1853,  submitting  the  question  whether 
the  countv  of  Jasper  will  aid  in  the  construction  of  the  Lyons  Iowa  Central 
railroad  by  subscribing  to  the  capital  stock  forty  thousand  dollars." 

This  election  was  ordered  upon  the  petition  of  one-fourth  of  the  legal 
voters  within  the  county.  Bonds  were  to  be  issued,  running  twenty  years, 
and  no  monev  was  to  be  paid  over  until  that  amount  of  work  had  been  per- 
formed within  Jasper  county  by  said  railroad  company.     The  rate  of  in- 


no  JASPER    COrXTY.    IOWA. 

terest  to  be  paid  on  bonds  thus  issued  was  seven  per  cent,  llie  people  were 
to  be  taxed  seven  mills  on  a  dollar  each  year  for  ten  years  and  ten  mills 
each  year  for  the  remaining  ten  years. 

This  election  resulted  in  a  vote  of  one  hundred  eighty-nine  for  and  one 
hundred  forty-nine  votes  against  the  proposition.  The  road  was  never 
built,  however,  so  it  remains  to  be  seen  when  Jasper  county  did  really  gain 
her  first  railway  line. 

But  before  coming  to  that  climax,  the  reader  may  be  interested  in 
knowing  of  other  attempts  at  railroad  projects  in  the  county.  November  20, 
1856.  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  county  judge,  signed  by  more  than  the 
required  one- fourth  of  the  voters  of  the  county,  asking  that  a  proposition  be 
submitted  at  an  election,  authorizing  the  judge  of  the  county  to  subscribe 
two  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  the  capital  stock  of  the  Mississippi  &  Mis- 
souri Railroad  Company.  The  election  was  set  for  December  30.  1856. 
The  proposition  was  to  carry  with  it  twenty-year  bonds,  drawing  ten  per 
cent,  interest.  The  result  at  the  election  was  decidedly  against  the  measure, 
the  \ote  standing  seven  hundred  seven  against  and  two  hundred  fourteen 
for  the  subscription.  Every  township  in  the  county  went  against  it,  save 
Newton  alone,  and  in  the  townships  of  Lynn  Grove,  Elk  Creek,  Fairview  and 
Clear  Creek  not  a  single  vote  was  cast  for  the  railroad  company.  It  is  said 
that  the  farming  communities  outside  went  against  this  to  get  even  with 
Newton  for  not  voting  them  licenses  for  selling  liquor — they  wanted  much 
in  those  early  days  for  rattlesnake  bites ! 

Another  railroad  proposition  was  defeated  July  25,  1857,  the  vote 
standing  seven  hundred  twenty-eight  for  and  eight  hundred  two  against  the 
railroad.  This  was  also  for  the  proposed  Mississippi  &  ]\Iissouri  line,  asking- 
two  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  lx)nds. 

The  next  date  for  the  railway  proposition  to  come  before  the  taxpayers 
of  Jasper  county  was  March  4.  1858,  when  the  county  judge  ordered  an 
election  to  decide  whether  the  people  wanted  to  vote  aid  to  the  Mississippi  & 
Missouri  line  in  the  amount  of  fifty  thousand  dollars.  This  election,  held 
April  5,  1858,  was  decided  against  the  proposition  by  a  vote  of  seven  hun- 
dred fifty  for  and  eight  hundred  fifty-seven  against. 

IOWA  LAND  GRANTS. 

The  congressional  act  of  May  15,  1856,  granting  lands  for  the  purpose 
of  constructing  railroads  in  this  state,  included  the  following  trunk  lines: 
Burlington  &  Missouri  River,  287,000  acres  of  land ;  Mississippi  &  Missouri 


JASPER    COUXTV,    IOWA.  Ill 

River,  774.000  acres  of  land ;  Cedar  Rapids  &  Missouri  River,  775,000  acres 
of  land:  Dubuque  &  Sioux  City  railroad,  1,226,000  acres  of  land. 

By  this  same  act  of  Congress,  the  Mississippi  &  Missouri  line  was  au- 
thorized to  transfer  and  assign  all  or  any  part  of  the  grant  to  any  other  com- 
pany or  person,  "if  in  the  opinion  of  said  company,  the  construction  of  said 
railroad  across  the  state  of  Iowa  would  be  thereby  sooner  and  more  satisfac- 
torily completed."' 

But  greater  still  was  the  "graft"  of  the  act  of  Congress  in  August. 
1846.  which  provided  for  the  navigation  of  the  Des  Moines  river,  and  in 
payment  for  same  undertaking  the  Des  ]\Ioines  River  Navigation  Companv 
was  to  receive  two  hundred  and  se\"enty-one  thousand  acres  of  valuable  land 
on  either  side  the  stream,  the  same  being  each  alternate  section. 

Then,  in  1855.  when  it  was  seen  that  the  navigation  scheme  would  not 
prove  a  success,  they  got  Congress  to  juggle  the  case  over,  so  that  a  railroad 
company  might  be  built  and  thus  utilize  the  proceeds  of  the  land  grant.  The 
newly  formed  company  was  styled  the  Des  Moines  River  Improvement  & 
Railroad  Company.  After  more  than  thirty  years  of  litigation,  in  the  courts 
of  the  country  and  in  Congress,  the  case  was  finally  settled  by  the  commis- 
sion appointed  by  Congress  to  adjust  the  matter.  Many  improvements  had 
been  made  on  these  lands  by  innocent  purchasers  and  the  company  ejected 
many  of  the  families.  This  went  on  as  far  north  on  the  river  as  the  grant 
extended,  which  was  to  Fort  Dodge.  \\'ebster  county  settlers  were  the 
greatest  sufferers.  One  steamboat  went  as  far  north  as  Fort  Dodge,  on  the 
high  water  of  1857,  but  no  more  was  seen  of  steamboating  on  the  river. 
Several  sections  of  this  river  land,  as  it  was  styled,  was  in  Des  Moines  and 
Fairview  townships  of  Jasper  county. 

Having  expended  just  enough  money  to  partly  complete  locks  and  dams 
along  the  stream,  to  control  the  lands  granted  by  Congress,  the  company 
became  bankrupt  (?)  and  transferred  its  title  to  the  Keokuk.  Des  Moines  & 
Minnesota  Railroad  Company.  This  company,  in  about  i860,  commenced 
the  building  of  a  railroad  along  the  banks  of  the  Des  Moines.  Three  years 
later  the  corporation  was  changed  to  the  Des  Moines  Valley  Railroad  Com- 
pany, and  under  that  corporate  name  the  road  was  finished  to  Fort  Dodge. 

This  was  the  first  railroad  completed  in  Jasper  county.  The  date  was 
late  in  1863.  The  first  freight,  a  car  of  lumber,  was  landed  at  Monroe 
November  24,  1865.  The  next  spring  it  reached  Prairie  City  and  in  August, 
that  year,  it  reached  Des  ]\Ioines. 

In  1873  the  companv  went  into  bankruptcy  and  was  sold  to  others.  The 
line  between  Keokuk  and  Des  Moines  was  afterwards  known  as  the  Keokuk 


112  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

&  Des  Moines  railroad.  The  last  named  corporation  Ijecanie  involved  and 
in  1878  it  passed  intt)  the  hands  of  the  great  Rock  Island  system.  Including 
its  connection  with  the  ri\er  land  project,  for  making  the  river  a  navigable 
stream,  this  is  the  oldest  railway  corporation  in  Iowa. 

THE  CHICAGO.  ROCK  ISLAND  &  PACIFIC. 

This  highway  entered  Iowa  by  reason  of  a  lease  from  the  old  Missis- 
sippi &  ]\Iissouri  railroad,  already  mentioned  as  having  been  given  aid 
through  the  great  land  grant  of  1856,  along  with  several  other  trunk  lines 
across  the  domain  of  Iowa.  Yet,  without  these  grants  it  might  have  been 
manv  years  longer  before  the  pioneer  settler  would  have  heard  the  neigh  of 
an  iron  horse. 

Like  all  other  early  roads,  this  one  made  slow  progress  in  getting 
through  to  the  Missouri  river  at  Council  Bluffs.  In  1858  it  had  reached 
Iowa  Citv,  where  it  stopped  several  years  for  lack  of  business  and  funds 
with  which  to  complete  its  lines.  During  the  middle  of  the  Civil  war 
period,  about  1863,  ^^ork  was  resumed,  and  "will  reach  Newton  in  ninety 
days"  was  heard  several  years,  and  finally,  in  1867,  it  did  reach  this  point. 
The  oft-repeated  defeats  of  the  company  at  the  hands  of  the  people  of  Jas- 
per county  proved  but  the  part  of  wisdom  when  later  decisions  of  the 
United  States  and  state  courts  held  that  the  bonds  asked  for  in  aid  of  such 
an  enterprise  would  have  been  null  and  void  for  lack  of  constitutionality. 

In  May,  1867,  Newton  had  her  first  train  service  and  the  road  was 
pushed  on  to  Des  Moines  in  the  same  year. 

Not  long  after  this  the  old  company  went  into  the  hands  of  a  receiver, 
in  the  person  of  that  once  well  known,  highly  respected  banker,  B.  F.  Allen, 
w^io  in  handling  the  large  amounts  entrusted  to  him  invested  in  personal 
enterprises,  and  in  the  end  became  a  bankrupt  himself,  and  many  think 
went  down  to  his  grave  in  dishonor.  After  this  the  road  was  operated  and 
finally  owned  by  the  Riock  Island  corporation,  and  is  today  one  link  in  its 
long  and  powerful  system — a  part  of  its  main  line.  Another  branch  of  this 
railroad  is  what  was  formerly  called  the 

NEWTON    &    MONROE  RAILROAD. 

For  a  short  line  route,  this  railroad  has  had  a  checkered  career.  It 
was  started  by  the  coal  mining  interests  found  in  the  southern  part  of  Jas- 
per county,  in  1863-4,  when  F.  H.  Griggs,  of  Davenport,  invested  in  a  large 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  II3 

tract  of  this  coal  land,  situated  three  or  four  miles  to  the  south  of  Newton. 
In  1 87 1  a  local  company  was  formed  for  the  purpose  of  building  down  into 
the  mining  district  from  Newton.  It  was  called  the  Jasper  County  Coal  and 
Railroad  Company,  with  Griggs  as  its  president. 

In  1 87 1  a  company  known  as  the  Chicago,  Newton  &  Southwestern 
was  organized,  and  the  old  coal  road  company  contracted  to  build  the  same 
for  them.     No  bonus  was  asked  for  this  road. 

About  the  same  date  there  was  still  another  railroad  enterprise  formed 
on  paper,  largely,  that  of  the  Iowa,  Minnesota  &  Northern  Pacific,  having  a 
capital  of  twelve  million  dollars  back  of  it.  This  line  was  projected  as  far 
to  the  northwest  as  Webster  City,  Hamilton  county,  Iowa.  As  soon  as  the 
last  company  began  operations  along  the  line,  at  Newton  they  disputed  the 
rights  of  the  coal  road  to  hold  the  right-of-way  in  and  through  Newton,  and 
then  came  an  injunction  suit  in  which  the  Iowa,  Minnesota  &  Northern 
Pacific  were  beaten. 

During  1871  some  work  was  executed  along  the  new  line  to  the  great 
northwest,  and  in  Palo  Alto,  Newton  and  Fairview  townships,  Jasper  county, 
a  tax  was  \oted  to  aid  the  construction  of  the  new  proposed  highway.  In 
fact,  the  new  corporation  had  but  little  means  on  which  to  operate  and  they 
had  to  depend  largely  on  the  taxes  they  hoped  to  receive  from  farmers  along 
the  line.  Hence  they  gave  time  checks  and  due  bills  to  the  workmen  who 
performed  service  for  them  in  construction.  They,  of  course,  believed  that 
when  the  taxes  were  paid  as  levied  that  they  would  receive  their  pay.  Busi- 
ness men  took  the  paper  at  Newton  and  ]\Ionroe,  and  that  by  a  slight  dis- 
count. But  presently,  the  men  who  had  not  favored  taxation  refused  to  pay 
taxes  in  and  suits  were  filed  to  recover  in  cases  where  they  had  been  paid 
in.  At  that  date  more  than  twenty  thousand  dollars  of  paper  was  floating, 
as  given  out  for  work  done  on  the  new  road. 

The  Iowa,  Minnesota  &  Northern  Pacific  Company  then  laid  still  until 
1875.  when  Hornish,  Davis  &  Company,  contractors,  transferred  their  con- 
tract to  the  Iowa  &  Minnesota  Construction  Company,  organized  for  the 
purpose  of  getting  the  old  company  out  of  the  financial  trouble  it  had  fallen 
into.  The  old  original  stockholders  of  the  coal  company,  of  course,  re- 
ceived thirtv-five  thousand  dollars  in  bonds  of  the  road.  Under  this  con- 
tract the  grading  was  done  and  the  track  laid  between  Newton  and  Monroe, 
in  December,  1876.  Thus  ended  the  much-talked-of  great  northwestern 
thoroughfare  to  the  lake  region  of  the  upper  ^lississippi  river  and  the  thun- 
dering cataract  of  St.  Anthony  Falls  (now  ^linneapolis) — a  road  part  way 
through  lasper  county. 
(8)' 


114  TASI'KU    COrXTV.    IOWA. 

In  the  spring  of  1878.  becoming  in\ol\ed.  the  last  named  company  was 
reorganized  and  was  styled  the  Newton  &  Monroe  Company,  with  general 
offices  at  Newton.  Bnt  later  it  was  taken  over  by  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island 
&  Pacific  Company  and  is  by  them  operated  today. 

THE    lOWA    CENTRAL    RAILROAD. 

This  system  strikes  Jasper  county  at  a  few  ix)ints.  Its  main  line,  built 
in  the  seventies,  from  Alarshalltown  to  Oskaloosa.  goes  through  the  city  of 
C.rinnell.  and  from  the  first  station  point  to  the  north  of  Grinnell.  called 
Newburg,  which  place  is  situated  in  Jasper  county,  a  branch  of  the  Iowa 
Central  diverges  to  the  northwest,  to  State  Center.  Newburg  is  within 
Hickory  Grove  township. 

Then  this  road  has  a  branch,  in  Jasper  county,  running  from  Newton 
southeast  to  Lvnnville.  from  which  place  it  passes  southeast  and  out  of  the 
county,  terminating  at  the  main  line,  at  New  Sharon. 

THE    CHICAGO    GREAT    WESTERX    RAILROAD. 

This  road  was  originally  known  as  the  Diagonal,  then  the  Maple  Leaf, 
and  now  the  ''Great  Western"  route,  which  runs  to  St.  Paul,  Chicago,  Des 
Moines,  Council  Bluffs  and  Kansas  City.  It  passes  through  the  northwest 
part  of  Tasper  county,  with  stations  at  Baxter,  in  Independence  township; 
Ira.  in  the  same  township:  Mingo,  in  Poweshiek  township,  and  also  Valaria, 
where  it  forms  junction  with  the  short  road  from  Colfax,  the  Colfax  North- 
ern. The  Great  Western  was  completed  early  in  the  eighties  through  this 
countv  and  is  a  valuable  adjunct  to  transportation.  It  was  built  after  the 
days  when  people  were  asked  to  be  taxed  to  build  railroads  in  Iowa,  hence 
cost  the  people  nothing,  save  here  and  there  a  bit  of  right  of  way,  which  \vas 
more  than  paid  for  in  the  advantages  had  by  the  coming  of  so  good  a  system 
of  railroad. 

THE  XEWTOX    vS;    NOK'l"  1 1  WEST?:RX    UAH.KOAD. 

This  is  the  latest  highway  constructed  in  Jasper  county,  and  so  far  has 
not  ])roved  to  be  a  success,  financially.  It  was  constructed  and  put  in  opera- 
tion in  1905-6  and  bid  fair  to  become  a  good  road.  It  runs  through  a  rich 
section  of  Iowa's  fair  domain  with  several  flourishing  station  points  en  route, 
but  in  a  few  years  it  was  forced  into  the  hands  of  a  receiver,  in  the  person 
of  Parley  Sheldon,  of  Ames.  It  is  at  this  writing  in  the  hands  of  the  United 
States  court,  and  unless  matters  can  l)e  adjusted  or  the  ])ropertv  sold  to 
another  corporation,  it  will  be  ordered  sold  for  the  material  on  its  roadway, 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  II5 

including  the  iron  and  bridges,  etc.,  and  depot  buildings  will  be  sold  at 
auction  for  the  benefit  of  its  creditors.  But  it  is  hoped,  and  believed,  that 
the  property  will  remain  intact  and  purchased  by  a  company  able  to  continue 
its  operation.  Rumor  says  the  Iowa  Central  and  Rock  Island  both  have 
their  eyes  on  it.  And  it  is  thought  the  Des  Moines  interurban  electric  line 
may  purchase  and  electrify  a  part  of  it. 

The  general  offices  of  the  company  are  at  Boone,  while  some  of  the 
stock  is  held  in  Boston.  It  extends  from  Xewton  to  Rockwell  City,  a  dis- 
tance of  one  hundred  and  six  miles,  with  a  branch  line  from  Goddard  to 
Colfax  of  about  four  miles  length. 

In  Jasper  county  it  passes  from  Xewton  through  Mingo,  in  a  north- 
westerly direction.  It  has  been  suggested  that  it  be  electrified  from  Xewton 
to  Des  Moines  Junction,  but  this  remains  to  be  recorded  by  another  histor- 
ian, when  the  road  has  been  finally  disposed  of. 

RAILROAD  MILEAGE  OF  COUNTY. 

The  mileage  of  railroads  in  Jasper  county,  in  the  spring  of  191 1  is  as 
follows : 

Miles. 

Main  line  of  Rock  Island   railroad 34-38 

Monroe  branch  of  Rock  Island  railroad 17.02 

Old  "Des  Moines  Valley"  branch 17-52 

Iowa   Central    (main   line) 4.00 

X'^ewton-Xew  Sharon  line   23.28 

State  Center  branch    6.00 

Colfax  &   Northern    i3-oo 

Newton  &  X^orthwestern    -24.35 

Chicago  Great  Western   31 -82 

Interurban    (from    Colfax    west) 5.06 

Total   mileage  in   county 1 76.43 


CHAPTER    X. 


EDUCATIONAL   INTERESTS. 


Sidney  Foster,  of  Des  Moines,  is  credited  with  originating  the  follow- 
ing phrase:  "Of  all  things  good,  Iowa  affords  the  best.''  And  this  sentiment 
applies  justly  to  the  public  school  system  of  the  state.  The  common  schools 
of  our  countiy  are  now  looked  upon  as  the  safeguard  of  the  republic.  The 
first  settlers  of  Iowa  territory  showed  their  faith  by  their  .works  in  planning 
for  a  greater  and  better  common  school  system  than  had  hitherto  been 
known  in  any  section  of  the  countn-.  Governor  Robert  Lucas,  in  his  first 
message  to  the  first  Legislative  Assembly  of  Iowa  territory,  which  con- 
vened at  Burlington  November  12,  1838,  said  in  reference  to  schools: 

"The  twelfth  section  of  the  act  of  Congress,  establishing  our  territory, 
declares  that  'the  citizens  of  Iowa  shall  enjoy  all  the  rights,  privileges  and 
immunities  heretofore  granted  and  secured  to  the  territory  of  Wisconsin, 
and  its  inhabitants.'  This  extends  to  us  all  the  rights,  privileges  and  im- 
munities specified  in  the  ordinance  of  Congress  of  the  13th  of  July,  1787. 

■'The  third  article  of  this  ordinance  declares  that  'religion,  morality  and 
knowledge,  being  necessary  to  good  government,  and  the  happiness  of  man- 
kind, schools  and  all  the  means  of  education  shall  be  forever  encouraged.' 

"Congress,  to  carry  out  this  declaration,  has  granted  one  section  of  land 
in  each  township  to  the  inhabitants  of  such  township,  for  the  purposes  of 
schools  therein. 

■'There  is  no  subject  to  which  I  wish  to  call  your  attention  more  em- 
phatically, than  the  subject  of  establishing  at  the  commencement  of  our 
political  existence  a  well  digested  system  of  common  schools." 

This  Assembly  addressed  itself  early  to  the  task  of  providing  for  a 
system  of  common  schools  and  enacting  a  law  providing  for  the  formation 
of  districts,  the  establishing  of  schools,  and  authorized  the  voters 
of  each  district,  when  lawfully  assembled,  to  levy  and  collect  the  necessary 
taxes,  "either  in  cash  or  good  merchantable  property,  at  cash  price,  upon  the 
inhabitants  of  their  respective  districts  not  exceeding  one-half  per  centum, 
nor  amounting  to  more  than  ten  d(jllars  on  any  one  person,  to  do  all  and 
everylliing  necessary  to  the  establishment  and  support  of  schools  within  the 
same." 


CENTRAL  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  NEWTON 


WEST  SCHOOL  BUILDING.  NEWTON 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  11/ 

The  second  Legislative  Assembly  enacted  in  January,  1840.  a  much 
more  comprehensive  law  to  establish  a  common  school  system.  But  it  was 
a  little  in  advance  of  the  pulilic  mind  of  the  day.  In  the  United  States 
census  reports  for  1840  there  were  few  public  or  private  schools  reported. 
One  academy  in  Scott  county  with  twenty-five  students,  and  in  the  territory, 
sixty-three  primary  and  common  schools,  with  one  thousand  f\\c  hundred 
scholars  enrolled,  is  the  report  of  that  day. 

The  first  section  of  the  act  of  1839,  for  the  establishment  of  schools, 
provided,  that  "there  shall  be  established  a  common  school,  or  schools,  in 
each  of  the  counties  of  the  territory,  which  shall  be  open  and  free  for  every 
class  of  white  citizens  between  the  ages  of  five  and  twenty-one  years.''  These 
districts  were  governed  by  a  board  of  three  trustees,  whose  duties  were  to 
examine  teachers  and  employ  the  same,  superintend  the  schools  and  collect 
and  disburse  the  taxes  voted  by  the  electors  for  school  purposes. 

When  Iowa  was  admitted  into  the  Union,  in  December,  1846,  it  had 
a  school  population  of  twenty  thousand,  one-fifth  of  its  entire  population. 
There  were  then  four  hundred  school  districts.  By  1857,  there  had  come  to 
be  three  thousand  two  hundred  and  sixty-five  school  districts. 

From  the  earliest  day,  in  Jasper  county,  education  was  considered  first 
in  importance  and  well  were  laid  the  foundation  stones  for  the  present  most 
excellent  public  schools. 

The  first  schools  in  the  county  were  taught  in  a  private  way,  in  the 
various  settlements.  These  were  what  were  termed  ''subscription  schools.'' 
Sometimes  thev  were  taught  in  a  rude  log  cabin,  scarce  fit  for  human  habita- 
tion. Stoves  and  other  heating  appliances,  now  so  common,  were  then  un- 
known to  this  section  of  the  countiy.  A  mud-and-stick  chimney  in  one  end 
of  the  building,  with  an  earthen  hearth,  with  a  fireplace  wide  enough  and 
deep  enough  to  take  in  a  four- foot  length  of  wood  for  back-log  and  smaller 
wood  to  match,  served  universally  for  the  warming  of  these  early  school 
houses.  In  summer  time  they  served  as  a  sort  of  conservatory.  For  win- 
dows, part  of  a  log  was  cut  out  in  either  side,  and  maybe  a  few  panes  of 
eight-by-ten  glass  set  in.  or.  in  other  instances,  the  opening  would  be  covered 
with  thick  greased  paper,  which  allowed  a  small  amount  of  the  sun's  light 
into  the  rudely  furnished  school  room.  For  writing  benches  wide  planks 
were  rested  on  pins  or  arms  driven  into  some  two-inch  auger  holes  bored  into 
the  logs  of  the  building,  just  beneath  the  windows.  Seats  were  fashioned 
out  of  thick  planks  or  hewed  puncheons.  The  floor  was  usually  made  of  the 
same  material — sometimes  only  the  soil  of  mother  earth.     Yet,   from  just 


Il8  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

such  school  rooms  have  gone  forth  many  of  America's  greatest  statesmen. 
In  some  other  instances  the  "spare  room"  of  some  humble  farm  cabin  home 
was  fitted  up  for  school  purposes.  But  even  there  the  furniture  was  of  the 
same  rude,  home-made  type,  never  having  seen  a  saw  or  smoothing  plane, 
but  all  had  the  score  line  and  imprint  of  the  handy  pioneer's  hand-ax.  All 
this  has  materially  changed.  In  Iowa,  a  log  school  house  has  come  to  be 
looked  upon  as  a  rarity.  In  common  with  all  the  great  commonwealth  of 
Iowa.  Jasper  county  now  boasts  of  excellent  school  houses  and  teachers  fully 
up-to-date  in  their  manner  of  training  the  young.  The  county  superintend- 
ents and  the  city  instructors  in  the  graded  schools  rank  as  high  as  any  in 
Iowa. 

EARLY  SCHOOL  HOUSES. 

The  first  school  house  erected  in  Jasper  county  was  built  on  the  claim 
made  by  David  Edmundson,  near  the  site  of  the  present  county  farm.  This 
was  built  in  1848,  of  logs,  and  was  about  sixteen  feet  square.  The  floor, 
doors  and  desks  were  all  made  from  rough  hewn  puncheons.  The  windows 
were  glazed  with  greased  paper.  The  chimney  would  be  a  startling  curiosity 
to  any  person,  old  or  young,  today.  A  huge  log  was  laid  inside  and  parallel 
with  the  outside  walls.  On  this  the  flue  was  constructed,  sloping  to  the  roof. 
Thus  the  space  usually  left  in  cabins  for  a  recess  w  as  left  open  as  a  toasting 
place  for  the  little  scholars.  The  flue-walls  were  covered  with  a  thick  mor- 
tar of  clay. 

This  school  was  taught  by  William  C.  Smith  on  the  '"subscription"  plan 
and  lasted  three  months.  In  the  dreary  winter  of  1848-9  might  have  been 
seen  huddled  together  such  boys  as  were  later  .prominent  men  in  this  county, 
and  known  as  Messrs.  A.  T.  Prouty,  W.  ^1.  Springer,  Lewis  Herring,  John 
Moss,  Moses    Lac}-  and  ! ).  P^dniundson. 

The  first  school  house  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  county  was  that 
near  Jasper  Whitted's.  at  Tool's  Point,  which  structure  was  completed  in 
the  fall  of  1848  also.  This  was  a  much  superior  building,  in  that  it  had  a 
chimney  clear  up  from  the  earth  to  above  the  roof  and  it  stood  on  the  out- 
side of  the  building.  The  windows  also  were  provided  with  glass.  These 
window^  lights  possibly  came  from  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  via  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  river,  round  by  way  of  the  Des  Moines  river  to  this  county.  This 
school  was  taught  by  E.  R.  Wright  and  it  was  held  in  the  w  inter  of  1848-49. 
He  had  an  attendance  of  about  fifteen  and  some  weeks  as  high  as  twentv 
pupils. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  I  I9 

SCHOOL  FINANCES  LONG  AGO. 

Jesse  Rickman,  the  first  county  school  fund  commissioner,  had  but 
little  trouble  in  looking  after  the  finances,  as  turned  in  to  him,  as  will  be 
obser\-ed  bv  the  following:  Only  six  school  districts  had  so  far  been  or- 
ganized by  the  fall  of  1849-50.  David  Hinshaw,  treasurer  for  district  No.  2, 
Newton  township,  receipted  for  $18.08;  Ezekiel  Shipley,  of  district  No.  3, 
same  township,  $20.60;  Levi  Plummer,  for  district  No.  i,  Poweshiek  town- 
ship, $34.06:  Joseph  L.  Doan,  for  district  No.  i,  of  Newton  township. 
$44.90;  William  Hayes,  No.  i.  of  Des  ]\Ioines  township,  $48.77;  Jacob 
Pudge,  No.  I,  of  Fairview  township,  $51.63. 

The  school  fund  apportionment  in  March,  1851,  was  as  follows:  No.  2, 
Fairview,  $8.29;  No.  2,  Newton,  $19.35;  ^^o-  i-  Elk  Creek,  $12.27;  No.  3, 
Newton.  $17.15;  No.  4,  N>wton,  $23.34;  No.  i.  Poweshiek,  $18.25;  No.  i, 
Lynn  Grove,  $42.61;  No.  i,  Newton,  $24.34:  No.  i,  Fairview,  $24.34;  No. 
I.  Des  ]Moines,  $26.00:  No.  i.  Clear  Creek.  S19.97:  No.  2,  Des  ]\Ioines, 
$13.27.     Five  districts  were  formed  in  1851. 

In  1854  four  school  districts  were  organized  in  Jasper  county.  That 
year  marks  the  beginning  of  better  school  days  in  the  county,  for  its  first  for- 
mative stages  were  then  at  an  end — the  log  school  house  was  then  doomed 
to  be  superseded  by  frame  and  brick  structures,  for  the  mighty  tide  of  settle- 
ment then  set  in  had  brought  hundreds  of  settlers,  some  of  whom  had  means, 
and  all  had  an  idea  that  education  was  a  good  thing  to  have  in  opening  up  a 
new  country.  By  1856  the  rush  of  immigration  was  great  and  it  brought 
new  life  and  the  true  spirit  of  education  and  general  progress  from  the  older 
Eastern  states.  In  August,  1854,  the  annual  tax  levy  was :  State,  one  and  a 
half  mills;  county,  three  mills  and  a  poll  tax  of  fifty  cents;  roads,  two  mills, 
and  a  poll  tax  of  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents :  schools,  three-fourths  of  a  mill. 

FIRST  SCHOOLS  IN  SOME  OF  THE  TOWNSHIPS. 

For  Newton  township,  see  "'City  Schools." 

In  Monroe,  in  Fairview  township,  the  first  regular  school  house  of  anv 
consequence  was  erected  in   1851. 

The  independent  district  of  Jasper  city  (now  Kellogg)  was  organized 
May  25,  1868.  with  S.  C.  ]\Ionett  as  its  president.  June  8th  of  that  year  it 
was  voted  to  erect  a  school  house  by  the  issue  of  a  ten-mill  tax  for  bonding 
purposes. 


I20  JASl'KR    COrXTV.    IOWA. 

The  independent  district  of  Lynnville  was  created  in  March,  1870.  with 
A.  O.  Ailver  as  its  president,  and  Benjamin  F.  Arnold,  treasurer.  In  Aui^ust, 
1 87 1,  the  board  ordered  the  old  school  house  sold  and  appointed  a  committee 
to  confer  with  the  I^>iends  society  of  the  town,  with  a  view  of  selling  the 
property  and  then  leasing  of  them  if  possible.  At  that  date,  the  Friends  had 
a  large  building  which  had  been  used  by  them  as  an  academy,  but  was  then 
not  in  use.  The  board  finally  made  satisfactory  terms  and  the  old  meeting- 
house of  the  Friends  was  secured  and  served  the  district  until  in  1876.  when 
it  was  found  too  small  for  the  increasing  population.  The  Friends  believed 
in  the  school  and  recommended  it  to  the  surrounding  settlement  of  Friends, 
and  in  this  wav  large  numbers  from  outside  were  sent  to  school  in  this  dis- 
trict, thus  giving  a  nice  town  school  re\enue.  The  land  owned  by  the 
Friends  was  not  thought  legal  to  build  a  public  school  house  upon  and  hence, 
after  an  injunction  suit  had  been  commenced,  the  matter  was  not  protested 
against,  but  the  district  went  ahead  and  bonded  for  two  thousand  dollars  to 
build  on  grounds  of  their  own  purchasing.  The  building  was  twenty-eight 
by  forty  feet  and  two  stories  high. 

This  is  the  base  of  the  present  school  system  at  Lynnville,  which  from 
an  early  date  has  been  noted  for  good  order  and  most  excellent  public 
schools,  as  well  as  the  old  academy  conducted  by  the  Friends,  first  in  the 
near-by  country  and  later  in  town,  an  account  of  which  will  appear  elsewhere 
in  this  chapter. 

The  independent  district  of  Colfax  was  not  formed  until  in  April,  1876. 
William  Kelsey  was  the  first  president  of  the  school  board.  During  that  year 
the  district  \oted  and  bonded  itself  for  the  amount  of  three  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars  with  which  to  erect  suitable  school  buildings.  Its  cost  was 
really  over  four  thousand  dollars.  It  was  a  two-story,  forty-foot  scjuare 
building. 

At  Prairie  City  an  indepen^lent  district  was  voted  into  existence  at  the 
March  election  of  1867.  Caleb  Bundy  was  chosen  first  director.  In  1868  an 
exceptionally  good  school  house  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  six  thousand  dollars. 

The  district  in  which  Reasoner  is  located  was  formed  in  1878  and 
since  then  the  schools  of  the  village  ha\e  been  on  a  par  w  ith  most  small  town 
schools  in  Jasper  county. 

With  the  passing  of  the  years  there  were  built  school  houses  all  over 
the  fair  domain  of  Jasper  county,  wherever  the  settlement  demanded  it.  and 
this  appears  to  have  been  in  almost  every  nook  and  corner.  The  present 
county  superintendent's  report  to  the  state  authorities,  dated  1910.  discloses 
many  facts  relative  to  Jasper  county  schools,  which  should  be  carefully  read 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  121 

by  all  interested  in  the  subject  of  education  in  this  county.  But  before 
entering  into  that  subject,  it  will  l3e  best  to  note  some  things  concerning  the 
city  schools  of  Newton,  for  they  have,  indeed,  made  an  almost  enviable 
record  in  the  last  quarter  of  a  century  among  the  cities  of  Iowa,  and  that 
largely  perforce  of  having  the  right  men  at  the  helm,  both  on  the  board  of 
education  and  as  instructors. 

NEWTON   CITY  SCHOOLS. 

To  have  been  educated  at  the  Newton  high  school  has  been  to  be  well 
trained — fit  for  entering  into  a  college  or  an  active  life  of  business,  in  what- 
ever calling  one  might  adopt.  However,  this  excellent  school  did  not  come 
by  mere  chance,  but  by  long,  hard  struggles.  It  has  had  its  foes  within  and 
without,  but  at  last  came  off  conqueror  and  stands  out  prominent  among  the 
foremost  schools  in  any  section  of  the  Hawkeye  state. 

The  early  records  show  that  Newton  was  within  what  was  styled  dis- 
trict No.  3,  of  Newton  township,  from  1858  on  to  the  spring  of  1863,  when 
it  was  placed  within  an  independent  district.  The  records  show  the  first 
officers  to  be,  in  this  independent  district,  J.  B.  Hough,  president;  Josiah 
Wright,  vice-president :  William  R.  Skiff,  treasurer :  Jesse  Rickman.  secre- 
tary ;  Milton  Anderson,  director. 

The  first  teachers  employed  were  Baxter  George,  Airs.  Margaret  Carss. 
Mrs.  Emilv  McCord  and  Rebecca  Donnal. 

The  board  resolved  that  ''the  teachers  and  each  and  every  one  of  the 
larger  scholars  be  required  to  sweep  the  school  house  by  turns,"  and  that 
the  teachers  should  have  pay  only  for  actual  time  employed. 

May  25,  1864,  the  board  contracted  with  Hugh  Rogers  for  the  erection 
of  two  school  houses,  for  one  thousand  four  hundred  and  eighty -dollars, 
twenty-five  by  thirty  feet,  one  located  in  Edmundson's  addition  to  Newton, 
and  also  one  in  Pardoe's  addition. 

In  the  spring  of  1865  a  new  roof  was  placed  on  the  brick  school  house, 
at  the  cost  of  five  hundred  dollars. 

In  the  summer  of  1867  the  West  End  school  house  was  built  by  Con- 
nelly &  Eastman,  for  seven  hundred  and  eighty  dollars,  and  the  same  season 
a  building  was  erected  in  the  east  part  of  town,  by  C.  L.  Connelly,  costing  the 
district  eight  hundred  and  seventy-eight  dollars. 

August  10,  1868,  a  vote  was  taken  on  the  question  of  issuing  bonds  for 
the  purpose  of  extending  the  school  accommodations  of  Newton,  which 
election  resulted  in  five  majority  against  the  proposition.     On  the  25th  of 


122  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

the  same  month,  however,  another  vote  was  taken  and  resulted  in  favor  of 
the  pending-  proposition,  the  \  ote  standing-  one  hundred  forty-two  to  one 
hundred  one. 

In  March.  1870,  a  ten-mill  tax  was  voted  by  the  people  for  the  con- 
struction of  buildings  to  be  centrally  located.  In  May,  1871,  the  old  school 
house  site,  north  of  the  public  square,  was  selected  after  a  close  contest. 
The  building  (still  in  use)  was  erected  in  1871.  It  is  three  stories  high  and 
sixty  by  eighty  feet  in  size.  A  high  tower  encloses  the  bell.  The  material 
is  Milwaukee  brick.  The  five  thousand  dollars  which  it  cost  was  raised  by 
floating  bonds.  The  redemption  fund  commenced  in  1872,  with  an  eight 
mill  tax.  In  1873  four  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  was  levied:  in  1874, 
1875  and  1876,  ten  mills  each  year  was  levied.  In  1878  the  building  was 
filled  to  its  entire  capacity  and  the  patrons  of  the  schools  were  again  com- 
mencing to  wonder  what  would  be  the  next  school  house  plans  for  Newton. 
In  its  day,  this  school  house  was  among  the  best  in  Iowa,  was  well  con- 
structed and  is  still  doing  excellent  service. 

What  is  known  as  the  West  school,  it  being  on  ^^'>st  ]vlain  street,  was 
erected  in  1897,  at  a  cost  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  including  all  connected 
therewith.     It  is  a  two-story  brick  structure  of  modern  architecture. 

The  next  building  required  was  the  one  in  the  northeast  part  of  the 
city,  erected  in  1901,  at  a  cost  of  nine  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seven-five 
dollars,  including  furniture. 

The  pride  of  the  city,  however,  is  the  high  school  building,  erected  in 
1907,  just  west  from  Central  school  building.  This  beautiful  large  struc- 
ture cost  the  district  the  sum  of  seventy-two  thousand  dollars,  all  furnished. 
It  is  built  on  the  most  modern  and  approved  plans  for  school  buildings,  even 
to  the  items  of  sanitary  drinking  fountains. 

THE    SCHOOL    GRADED. 

In  1863  Albert  Lufkin,  Milton  Anderson  and  Josiah  Wright  were  ap- 
pointed to  grade  the  Newton  schools.  The  following  year  there  were  four 
teachers  employed  at  salaries  ranging  from  twenty-five  dollars  to  forty  dol- 
lars per  month.  Darius  Thomas  was  "principal  teacher"'  and  he  held  the 
position  to  1864,  the  end  of  that  school  year.  E.  H.  Fenton  was  employed 
at  twenty-five  dollars  per  month  and  four  other  teachers  were  employed. 

In  1865  W.  H.  Shaw  was  employed  as  "principal  teacher"'  at  fifty  dol- 
lars per  month.  During  all  of  these  years  of  national  struggle  not  a  word 
is  to  be  seen  in  the  records  about  the  great  Ci\il  war,  then  in  progress,  yet  no 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  I23 

one  can  doubt  that  Newton  was  filled  with  a  true  and  loyal  spirit  of  patriot- 
ism, from  the  number  of  men  she  sent  to  the  fighting  front  at  the  South. 

In  1866  the  teachers  were  L.  B.  Westbrook,  Mary  Hickey,  Emily  Fen- 
ton,  Cynthia  Lindley,  Lavinia  Rickman  and  Lydia  S.  Clark.  The  salaries  run 
from  forty  dollars  down  to  as  low  as  twenty-five. 

In  1867  the  principal  was  J.  A.  Clippinger,  who  was  paid  sixty  dollars 
per  month  for  his  services.  Admission  to  the  highest  department  of  the 
schools  was  based  on  ability  ''to  advance  beyond  fractions."  The  man  at 
the  head  of  the  schools  was  not  permitted  to  use  his  own  judgment,  but  must 
needs  consultahe  directors  about  any  changes  in  school  affairs. 

From  1869  on,  the  record  shows  that  nine  months"  school  was  counted 
as  a  "school  year."  E.  S.  Everly  was  elected  as  principal,  but.  refusing  to 
teach  for  less  than  seventy-five  dollars  a  month,  the  board  re-elected  Mr. 
Clippinger  and  he  was  assisted  by  five  other  instructors. 

In  1868  among  the  teachers  mentioned  in  the  records  was  'Sir.  Martin. 
who  received  the  largest  salary. 

In  1870  nine  teachers  were  employed.  G.  M.  Doud  receiving  sixty  dol- 
lars per  month.     W.  G.  Work  remained  superintendent. 

In  1 87 1  O.  M.  Schee  was  superintendent,  at  one  hundred  dollars  per 
month,  an  innovation  in  wages.  \\\  W.  Wallace  was  hired  to  teach  music 
at  fifty  dollars  per  month.  Nine  other  instructors  were  engaged  at  that 
time. 

In  1872  Albert  Loughridge  was  superintendent  at  a  salary  of  one 
thousand  dollars  per  year.  He  had  ten  assistants. 

In  1873  and  on  to  1876,  William  Hog  was  the  superintendent.  In 
November,  1874,  a  new  course  of  study  was  adopted  and  the  first  class 
graduated  in  ]\Iarch,  1875,  and  was  as  follows :  Emerson  Hough,  Bertha 
Fehleisen  and  George  Fehleisen. 

From  1880  to  1883  R.  G.  Young  was  employed.  In  this  connection  it 
should  be  said  that  in  1882  a  high  school  course  was  first  adopted  that  met 
with  the  general  approval  of  educators  in  this  section  of  Iowa,  generally,  and 
was  looked  upon  as  advanced  ground  in  the  matter  of  better  educational 
facilities.  Again  in  1887  another  change  was  effected  in  grading  the  high 
school  of  Newton. 

Prof.  E.  J.  H.  Beard,  the  present  capable  instructor,  was  employed  at 
Newton  in  1892,  as  the  superintendent  of  the  public  schools.  Since  then  three 
school  houses  have  been  erected.  When  he  commenced  his  work  here  he 
had  fourteen  assistants  and  now  the  work  has  advanced  to  that  degree  that 
more  than  twenty  are  required  to  do  the  work  of  instruction.     Within  the 


124  JASPER    COUXTV,    IOWA. 

past  ten  years  the  colleges  of  the  land  have  increased  their  requirements,  by 
the  addition  of  several  branches,  but  the  fact  that  up  to  1903  no  pupil  had 
graduated  who  was  not  prepared  to  enter  the  freshman  classes  of  accredited 
colleges  speaks  much  for  the  work  of  the  Xewton  school. 

Seventeen  classes,  numbering  in  all  one  hundred  and  eighty-six  pupils, 
graduated  during  the  employment  of  other  superintendents,  while  under 
Professor  Beard's  administration  nineteen  classes  ha\e  graduated,  and  these 
have  a  total  of  four  hundred  and  twenty-eight  pupils. 

In  February,  1910.  Professor  Beard,  superintendent  of  the  city  schools, 
said: 

■'It  is  frequently  Siiid  that  the  studies  of  the  high  school  courses  lead 
boys  to  choose  professional  careers  and  do  not  promote  the  choice  of  pro- 
ductive industries  or  ordinary  business  pursuits.  In  the  past  seventeen  years 
one  hundred  and  thirty-five  lx)ys  have  graduated  from  the  Newton  high 
school.  So  far  as  I  am- able  to  ascertain  the  following  occupations  and  the 
number  of  students  in  each  is  here  indicated: 

Lawyers   or  students  of  law 4 

Proprietors  or  partners  in  mercantile  business 7 

Clerks   in  various   establishments 8 

Farmers  18,  students  of  agriculture  so  far  as  known  7.  .  .  .  25 

In  banks 4 

Grain   dealer    i 

Railroading    i 

Architects    3 

Agents   for  manufacturing  and  mercantile  houses 6 

Flectrical  engineers  or  student  of  electrical  engineering.  .8 

Civil  engineers  or  students  of  civil  engineering 7 

Professors  of  colleges    4 

Veterinary   students    3 

Real   estate   dealer    i 

Justice  of  the  peace   i 

Editor  or  printer    2 

Evangelist    r 

Dentists    4 

Dead    c 

Lumberman    i 

Doctors  or  medical  students   3 

Professor  of  music    i 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  12: 

In  factories  as  proprietor  or  workmen 15  * 

In  college,  courses  not  known 14 

Students  concerning-  whom  I  have  no  data 4 


135 


"It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  that  the  frequently  repeated  asser- 
tion that  the  modern  high  school  courses  prepare  students  for  the  so-called 
'learned  professions'  only,  is  not  true  and  has  not  been  true  so  far  as  the 
Newton  high  school  history  for  the  past  seventeen  years  goes." 

JASPER   COUNTY  SCHOOLS  IN    187O-76. 

From  Superintendent  S.  J.  Moyer's  report  in  1870,  we  extract  the  fol- 
lowing: "The  state  of  Iowa  boasts  of  her  neat  school  houses,  that  dot  her 
l)eautiful  prairies,  and  Jasper  county  has  a  respectable  share  of  these  to 
claim  as  her  own.  \\ithin  the  past  two  years  it  has  been  the  desire  of  all 
unimproved  to  accommodate  themselves  with  accessible  and  convenient 
school  houses,  and  by  an  examination  of  the  tax  abstract  for  the  coming 
year  we  are  assured  the  desire  increases  and  ripens  into  execution  as  Jasper 
county  enters  upon  the  new  year  with  an  increased  school  house  tax.  The 
statistics  show  that  during  the  last  year  (1869-70)  there  have  been  erected 
twenty-eight  new  school  houses." 

The  official  reports  for  1877  show  that  the  county  then  contained  17 
district  townships:  28  independent  districts:  145  sub-districts:  ungraded 
schools,  165;  graded  schools,  8;  school  year,  seven  months  and  one  week, 
average:  number  of  male  teachers,  123:  number  of  female  teachers,  244; 
average  male  wages.  $35.95;  female.  $29.64;  total  enrollment.  8,198:  aver- 
age attendance.  4,598:  average  cost  of  tuition,  per  scholar,  $1.61;  number 
of  frame  school  houses.  170;  brick  school  houses.  4;  log  school  houses, 
none.  The  value  of  all  school  houses  in  the  county,  at  that  date,  was 
$170,405.  Cash  on  hand  in  school  house  fund.  S6.380:  contingent  fund, 
$6,541 ;  teacher's  fund,  $20,446. 

A    MODEL    SCHOOL    HOUSE. 

Be  it  said  to  the  credit  of  the  patrons  of  the  Monroe  public  schools 
that  in  1870  the  following  was  truthfully  recorded  by  the  county  superin- 
tendent of  schools  of  this  countv : 


12(1  lASl'KK    fOUNTV.    IOWA. 

^'Those  who  contemplate  building  for  graded  schools  and  independent 
districts  are  respectfully  invited  to  examine  the  new  and  beautiful  school 
building  lately  erected  in  Monroe,  which  is  far  superior  to  any  other  in  the 
countv  in  its  design  and  structure  and  reflects  much  credit  upon  the  city,  the 
citizens  and  board  that  controlled  its  erection,  and  upon  the  community 
around." 

JASPER  COUNTY  SCHOOLS  IN    IQIO. 

According  to  the  official  report  made  by  the  school  superintendent  in 
1910.  the  following  was  the  statistical  condition  of  the  public  schools  in  this 
county : 

SCHOOL   TOWNSHIPS. 

Buena  \^ista  township,  number  of  pupils  enrolled,  246;  male  teachers, 
one;  female  teachers,  thirteen:  number  of  sub-districts,  nine. 

Des  :\Ioines  township,  number  enrolled.  180;  male  teachers,  two;  fe- 
male teachers,  sixteen:  number  of  sul)-districts.  eleven. 

Hickory  Grove  township,  number  enrolled.  119;  male  teachers,  one; 
female  teachers,  thirteen;  number  sub-districts,  nine. 

Independence  township,  pupils  enrolled.  185;  male  teachers,  one;  fe- 
male teachers,  twelve;  number  of  sub-districts,  nine. 

Kellogg  township,  pupils  enrolled,  154;  male  teachers,  one;  female 
teachers,  fifteen;  number  of  sub-districts,  eight. 

Lynn  Grove  township,  pupils  enrolled,  207;  female  teachers,  twenty- 
two;  number  sub-districts,  twelve. 

Malaka  township,  pupils  enrolled,  140;  female  teachers,  fifteen;  num- 
ber of  sub-districts,  nine. 

Mariposa  township,  pupils  enrolled,  172;  female  teachers,  seventeen; 
number  of  sub-districts,  nine. 

Mound  Prairie  township,  pupils  enrolled.  249;  male  teachers,  two;  fe- 
male teachers,  fourteen ;  number  of  sub-districts,  nine. 

Xewton  township,  pupils  enrolled,  136;  female  teachers,  ten;  number 
of  sub-districts,  nine. 

Palo  Alto  township,  pupils  enrolled.  209:  female  teachers,  fifteen;  num- 
ber of  sub-districts,  eleven. 

Poweshiek  township,  pupils  enrolled,  244:  female  teachers,  eighteen; 
number  of  sub-districts,  eight. 

Richland  township,  pupils  enrolled,  188;  male  teachers,  one;  female 
teachers,  sixteen ;  number  of  sub-districts,  nine. 


JASPER    COUNT V,    IOWA.  12/ 

Rock  Creek  township,  pupils  enrolled,  204;  male  teachers,  five;  female 
teachers,  fourteen;  number  of  sub-districts,  eight. 

Sherman  tOAvnship,  pupils  enrolled,  117:  female  teachers,  fourteen; 
number  sub-districts,  nine. 

Washington  township,  pupils  enrolled,  131;  female  teachers,  eleven; 
number  sub-districts,  nine. 

INDEPENDENT   VILLAGE,    TOWN    AND    CITY    CORPORATIONS. 

Baxter  had  five  rooms  of  graded  school :  one  male  and  fourteen  female 
.teachers;  enrollment  of  140. 

Colfax  had  fourteen  rooms  of  graded  school;  one  male  and  fourteen 
female  teachers,  with  an  enrollment  of  706. 

Galesburg  had  two  rooms  graded;  one  male  and  three  female  teachers, 
and  an  enrollment  of  49  pupils. 

Greencastle  had  two  graded  rooms;  two  female  teachers,  and  an  en- 
rollment of  59  pupils. 

Kellogg  had  five  graded  rooms;  one  male  and  four  female  teachers, 
with  an  enrollment  of  156  pupils. 

]^Ionroe  had  seven  graded  rooms ;  one  male  and  four  female  teachers, 
with  an  enrollment  of  226  pupils. 

Xewton  had  twenty-eight  graded  rooms ;  two  male  and  twentv-six  fe- 
male teachers,  with  an  enrollment  of  1,056  pupils. 

Prairie  City  had  six  graded  rooms :  one  male  and  seven  female  teachers. 
\\ith  an  enrollment  of  233  pupils. 

Reasoner  had  two  graded  rooms,  two  female  teachers  and  an  enroll- 
ment of  thirty-five  pupils.  "•- 

Sully  had  two  graded  rooms;  one  male  and  one  female  teacher,  with  an 
enrollment  of  98  pupils. 

Vandalia  had  two  rural  schools ;  three  female  teachers,  and  an  enroll- 
ment of  49  pupils. 

RURAL  INDEPENDENT  CORPORATIONS. 

No.   I,  one  male  and  two  female  teachers,  with  an  enrollment  of  36. 
No.  2,  Harsh,  two  female  teachers,  and  44  enrollment. 
Xo.  3.  two  female  teachers  and  an  enrollment  of  19  pupils. 
N^o.  4.  one  female  teacher  and  an  enrollment  of  15  pupils. 
Xo.   5.  Ashton.  three  female  teachers;  21  pupils  enrolled. 


128  JASI'ER    COUNTV.    IOWA. 

No.  6.  Oak  Gro\e,  three  female  teachers,  and  an  enroHment  of  21 
pupils. 

No.  7,  X'alley.  one  female  teacher,  and  an  enrollment  of  26  pupils. 

No.  8.  Indian  Creek,  three  female  teachers ;  23  pupils  enrolled. 

No.  9,  Green  Valley,  one  female  teacher,  and  an  enrollment  of  28  pupils. 

Andreas,  two  female  teachers,  and  an  enrollment  of  15  pupils. 

Brown,  one  female  teacher,  and  an  enrollment  of  18  pupils. 

Dairy  Grove,  two  female  teachers,  and  an  enrollment  of  17  pupils. 

McKiiiney.  one  female  teacher  and  eighteen  pupils  enrolled. 

Pleasant  View,  two  females  as  teachers,  and  an  enrollment  of  13  pupils 

Richland,  one  male  and  two  female  teachers;  number  pupils  enrolled.  14. 

Rose  Hill,  one  female  teacher;  numljer  pupils  enrolled,  26. 

Sand  Point,  one  female  teacher;  18  pupils  enrolled. 

Bellevue.  two  female  teachers;  20  pupils  enrolled. 

Capitol  Prairie,  one  female  teacher,  and  an  enrollment  of  15  pupils. 

Cottage  Grove,  one  female  teacher,  and  an  enrollment  of  35  pupils. 

Enterprise,  one  female  teacher,  and  16  pupils  enrolled. 

Excelsior,  one  female  teacher,  and  16  pupils  enrolled. 

Fair  View,  one  female  teacher,  and  16  pupils  enrolled. 

McCosky,  two  female  teachers,  and  an  enrollment  of  16  pupils. 

Oak  Grove,  two  female  teachers,  and  an  enrollment  of  28  pupils. 

Pleasant  Hill  had  no  school  in  19 10. 

Sunny  Point,  one  female  teacher,  and  17  pupils  enrolled. 

Union,  one  female  teacher,  and  an  enrollment  of  26  pupils. 

Warren  Grove,  two  female  teachers,  and  17  pupils  enrolled. 

The  average  tuition  cost  of  pupils  per  month  in  1910  was  «*'>2.55. 

OTHER     FIGURES. 

As  seen  by  the  county  school  sujjerintendent's  report  to  the  state,  bear- 
ing the  date  of  June  30,  1910,  llie  following  was  the  standing  of  schools 
in  the  county  at  that  time : 

Average  number  of  months  taught,  81/,  ;  rural  independent  districts, 
29;  independent  city,  town  and  village  incorporations  in  the  countv.  11; 
school  townships,  16;  sub-districts.  147;  teachers  employed — males,  28;  fe- 
males, 348;  average  compensation  per  month,  for  m<'ile  teachers,  $69.13; 
for  females,  $43.60;  total  enrollment  in  the  county,  6,411;  total  average 
attendance,  4.490;  average  tuition  per  month,  $2.55;  number  of  school 
houses.    191;  value  of  school    houses,    $336,740;    value    of    all    apparatus, 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  1 29 

$11,105;  number  of  volumes  in  all  school  libraries,  9,230;  rooms  in  which 
the  effects  of  stimulants  and  narcotics  are  taught,  244. 

On  June  30.  1910.  there  was  on  hand  in  the  school  fund  of  Jasper 
county,  the  sum  of  $61,829.  The  school-house  fund  had  on  hand  at  the 
date  just  named,  $8,845.  O"  the  same  date  there  were  bonds  and  interest- 
bearing  warrants   outstanding  in  the   county,   $53,181. 

teachers"    institutes. 

Hardin  county  had  the  first  teachers'  institute  in  Iowa,  under  the  law 
which  was  created  in  the  winter  of  1857-8.  Jasper  was  not  far  behind, 
for  the  record  shows  that  on  November  i,  1858,  an  institute  was  commenced 
at  Newton,  lasting  for  six  days.  Reduced  hotel  rates  were  arranged  for  at 
the  Phelps  House,  City  Hotel  and  old  Ohio  House.  Teachers  were  expected 
to  bring  with  them  a  AIcGuffey's  fourth  reader,  a  geography  and  atlas,  an 
arithmetic    and    grammar. 

The  second  institute  was  held  in  September,  1859.  ^^^  organized  by 
Albert  Lufkin,  president;  A.  W.  Drew,  vice-president;  A.  L.  Swallow', 
secretary.  This  session  continued  for  two  full  weeks  and  numerous  lectures 
were  given,  including  those  delivered  by  Messrs.  Shays,  Rev.  Joshua  Swal- 
low. Rev.  T.  Merrill,  J.  R.  Mershon,  S.  F.  Cooper,  S.  N.  Lindley  and  W. 
D.  Moore. 

This  was  the  beginning  of  institutes  that  have  been  kept  up  e\er  since, 
with  much  interest  and  educational  profit.  The  institute  has  come  to  be 
an  occasion  which  all  reputable  teachers  long  for.  and  the  teacher  is  now 
compelled  to  attend  at  least  a  part  of  the  session  each  year.  It  is  one  of 
the  needed  auxiliaries  to  teaching  and  no  up-to-date  teacher  cares  to  miss 
the   annual   session. 

wittemberg    manual    labor    college. 

By   Hon.   W.    O.   McElroy. 

Advancement  in  civilization  is  largely  due  to  the  triumph  of  principles 
for  which  men  and  women,  living  in  advance  of  their  times,  contended  for 
years  without  apparent  success.  To  such  persons,  the  writer  of  contempo- 
raneous history  is  not  always  just.  He  who  writes  regarding  his  own  times 
may  accurately  record  current  events,  but  a  later  generation  can.  l^etter 
than  he.  understand  and  appreciate  their  historical  value.  It  is  the  dutv  of 
the  historian  not  onlv  to  present  the  facts,  but  to  mark  their  significance, 
(9) 


130  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

iiulgint;-  men  and  measures  impartially  and  gi\in,i;-  credit  to  whomsoever 
it  may  Ix'  due.  The  reason  for  tlie  fnre.y;oing  remark  will  appear  as  we 
proceed. 

Tn  the  early  fifties  a  dozen  or  more  families  settled  upon  the  prairie 
north  of  Xewton,  formini^  what  was  afterwards  known  as  the  ''College 
I'arm"  neighljorhood.  Their  number  inckuled  some  exceptionally  thoughtful 
and  earnest  men  and  women.  On  the  i8th  day  of  December,  1855,  some 
of  the  more  prominent  ones  assembled  at  the  home  of  John  Carey  and  there 
adopted  articles  of  incorporation  of  the  W'ittemberg  Manual  Labor  College. 
At  that  time  negro  slavery  was  strongly  intrenched  in  the  United  States 
under  constitutional  protection :  women  were  generally  barred  from  college 
and  universit) ,  from  taking  part  in  public  affairs,  rarely  being  permitted 
e\en  "to  sj^eak  in  church,"  and  were  not  generally  accepted  as  teachers  in 
public  schools;  technical  education  of  the  industrial  classes,  schools  of  agri- 
culture and  mechanical  arts,  and  public  instruction  in  manual  training  and 
domestic  science,  were  practically  unknown :  and  the  general  trend  of  all 
education  was  away  from  manual  labor  and  e\erything  pertaining  thereto. 
It  is  interesting-  to  notice,  in  the  light  of  conditions  then  existing,  the  dis- 
tinctive principles  of  the  institution  thus  founded  and  the  spirit  of  its 
founders,  as  indicated  in  its  articles  of  incorporation,  four  of  which  were 
as    follows : 

"Article  3d.  We  will  endeavor  to  maintain  a  school  in  which  a  pure 
morality  and  evangelical  religion  shall  be  taught,  guarding  against  the  in- 
troduction of  both   sectarian   teaching  and   sectional   influence. 

"Art.  4th.  As  the  name  of  the  corporation  implies,  labor  shall  be 
combined  with  study,  invariably,  in  such  manner  as  the  trustees  may  direct, 
so  that  not  less  than  two  hours  of  manual  labor  each  day  be  required  of 
every  teacher  and  student,  unless  prevented  by  sickness  or  other  bodily  in- 
firmity. 

"Art.  6th.  Xo  person  of  good  moral  character  who  is  not  a  slave- 
holder in  practice  or  principle,  shall  be  denied  the  privilege  of  being  a 
shareholder  in  this  institution.  None  shall  be  rendered  ineligible  to  office 
or  refused  admittance  as  a  student  on  terms  of  ])erfect  equalitv,  on  account 
of  caste,  color  or  sex. 

"Art.  1 2th.  The  trustees  shall  be  chosen  by  ballot  at  each  annual  meet- 
ing *  *  *  a|.  ^vhich  time  this  constitution  may  be  amended  *  *  *  ex- 
cept so  much  of  the  second,  third  and  fourth  articles  as  embrace  the  dis- 
tinctive principles  of  our  organization,  to-wit :  Pure  morality  and  religion, 
without  sectarianism;  manual  labor;  freedom  from  distinction  on  account 
of  caste,  color  or  sex ;  these  features  shall  remain  unalterable." 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  I3I 

The  first  officers  of  the  institution  were:  Richard  Sherer.  president; 
John  Carey  and  John  A.  Work,  vice-presidents;  Andrew  Failor,  secretary; 
James  R.  Crawford,  treasurer;  Rev.  Thomas  Merrill,  general  agent;  all  of 
whom,  with  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Merrill,  Mrs.  ]\Iary  Carey,  James  McLaughlin, 
S.  A.  Thornton,  J.  P.  Beatty  and  Thomas  \'anatta,  constituted  the  board  of 
trustees.  A  tract  of  land  including  the  east  halt  of  section  3.  township  80, 
range  19,  and  adjacent  lands,  comprising  more  than  four  hundred  acres 
in  all.  was  purchased  and  sul)sec|uently  platted.  Ten  acres  in  the  center  was 
reserved  for  college  building,  ornamental  grounds,  etc.  Four  rectangular 
tracts,  each  comprising  about  sixty  acres,  were  reser\-ed  for  the  purpose  of  pro- 
viding thereon  the  manual  labor  in  agriculture  to  be  performed  by  students 
and  members  of  the  faculty.  Outlying  parts  of  the  land  platted  were  di- 
vided into  residence  lots  which  were  afterwards  appraised  and  sold  in  order 
to  obtain  funds  for  the  erection  of  a  building. 

The  records  of  the  board  of  trustees  throughout  the  sixteen  or  more 
years  of  the  existence  of  the  institution  lie  before  us  as  we  write.  Insuf- 
ficient support  funds,  general  low  prices  and  low  wages,  high  rates  of  in- 
terest, financial  panic,  and  the  disorganizing  influence  of  the  Civil  war,  made 
the  struggle  for  the  maintenance  of  the  school  throughout  those  years  very 
hard.     Every  meeting  of  the  board  was  opened  with  prayer. 

On  Christmas  day,  1855,  the  board  fixed  the  rates  of  tuition  for  a  term 
of  twelve  weeks,  as  follows :  Three  dollars  for  primary  department,  four 
dollars  for  common  English  branches  and  five  dollars  for  the  advanced 
English  branches  and  the  languages.  At  the  same  time  ^fr.  and  ]Mrs.  Merrill 
were  employed  as  teachers. 

In  Februarv",  1856,  the  property  owned  by  the  institution  was  valued 
at  $6,781.75.  One  thousand  copies  of  a  circular  setting  forth  the  advantages 
offered  by  the  school  and  its  course  of  study  were  ordered  printed  and  dis- 
tributed. Provisions  were  made  for  boarding  students.  Scholarships  were 
ordered  sold,  the  consideration  therefor  to  be  paid  in  installments.  The 
board  adopted  a  plan  for  a  two-story  central  building  fifty-two  feet  long 
and  forty  feet  wide,  with  end  or  wing  buildings,  each  thirty  feet  by  forty 
feet.  The  building  committee  was  authorized  to  borrow  five  thousand 
dollars  for  the  erection  of  the  building.  Those  were  times  of  low  prices 
and  exorbitantly  high  rates  of  interest,  and  the  committee  subsequently  re- 
l)orted  that  it  could  borrow  only  one  thousand  dollars. 

In  November.  1856,  the  board  purchased  eight  acres  of  timljer  from 
Jesse  Hammer,  pacing  thirty-three  dollars  per  acre  therefor,  to  provide 
lumber  for  the  building.     The  plan  of  the  building  was  subsequently  altered 


132  JASPER    COUXTV,    IOWA. 

considerably,  the  wing:  biiildinji-s  beino-  omitted.  The  building-  finally  erected 
was  a  large  two-story  frame  building  constructed  principally  of  native  wood, 
finished  inside  with  black  walnut,  the  weather-boarding  also  being  of  walnut. 
The  floors  were  oak.  The  foundation  was  stone.  Its  exact  cost  can  not  now 
be  ascertained,  but  it  was  probably  between  six  thousand  and  ten  thousand 
dollars.  Prior  to  its  occupancy  for  educational  purposes,  the  school  occu- 
pied temporary  buildings,  one  of  which  was,  on  and  after  December  7,  1857, 
rented  to  the  board  of  directors  of  the  school  district  for  school  purposes, 
at  the  rental  of  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  month.  The  building  was 
afterwards  sold  to  the  district. 

On  Xovember  24,  1856,  a  death  having  occurred  in  the  neighborhood,, 
a  burial  ground  was  located  upon  the  lands  of  the  college  by  a  committee 
of  the  board  of  trustees  "in  view  of  locating  the  present  grave,"  and  the 
board  adopted  a  resolution  that  the  grounds  be  free  to  all  as  a  place  of 
burial.  The  burial  thus  located  is  within  the  present  Wittemberg  cemetery, 
comprising  two  acres.  On  October  20,  1858,  the  board  of  trustees  adopted  a 
resolution  for  the  transfer  of  the  burying  ground  to  the  trustees  of  the  Free 
Presbyterian   church  of  ^^'ittemberg. 

The  financial  panic  of  1857  bore  very  heavily  upon  the  corporation. 
The  school  continued  without  interruption,  but  very  little  progress  was 
made  upon  the  building.  On  March  4,  1857,  the  board  adopted  the  follow- 
ing  resolution : 

"Resolved,  ist.  That  we  recognize  in  our  present  embarrassed  condition 
as  a  board  and  the  causes  which  have  led  to  it.  the  plain  teachings  of  di- 
vine providence. 

"Resolved,  2d.  That  both  duty  and  interest  demand  that  we  should 
go  forward  in  the  erection  of  the  college  building  now  under  contract. 

"Resolved,  3d.  That  in  order  to  the  accomplishment  of  this-  end,  we 
feel  that  God  is  now  demanding  of  us  the  contribution  of  such  a  portion  of 
his  property  now  in  our  hands  as  will  put  this  enterprise  beyond  embarrass- 
ment." 

On  September  22,  1857,  a  public  dinner  was  held  at  the  college,  the  meat 
for  which  cost  the  institution  nine  dollars.  During  the  same  month,  the 
board  arranged  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Merrill  to  publish  The  W'ittcuiherg  Edu- 
cator, a  monthly  journal  devoted  to  the  cause  of  education  and  the  interest 
of  the  college  in  particular,  the  board  furnishing  the  press,  tvpe  and  room, 
and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Merrill  receiving  the  proceeds  of  the  publication.  Sarah 
Merrill,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Merrill  and  afterwards  wife  of  Rev. 
Charles  C.   TTarrab.  did  the  greater  part  of  the  work  upon  the  paper.      Tt 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  I33 

was  subsequently  puljlished  semi-monthly  under  the  name  of  Tlic  IVittem^ 
berg  ReTiciv.  How  long  the  publication  continued,  does  not  clearly  appear. 
However,  the  minutes  of  the  board  show  that  on  December  14.  1858,  it 
adopted  a  resolution  making  its  subse(|uent  meetings  private  and  directed 
the  publication  of  the  resolution  in  The  Ji'iffemberrj  Rez'iezv.  On  June  6, 
1859,  'i^  order  was  made  by  the  board  giving  Mr.  Merrill  the  use  of  the 
printing  press  and  twenty  dollars  worth  of  type  for  one  year.  In  November, 
1859,  the  board  refunded  to  !Mr.  Merrill  the  money  spent  by  him  in  issuing 
the  first  numbers  of  The   JVitt ember g  Reviezc. 

On  January  20,  i860,  the  board  voted  to  arrange  to  open  the  college 
school  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  the  following  May,  the  tuition  alone  being 
the  salary  of  the  teachers.  At  the  same  meeting  Rev.  Thomas  ]\Ierrill 
was  elected  president  of  the  college.  J.  R.  Crawford,  G.  T.  Poage  and 
Thomas  Merrill  were  appointed  a  committee  to  prepare  a  course  of  study, 
and  ^Ir.  Merrill  A\as  authorized  to  publish  a  circular  setting  forth  the  ad- 
vantages of  the  school.  However,  a  part  of  the  building  was  yet  unfinished. 
On  June  22,  1861,  the  board  submitted  to  the  Free  Presbyterian  church  of 
\\'ittemberg  a  proposition  to  grant  to  said  church  the  use  of  the  north  lower 
room  of  the  college  building  for  five  years  for  church  purposes,  provided  the 
church  would  furnish  the  materials  and  pro\  ide  the  labor  necessarv  for 
the  completion  of  the  room  in  the  manner  specified  in  the  proposition.  The 
proposition  was  accepted  and  the  room  was  used  for  the  purposes  designated 
throughout  the  full  term  specified. 

On  December  15,  1862,  the  board  of  trustees  invited  the  Wesleyan 
Methodist  general  conference  to  co-operate  in  sustaining  the  college.  Ten 
days  later  a  committee  from  the  conference  called  upon  the  board.  The 
conference  declined  to  consider  the  proposition  unless  the  joint  stock  sys- 
tem should  be  abandoned  and  the  institution  governed  entirely  by  a  close 
board.  All  negotiations  were  dropped.  During  the  next  four  years,  in 
spite  of  adverse  conditions  and  influences,  the  school  prospered,  the  attend- 
ance varying  from  forty  to  ninetv  pupils.  Tn  November,  1866,  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  consider  and  report  upon  the  advisability  of  transferring 
all  the  property  of  the  institution  to  a  responsible  person  who  would  agree  to 
maintain  the  school.  Nothing  was  accomplished  in  that  direction,  how- 
e\er,  until  ^May,  1867,  when  a  contract  was  made  with  Rev.  S.  A.  McLean, 
of  Washington  county.  Pennsylvania,  by  the  terms  of  which  he  advanced 
to  the  board  the  sum  of  two  thousand  dollars  in  cash,  and  agreed  to  con- 
duct in  the  college  building  for  four  years  a  school  furnishing  instruction 
in  all  branches  taught  in  first-class  academies,  the  board  agreeing  to  furnish 


1  ^4  JASPER    COL'XTV,    lOW  A. 

the  building  in  manner  specified  in  the  contract,  and,  at  the  end  of  the  four 
years,  to  pay  to  McLean  the  aggregate  sum  of  four  thousand  and  fifteen 
dollars,  the  college  property  to  be  security  for  such  payment. 

From  the  earliest  settlement  of  the  neighborhood  until  the  close  of 
the  Civil  war,  the  Free  I'resbyterian  church  maintained  a  strong  organiza- 
tion at  Wittemberg.  However,  \\hen  sla^•ery  had  ceased  to  exist  and  the 
war  was  closed  and  the  feeling  engendered  thereby  began  to  disappear,  the 
organization  dissolved,  one  element  returning  to  the  Presbyterian  church 
and  the  other  forming  the  Congregational  church  of  Wittemberg.  To  the 
church  last  named,  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  college  conveyed  a  building 
site  about  December  i,  1867.  The  Presbyterian  church  continued  to  occupy 
the  college  chapel  until  about   1869. 

On  May  i,  1868,  a  committee  of  the  board  made  written  report  recom- 
mending the  execution  of  a  new  agreement  with  S.  A.  McLean,  by  the 
terms  of  which  the  greater  i)art  of  the  college  property  was  to  be  trans- 
ferred to  ^IcLean,  he  to  cancel  all  claims  under  the  prior  agreement  and  to 
assume  certain  debts  and  to  maintain  a  school  in  the  college  building  for 
ten  years  from  and  after  January  1,  1868,  and,  at  the  expiration  of  the  ten 
years,  to  be  the  absolute  owner  of  the  property.  Other  terms  and  condi- 
tions were  included  in  the  contract.  A  resolution  authorizing  the  execution 
of  the  agreement  was  adopted  by  a  divided  vote  of  the  trustees.  The  agree- 
ment was  executed.  Mr.  McLean  died  in  the  early  part  of  1869.  His 
daughters,  Elizabeth  and  Anna,  conducted  the  school  some  years  after  his 
death.  In  the  meantime,  in  an  action  instituted  by  a  trustee  who  opposed 
the  execution  of  the  last  agreement  with  Mr.  McLean,  the  district  court  of 
Jasper  county  held  the  conveyance  of  the  property  void  and  gave  Mr.  Mc- 
Lean's representatixes  a  lien  thereon.  'i"he  lien  was  foreclosed,  but  re- 
dempti(jn  from  the  sale  was  not  made  and  tlie  title  to  all  the  property  passed 
to  AJr.   McLean's  heirs. 

Another  writer  remarked  about  tin's  educational  institution  that  "to 
complete  the  building  and  to  pay  the  (lel)ts,  Messrs.  Merrill,  Cary  and 
Crawford  pledged  one  thousand  dollars  each;  Mr.  King  fi\e  hundred  dol- 
lars; Mr.  Failor,  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars;  Mr.  Beatty,  one  hundred 
dollars.  The  money  was  raised  l)y  mortgaging  the  lands  of  those  named 
above  to  parties  in  the  E^st.  and  much  anxiety  was  experienced  by  all  of 
them  in  raising  the  money  afterward  to  clear  the  mortgages. 

"This  closed  the  history  of  the  school,  which  might,  otherwise,  have 
enjoyed  a  wide  reputation.  Howex'er,  much  good  was  done  iiere,  for  many 
young  men    found    facilities    for  education   here  that   tliev  might  ha\'e   failed 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  I35 

of,  and  a  num1)er  of  gentlemen  now  i)rominent  in  business  affairs  and 
other  pursuits  owe  their  education  to  Wittemburg.  The  school  was  quite 
successful  from  1857  to  1865.  the  usual  enrollment  of  pupils  being  from 
fifty  to   eighty." 

It  may  also  be  added  that,  socially,  this  institution  accomplished  much 
good  for  the  early  settlers  of  Jasper  county.  It  also  had  what  were  then 
very  new  and  advanced  notions  concerning  diet.  For  instance  thev  ( the 
founders)  did  not  eat  much  meat,  but  taught  that  a  pure  vegetable  diet  was 
the  proper  thing.  They  used  large  quantities  of  graham  flour  in  their  cook- 
ing. They  had  other  notions  which  would  not  ])e  popular  today  with  the 
masses,  but  on  the  whole  those  college  founders  were  men  and  women  of 
large  hearts,  active  brains  and  great  fortitude  and  integrity  of  purpose. 
They  certainly  left  their  imprint  on  the  community  in  which  they  settled 
and  finally  founded  ^^'ittemberg  College. 

LYNNVILLE    ACADEMY. 

Mainl\-  through  subscrii)ti()ns  raised  among  the  Friends'  society,  this 
institution  of  learning  was  founded  at  Lynnville  in  1866.  It  was  continued 
a  number  of  years,  but  owing  to  lack  of  boarding  places  the  school  waned 
and  finally  in  the  course  of  a  few  terms  closed  its  doors.  In  1871  arrange- 
ments were  perfected  with  the  public  school  district  by  which  the  building 
thev  had  erected  just  outside  of  town  aways  was  moved  to  the  village  and 
rented  to  the  district.  In  1875  the  b>iends  again  took  possession  of  the 
property,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  an  academic  course  was  opened  up, 
with  an  attendance  of  about  eighty-five  students,  which  number,  at  the  end 
of  the  fifth  week,  had  increased  to  one  hundred  and  thirty.  Prof.  W.  W. 
Gregg  and  N.  Rosenberger  were  the  teachers  at  the  beginning,  and  such 
was  the  rush  of  students  that  the  services  of  Miss  Cynthia  Macy  and  Miss 
Gregg  became  necessary.  After  about  one  year  of  such  prosperity.  Professor 
Gregg  left  the  school.  Another  principal,  from  Indiana,  taught  a  while 
and  then  the  school  ceased  to  be. 

The  building  was  a  frame  structure,  two  stories  high,  well  adapted  for 
school  work.     Later  the  building  became  a  part  of  the  Friends'  church. 

IIAZEI.  DELF.  ACADEAJV  AND  ITS  FOIXDKK.   t'KOF.   DAkllS    IlIOMAS. 

By   J.    H.    Fugard. 

This    institution    was    located    at    Xewton,    and    occupies    an    imi)ortant 

place  in  the  educational  history  of  Jasper  county.     It  was  a  private  school 

founded  bv  Prof.  Darius  Thomas,  A.  M.,  in  1856,  and  was  owned  and  con- 


]  :>(.  JASPKK    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

ducted  by  him  for  nearly  a  third  of  a  century.  He  then  disposed  of  it  to 
Prof.  G.  \\'.  Wormley.  a  former  pupil,  who  removed  it  to  a  new  location, 
and  changed  it  into  the  Xewton  Xornial  College. 

At  first  the  primary  as  well  as  the  higher  branches  were  taught.  But 
as  the  public  school  system  became  more  fully  de\eloped,  the  primary  branches 
w  ere  dropped,  and  the  academy  liecame  an  intermediate  step  between  the  com- 
mon school  and  the  college.  At  that  time  many  colleges  had  a  two-year  prepara- 
tory course  for  such  students  as  were  not  prepared  for  the  regular  college 
studies.  And  it  is  to  the  credit  of  Hazel  Dell  that  some  of  its  students  were 
able  to  pass  the  required  examination  and  enter  the  freshman  year.  And 
this,  too,  not  onlv  in  Western  colleges,  but  also  in  some  of  the  older  ones, 
such  as  Dartmouth,  Harvard  and  Pennsyhania.  At  that  time  commercial 
colleges  and  normal  schools  were  but  few  in  number,  and  none  nearby.  But 
this  want  was  here  met  by  courses  of  study  designed  to  fit  young  people  for 
business  or  for  teaching.  :^Iany  received  their  training  here,  and 
several  hundred  school  teachers  were  fitted  for  their  work.  More 
than  fifteen  hundred  students  attended  the  school  during  Professor 
Thomas'  administration.  .And.  as  a  large  numl)er  of  them  afterwards  taught 
in  this  countv,  it  can  safely  1)e  said  that,  directly  and  indirectly,  several 
tliousand  of  our  young  people  received  its  benefits. 

I  once  heard  the  veteran  educator.  C.  D.  Hipsley.  say  that  in  his  ex- 
])erience.  as  a  teacher  and  principal  of  the  Newton  schools  and  as  county 
su])erintendent.  he  had  found  that  the  teachers  who  came  from  this  school 
were  more  uniformly  successful  than  those  from  any  other  institution. 

The  school  existed  at  a  time  when  educational  advantages  were  limited 
in  central  Iowa,  when  times  were  strenuous  and  money  scarce.  And  its 
founder  made  it  possible  for  many  young  people  to  prepare  for  college,  or 
fit  themsehes  for  life's  work,  who  would  otherwise  have  lacked  the  op|X)r- 
tunitv  and  the  stimulus.  A  glance  at  our  early  history  will  make  this  more 
apparent. 

.\  large  proportion  of  the  pioneers  were  per.sons  of  intelligence  and 
character.  They  were  desirous  that  their  children  should  have  the  privileges 
whicli  they  had  enjoyed  in  their  former  homes.  But  they  were  handicapped 
b\-  lack  r)f  means.  Money  was  scarce  everywhere,  and  especially  in  the 
\\'^est.  where  people  had  little  to  sell,  and  lacked  manV  of  the  comforts  of 
life.  Some  of  their  efi^orts  to  secure  better  things  were  A-ery  feeble,  but 
were  steps  in  the  right  direction.  .\nd  we  ought  not  to  despise  the  (Ia\  of 
small  things.  For  to  these  efforts  we  are  largely  indebted  f(^r  the  ])resent 
more  ideal  conditions,   which  are  represented  by   the  church   and   the  school 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  1 37 

house  on  the  hill  and  no  saloon  in  the  valley.  An  incident  of  early  davs  will 
illustrate  this  thought.  I  once  read  the  minutes  of  a  school  meeting  that 
was  held  in  1854  at  the  home  of  Doctor  Turck.  where  John  Welle  now  lives 
in  Buena  Vista  township.  James  Wright  was  secretary  and  the  minutes 
were  quite  full  and  complete.  The  settlers  had  gathered  to  consider  the 
question  of  having  a  school  in  their  midst.  And  it  was  decided  to  have  one, 
and  to  make  application  for  money  to  hire  a  teacher.  Xo  public  funds  seem 
to  ha\e  been  available  for  .school-house  purposes,  and  so  thev  arranged  to 
build  one  themselves,  each  man  contributing  a  portion  of  the  material.  It 
was  of  rough  logs  with  a  clapboard  roof,  and  stood  just  ea.st  of  what  is 
now  the  Mt.  Zion  cemetery.  The  needless  luxury  of  a  floor  was  dispensed 
\\ith  for  the  first  year  or  two. 

And  this  school  house,  rude  as  it  seems,  was  quite  an  acquisition  to  the 
community,  and  was  used  for  several  years,  not  only  for  school  purposes, 
but  also  for  preaching  services  and  festive  gatherings.  And  the  religious 
work  begun  there  by  a  faithful  band  of  Christians,  has  been  carried  steadily 
and  successfully  forward,  and  is  now  the  prosperous  ^It.  Zion  ^Methodist 
church. 

The  door  of  the  old  school  house  had  wooden  hinges  and  a  wooden  latch. 
And  the  seats  were  rough  slabs  with  the  bark  side  down,  and  with  long 
wooden  pegs  for  legs. 

Ah,  those  blessed  old  slab  benches!  ^My  back  aches  even  now  as  T  re- 
call how  hard  it  was  for  the  little  folk  to  balance  themselves  on  them  all 
day  long,  with  nothing  to  lean  against,  and  not  able  to  reach  the  floor  with 
our  feet.  And  I  remember  how  I  envied  the  larger  scholars  who  could  sit 
on  the  bench  that  was  next  to  the  wall. 

And  yet  it  was  while  seated  there  that  some  of  us  learned  how  to  spell 
"l)aker"  and  '"shady"  and  the  other  hard  words  of  two  syllables  that  came 
after  them  in  Webster's  Elementary  Spelling  Book.  On  the  cover  of  the 
book  was  an  emblematic  picture  of  the  Temple  of  Fame,  on  the  top  of  the 
Hill  of  Knowledge.  But  the  sirles  of  the  hill  were  so  steep  that  no  little 
bov  would  think  of  ever  trying  to  reach  its  summit ;  unless,  perchance,  like 
Darius  Green,  he  could  hope  to  invent  .some  kind  of  a  flying  machine. 

But  poor  as  were  the  school  house  facilities  of  those  days,  a  greater 
educational  want  was  the  need  of  properly  trained  teachers.  At  the  one 
just  mentioned  no  school  was  held  the  first  winter  fbr  lack  of  a  teacher. 
And  some  of  the  men  who  taught  in  the  schools  during  those  years  were 
nearbv  farmers,  who  were  more  noted  for  their  muscle  than  for  their  wis- 
dom.    And  the  fact  that  thev  were  able  to  control  the  larger  bovs  mav  ha\e 


138  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

had  something  to  do  with  their  selection.  In  the  towns  the  conditions  were 
not  much  better. 

The  schools  were  held  in  small  and  over-crowded  buildings,  and  only 
the  rudimentary  branches  were  taught. 

Such  was  the  state  of  affairs  when  Mr.  Thomas,  a  quiet,  unassuming 
man.  came  here  from  the  state  of  Maryland  and  entered  on  his  life's  work, 
for  which  he  was  well  fitted,  both  by  nature  and  by  training.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  Jefferson  College,  Pennsyhania.  now  known  as  Washington  and 
Jefferson  College.  Newton  was  then  only  a  little  hamlet,  situated  on  the 
edge  of  a  wide  prairie  that  rolled  away  to  the  eastward  like  a  boundless 
sea.  To  the  west  and  north  was  an  almost  unbroken  forest,  miles  in  extent 
and  coming  to  within  a  block  or  two  of  the  business  part  of  town. 

He  selected  some  lots  three  blocks  north  of  the  square  where  Will 
Jasper  now  lives,  and  with  his  own  hands  erected  a  neat  school  house  there- 
on, and  hewed  a  road  to  it  through  the  dense  thickets  from  which  it  took 
its  name.  It  was  afterwards  enlarged  several  times,  until  it  was  made  to 
accommodate  a  hundred  or  more  pupils,  many  of  whom  roomed  in  the 
building. 

Ha\-ing  learned  in  his  }ounger  days  the  now  lost  art  of  cabinet  mak- 
ing, he  was  able  to  make  his  own  furniture ;  and  it  was  of  a  kind  that  did 
not  fall  to  pieces  with  the  first  season's  use. 

And  here  he  (juietly  carried  on  his  work  for  many  years,  brightening 
and  sweetening  the  li\es  of  others.  There  was  no  pomp  or  attempt  at  dis- 
play. X'o  students  were  solicited,  and  no  public  aid  was  ever  asked  for  or 
received.  These  things  seem  odd  to  us.  for  we  have  come  to  believe  that 
great  endowments  and  costly  buildings  are  a  necessary  part  of  brain  culture. 
And  we  can  hardl\-  rid  our  minds  of  the  idea  that  success  onl\-  comes  to  him 
who  most  loudly  toots  his  own  horn.  We  forget  that  modesty  is  occasionalh- 
rewarded,  and  that  the  public  sometimes  discovers  and  appreciates  real  merit. 

The  school  was  well  patronized  by  the  town.  l)ut  the  most  of  the  stu- 
dents came  from  the  country.  The  sturdy  l30\s  and  bonnie  girls  came  troop- 
ing in,  glad  to  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity  which  it  offered.  Only 
a  small  portion  of  them  would  have  been  able  to  go  away  to  a  distant  school 
or  college.  But  here,  at  their  very  doors,  they  found  an  opportunitv  at  a 
small  cost  to  obtain  the  instruction  which  they  desired.  And  some  of  them 
lived  near  enough  to  bring  a  sufficient  supply  of  their  mother's  cooking  to 
last  all  the  week. 

They  found  no  s])irit  of  caste  or  clannishness  to  appall  them,  and  soon 
ceased  to  be  mortified  about  their  plain  clothes  and  were  encouraged  to  do 


JASPER    COUNT V,    IOWA.  1 39 

their  best.  Many  of  ilieni  had  to  work  or  teach  a  part  of  the  year  in  order 
to  earn  enough  to  attend  the  rest  of  the  time.  And  tliose  who  felt  unable 
to  continue  their  studies  for  lack  of  means  often  received  helpful  suggestions 
from  their  teacher,  and  were  assured  that  their  tuition  could  remain  unpaid 
until  they  were  able  to  meet  it.  And  to  their  credit,  it  can  be  said  that  none 
of  them  ever  failed  to  meet  this  obligation. 

At  the  present  time  so  many  educational  institutions  number  their  stu- 
dents In-  hundreds  and  by  thousands,  and  we  are  apt  to  associate  successful 
instruction  ^\  ith  large  attendance.  We  forget  that  many  small  schools  and 
colleges  are  doing  a  grand  work,  and  that  many  able  men  are  from  in^^titu- 
tions  that  are  almost  unknown. 

In  a  small  school  the  student  is  usually  brought  into  closer  touch  with 
the  teacher,  and  had  ought  to  learn  from  him  to  l)e  a  I^etter  and  brighter 
man.  And  this  it  seems  to  me  is  the  best  part  of  the  teacher's  work,  to  so 
shape  and  mould  the  lives  of  their  pupils  that  they  may  become  a  blessing 
to  others. 

Professor  Thomas  had  the  faculty  of  being  able  to  make  an  impression 
for  good  on  the  character  as  well  as  the  minds  of  those  who  came  under  his 
instructions.  And  this  has  since  been  shown  by  their  well-ordered  lives. 
They  remember  the  exemplary  life,  the  words  of  admonition,  and  the  earn- 
est prayers  for  their  guidance ;  and  somehow  these  things  helped  make  them 
better  men  and  l^etter  women. 

It  is  pleasant  to  know  that  those  who  had  been  most  l>enefited  by  his 
services  did  not  wait  until  he  was  gone  to  express  their  appreciation.  But 
many  gladly  did  so  during  his  lifetime.  A  largely  attended  reunion  was  once 
held  at  the  fair  grounds,  with  a  good  program,  and  he  was  presented  with 
a  siher  service,  suitably  engraved,  as  a  token  of  his  pupil's  esteem. 

On  account  of  failing  health,  he  was  compelled  to  gi\e  up  his  loved 
work  in  1884,  and  seek  relief  in  a  milder  climate.  He  retained  a  warm  in- 
terest in  the  welfare  of  his  former  pupils,  and  kept  a  record  of  their  where- 
abouts.    And  one  of  his  greatest  delights  was  to  hear  of  their  success. 

He  pas.sed  away  on  the  17th  of  October.  1892.  at  his  home  in  Carthage, 
Missouri,  and  his  body  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Xewton  cemetery,  amid  the 
scenes  of  his  earlier  years,  and  among  the  people  that  he  loved. 

Trulv  he  was  a  high  type  of  manhood,  and  "Worthy  to  bear  without 
reproach  that  grand  old  name  of  Gentleman.*' 

In  the  preparation  of  the  foregoing  sketch  I  am  indebted  to  a  number 
of  former  students  and  others  who  have  given  me  facts  and  suggestions.  .\f- 
ter  havins:  consented  to  do  it.  I  shrank  from  the  task,  as  I  felt  that  it  was  a 


140  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

subject  worthy  of  some  one  who  could  do  it  better.  And  having  been  a  pu- 
pil, and  later  an  intimate  friend  of  ^Ir.  Thomas,  I  feared  that  it  might  be 
thought  that  1  had  unduly  magnified  the  importance  of  these  matters.  Hence 
mv  enquiries  of  others  in  regard  to  their  view  of  it.  And  1  have  been  sur- 
prised at  their  unanimity  of  opinion,  some  liaving  used  words  of  commenda- 
tion stronger  than  1  have  dared  to  do. 

As  it  was  intended  for  a  permanent  history,  I  felt  that  it  should  be 
done  bv  one  who  was  never  connected  with  the  school,  and  preferred  that 
Hon.  A.   K.  Campbell  should  do  it. 

He  had  been  familiar  with  its  history,  and  had  been  deeply  interested 
in  the  cause  of  education,  and  one  of  the  regents  of  the  State  University. 
But  he  insisted  that  I  should  do  it.  and  furnished  me  an  outline,  which  I 
ha\e  somewhat  closelv  followed  in  the  foregoing. 

A.  G.  Miller,  a  former  pupil,  who  has  been  for  many  years  an  efficient 
police  officer  in  Des  Moines  and  twice  chief  of  the  department,  makes  this 
suggestion:  That  the  people  of  this  count}'  would  do  themselves  a  credit 
to  erect  a  suital)le  memorial,  either  a  bronze  tablet  in  the  court  house,  or  a 
monument,  in  honor  of  this  useful  man. 

Another  student.  President  Hill  ?\1.  Bell,  of  Drake  Universit}',  writes 
in  api)reciative  words  of  the  school  and  its  teacher.  I  value  his  opinion  be- 
cause he  is  a  successful  instructor,  and  a  man  of  great  executive  ability,  and 
also  as  the  head  of  a  great  university  and  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Carnegie 
Pension  Fund  he  has  had  almost  une([ualed  opportunity  to  become  acquainted 
w  ith  educators  and  to  weigh  their  work  and  worth. 

I  can  not  better  close  than  by  gi\^ing  his  letter,  in  which  he  exjiresses  his 
views  in  a  few  terse  sentences.     It  is  as  follows: 

"Des  Moines^  Iowa,  June  3,  1911. 
"My  Dear  Mr.  Iniganl : 

"In  answer  to  your  letter  of  June  2d.  I  will  say  that  I  feel  that  Prof. 
Darius  Thomas  exercised  a  wonderfully  good  influence  upon  the  earlv  his- 
tory of  Jasper  county. 

"Hazel  Dell  Academy  will  long  be   rememljered  as  an  institution  that 
did  a  service  that  was  not  available  from  any  other  of  like  kind. 
"I  acknowledge  my  own  debt  to  Professor  Thomas. 
''He  was  an  excellent  teacher,  and  was  in  his  day  an  inspiration  to  many 
young  men   and   women. 

'A'ory  truly  yours, 

"Hill  M.  Bell." 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  I4I 


NEWTOX    NORMAL     COLLEGE. 


The  Xcuton  Xonnal  College  was  but  the  continuation  of  old  Hazel 
Dell  Academy.  G.  W.  W'ormley,  in  a  recent  article,  states  that  in  the  fall 
of  1884  he  was  a  student  in  the  Iowa  State  College  and  received  a  communi- 
cation from  Prof.  Darius  Thomas,  in  which  letter  the  latter  stated  that  he 
would  have  to  give  up  teaching  on  account  of  failing  health,  and  said :  'T  have 
chosen  vou  to  be  my  successor;  come  down  and  see  me;  I  want  to  sell  out  to 
you." 

Mr.  \\'ormley  graduated  that  autumn  as  a  civil  engineer,  a  field  of 
work  in  which  he  was  very  much  interested.  He  wrote  Professor  Thomas  that 
he  had  nothing-  with  which  to  purchase  his  school.  To  this  the  Professor 
replied,  "Come  down  and  see  me;  I  can  easily  manage  that  part." 

Here  was  an  event  that  was  to  entirely  change  the  life  plans  of  a  young 
man  for  the  better  or  worse,  who  can  say?  He  himself  is  unable  now  to 
tell. 

He  went,  and  the  result  was  he  returned  to  complete  the  few  remain- 
ing weeks  of  his  college  course,  the  owner  of  Hazel  Dell  Academy,  the  place 
where  he  had  taken  his  preparatory  work  for  college. 

Professor  Thomas  had  sold  his  school  to  ^^Ir.  W'ormley  on  time,  about 
the  only  way  he  could  sell  to  a  student  just  through  college.  Professor 
Wormley  has  told  how  Mr.  Thomas,  after  carrying  over  all  the  desk-books, 
records,  charts,  etc.,  belonging  to  the  school,  came  bringing  the  keys  and  the 
old  copy  of  the  Psalms  and  Xew  Testament  which  he  had  read  at  opening- 
exercises  for  so  many  years,  saying.  "This  also  belongs  to  you,  George.  I 
hope  you  will  not  fail  to  continue  its  use  in  the  school,"  and  the  answer  he 
received  seemed  to  satisfy  him. 

Grand  old  man — God  IMess  him.     Few  nobler  ever  lived! 

The  first  term  opened  with  an  attendance  of  seventy-five.  A  pretty  big 
undertaking  for  a  young  man  only  twenty-four  years  old,  but  he  taught 
them,  unaided  by  any  assistants,  and  seemingly  to  their  satisfaction. 

This  young  principal  must  have  been  rugged  to  some  degree  for  he  slept 
on  a  straw  tick  on  the  floor  in  an  upstairs  room  in  the  academy  all  winter. 
In  the  spring  of  1885  Mr.  Wormley  married  Mary  Ellen  Spencer,  daughter 
of  Henrv  M.  Spencer  and  wife,  of  iSletz. 

In  1886  he  built  an  addition  to  the  academy,  more  than  doubling  the 
size  of  the  building.  The  school  gained  in  attendance  and  the  second  year 
after  the  addition  was  finished  the  enrollment  reached  one  hundred  and 
fifteen.  Two  assistants  were  now  employed.  The  school  continued  to  pros- 
per for  nine  vears.  until  some  of  the  public-spirited  citizens  said  it  ought  to 


142  JASPER    COl-XTV.    IOWA. 

lia\e  a  l)ettt'r  ei|uipnient  and  a  more  favorable  location.  This  ag-itation  re- 
sulted in  the  1)uildino-  of  the  Xewton  Xormal  College.  This  was  done  on 
the  lot  sale  plan,  through  a  board  of  trustees,  and  was  made  possible  only 
through  the  influence  of  the  business  men  of  Newton  and  a  number  of  pub- 
lic-spirited  farmers. 

Xot  a  dollar  of  remuneration  was  ev«r  received  by  the  board  of  trustees 
for  their  services;  on  the  contrary,  they  contributed  personally  toward  the 
incidental  expenses  of  their  meetings. 

On  April  i-j .  1S93.  the  contract  was  let  to  Fehleisen  &  Coutts  for 
tweh'e  thousand,  one  hundred  dollars,  not  including  heating  and  plumbing. 
The  building  was  turned  over  to  Professor  W'ormley  in  the  month  of  No- 
vember. 1893.  The  amount  received  up  to  this  date  from  lot  sales  was  not 
sufficient  to  enable  the  trustees  to  settle  with  the  contractors,  accordingly 
they  had  to  secure  a  loan  of  three  thousand  dollars  on  the  college. 

This  mortgage  Professor  Wormley  assumed.  This,  with  two  thou- 
sand dollars  which  he  paid  for  a  heating  plant  to  a  firm  in  Oskaloosa.  with 
school  furniture,  curtains,  wells,  piano,  and  the  expenses  incurred  in  mov- 
ing and  remodeling  the  old  academy  l)uilding  to  be  used  as  a  dormitory,  put 
him  in  debt  six  thousand,  five  hundred  dollars,  all  of  which  he  paid  eight 
per  cent  interest  upon.  He  had  paid  for  Hazel  Dell  and  had  one  thousand 
dollars  in  the  bank  at  the  close  of  1892.  This  he  had  spent  in  purchasing 
lots,  so  he  was  compelled  to  l)orrow  the  entire  six  thousand,  five  hundred 
dollars  in  order  to  put  the  new  building  in  condition  to  open  for  school  the 
.winter  of  1893.  This  debt  he  paid  off  at  the  end  of  seven  years,  partly  by 
tuition,  and  partly  by  money  raised  from  the  sale  of  his  residence  (the 
old  D.  T.  ^liller  property)  and  the  academy  lots. 

The  new  school  was  maintained  from  1893  to  1906,  a  period  of  thirteen 
years.  Much  lasting  good  was  accomplished  in  this  period  among  the  stu- 
dents. This  institution  was  in  continuous  operation  for  a  period  of  fifty 
years,  beginning  in  1856  and  ending  in  1906.  Twenty-eight  years  of  the 
time  the  school  was  under  the  management  of  Prof.  Darius  Thomas  and 
twenty-two  years  under  Prof.  G.  W.  ^^^ormley. 

Beginning  almost  at  the  opening  of  the  new  school — the  Normal  Col- 
lege— changes  were  taking  place  in  our  jnil^lic  school  system,  \\hich  no  one 
could  have  foreseen  and  which  no  one  would  wish  to  prevent  had  they  fore- 
seen. These  changes  encroached  more  and  more  upon  the  field  fcjrmerly 
occupied  by  the  scln^ol,  imtil  five  years  ago  (1906)  Professor  Wormlev.  not 
satisfied  with  the  outlook,  sold  out  his  school  and  retired  to  a  farm  home 
near  Newton.  The  normal  college  building  is  now  occupied  bv  a  manu- 
facturing plant. 


CHAPTER    XL 


NEWSPAPER  PRESS  OE    FASPER   COIXTV. 


The  newspaper  press  of  the  land  today  exerts  a  more  potent  influence 
upon  the  world  than  even  the  pulpit  or  the  bar.  The  power  for  good  or 
evil  of  the  press  is  almost  unlimited.  The  shortcomings  of  the  politician 
are  made  known  through  the  columns  of  the  newspaper.  The  dark  deeds 
of  the  wicked  are  made  known  to  the  people  of  all  communities.  The  con- 
trolling influence  of  a  state  or  nation  is  its  press,  and  what  is  true  generally 
today  is  true  and  has  been  for  many  years  in  Jasper  countv. 

The  local  press  is  justly  considered  among  the  most  important  insti- 
tutions of  every  ^■illage,  town  and  city.  The  people  of  almost  all  communi- 
ties regard  their  special  newspaper  as  almost  invaluable  in  the  home,  the 
workshop  and  ofiice.  One  by  one  the  facts  for  news  items  are  collected  bv 
competent,  reliable  reporters :  the  printer  puts  them  into  cold  tvpe :  one  bv 
one  the  papers  are  rolled  forth  from  fast-moving  presses :  one  bv  one  these 
papers  are  gathered  and  bound  into  a  volume  of  invaluable  historical  infor- 
mation for  the  eyes  of  future  people.  The  bound  volumes  of  newspaper  files 
are  then  gleaned  by  the  local  historian  and  from  their  pages,  sometimes  very 
yellow  and  dusty  with  age,  come  forth  pages  of  history  worth  the  reading, 
which  had  it  not  been  thus  safely  preserved  would  forever  have  been  lost 
to  the  reading,  thinking  world.  The  people  of  each  town  and  county  naturally 
have  a  pride  in  their  own  publications.  The  local  press,  as  a  general  ^ule. 
reflects  the  business  enterprise,  the  moral  standing  and  the  religious  senti- 
ment of  the  community  in  which  it  is  published.  Judging  from  this  stand- 
ard, the  efforts  in  the  right  direction  in  Jasper  county  have  indeed  been  com- 
mendable. 

The  first  newspaper  in  the  county  was  the  Exf>rcss.   founded  in   1836. 

The  first  daily  was  started  by  Rodgers  &  Newell  in  1 861-2  and  con- 
tinued for  seven  months,  when  the  war  took  the  youthful  proprietors  into  an 
Iowa  regiment.  Xewell  was  killed  at  A^'icksburg.  Rodgers  is  now  assistant 
editor  on  the  Xczcfon  Record. 

The  latest  newspaper  venture  in  Jasper  county  is  the  socialistic  publi- 
cation established  bv  Dr.  Perry  Engle  of  Xewton.  It  is  a  small  monthly 
paper  devoted  to  political  and  economic  interests.  It  is  known  as  the  AVrc-- 
ton  Ethics.     It  is  parti v  home  and  partly  outside  make-up. 


144  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Among  the  earliest  journals  in  this  county,  of  which  hut  little  is  now 
known,  was  the  W'ittcuthcry  Educator,  jjuhlished  hy  the  faculty  of  the  Wit- 
temherg-  College,  mentioned  in  the  educational  chapter.  It  was  established 
in  1857  and  continued  a  few  years,  then  changed  its  nam€  to  the  Wittcm- 
bcrg  Rcz'iczv.  which  became  a  semi-monthly  instead  of  a  monthly,  as  had  been 
the  Educator. 

THE     NEWTON     NEWSPAPERS. 

In  order  to  give  a  correct  understanding  of  the  press  history  in  the  city 
of  Xewton  it  should  be  stated  that  the  history  of  several  of  the  newspapers 
here  are  mingled  one  with  the  other,  their  history  being  about  as  follows : 

The  first  real  newspaper  was  the  Express,  founded  in  1856  by  Besack 
&  Welker.  Welker  soon  withdrew  from  the  paper,  and  in  1857  F-  T.  Camp- 
bell purchased  an  interest,  and  a  little  later  Besack  disposed  of  his  remain- 
ing interest  to  A.  K.  Campbell,  about  which  date  the  name  was  changed  to 
Free  Press.  Campbell  Brothers  conducted  the  paper  till  1861.  when  F.  T. 
(Frank)  Campbell  left  his  interests  in  the  hands  of  his  brother  and  went  to 
the  front  as  a  Civil  war  Union  soldier.  On  his  return  he  engaged  in  the  news- 
paper business  at  JNIontezuma  until  1865,  when  he  returned  to  Newton  and 
published  the  Free  Press  until  1867,  when  he  sold  to  Patton  and  W.  A.  Camp- 
bell. They,  in  turn,  sold  to  \\'.  S.  Benham  in  1870,  and  he  continued  im- 
til  New  Year's  1877,  when  he  disposed  of  the  property  to  Sage  &  Robinson, 
which  firm  was  made  up  of  the  present  weather  bureau  director,  John  R. 
Sage,  of  Des  Moines,  and  Ralph  Robinson,  still  residing  at  his  old  home- 
stead in  Newton,  honored  and  respected  by  all  classes.  Air.  Robinson  was 
once  proprietor  of  the  Herald  at  Clarinda,  Page  county,  Iowa,  also  associ- 
ated at  Fairfield  with  that  pioneer  journalist  editor,  Junkin,  and  in  early 
life,  after  having  learned  his  trade  as  printer  in  Wheeling,  West  A^irginia, 
was  connected  with  the  \arious  papers  at  Pittsburg,  Pennsyhania.  After 
a  partnership  of  alx)ut  twelve  months.  Air.  Sage  had  a  banter  from  Robin- 
son to  buy  or  sell  for  cash,  and  Sage,  not  having  the  cash  at  his  command,  the 
property  passed  at  once  to  the  hands  of  Air.  Robinson,  who  conducted  it  as 
a  straight  out  and  out,  always  true-blue  Republican  organ,  and  his  \ears  of 
editorial  writing  on  this  publication,  which  name  was  changed  to  the  Journal, 
when  he  took  hold  of  it  alone,  have  numbered  thirty-three,  he  running  it  un- 
til 1910,  and  very  reluctantly  gave  it  up  on  account  of  failing  health.  He 
sold  to  F.  L.  Boy  don.  one  of  its  present  owners. 

ATr.  Robinson  put  in  the  first  power  press  in  Jasper  county,  and  had  one 
of  the  finest  plants — newspaper  and  job — in  Iowa  and  his  editorials  were 
copied  widely  among  all  Republican  papers  in  the  West. 


JASPER    COL'XTY,    IOWA.  145 

To  complete  the  history  of  the  Journal,  the  reader  will  please  note  the 
connection  it  finally  had  with  the  old  Banner  and  Headlight,  the  outline 
history  of  which  here   follows: 

In  1868.  J.  B.  Besack  decided  to  start  another  journal  in  Xewton.  he 
having  purchased  the  material  of  the  defunct  Banner,  a  Democratic  paper, 
of  short  duration.  He  called  his  new  venture  in  Newton  the  Republican,  but 
through  various  financial  causes  it  went  to  the  wall  and  fell  into  the  sheriff's 
hands  in  1874.  On  its  ruins  F.  T.  Campbell  and  T.  H.  Rodgers  established 
the  Headlight,  which  continued  to  shine  and  reflect  the  news  of  Jasper 
county  and  Newton  until  1877,  when  it  formed  a  union  with  the  Free  Press, 
and  the  j)reseiit  Xewton  JoiidiqI  arose  out  of  the  ashes  of  both. 

In  1 910  the  Daily  Journal  made  its  first  a])pearance  and  is  now  run  as 
such.     It  is  a  creditable  daily  and  well  circulated  in  the  community. 

The  Jasper  County  Independent  was  established  September  i,  1868,  by 
H.  A.  Hanson,  at  Newton.  Under  his  management  it  was.  however,  known 
as  the  Democratic  Sentiiiel.  Four  years  later  he  sold  to  Charles  A.  Clark, 
who  issued  his  first  paper  in  August.  1872.  He  changed  the  name  to  that 
of  the  Jasper  County  Independent.  It  was  ever  a  strong  Democratic  paper, 
ablv  edited  and  well  patronized.  In  1877  a  Campbell  power  press  was  made 
to  supersede  the  old  hand  press,  and  for  many  years  it  stood  as  one  of  the 
able  advocates  of  Democracy  in  Iowa. 

DAILY     NEWSPAPERS    OF     THE     COUNTY. 

The  first  dailv  newspaper  in  Jasper  county  was  established  in  the  winter 
of  1 861 -2  bv  two  striplings  of  boys,  yet  in  their  teens.  T.  M.  Rodgers  and 
Jackson  F.  Newell.  The  former  is  now  the  well-known  new  s])aper  man 
called  familiarly  "Tommy"  Rodgers.  and  the  latter  was  wounded  at  the 
fearful  siege  of  \'icksburg.  Mississippi.  ]^Iay  22,  1863.  and  died  from  the 
effects  June  ist.  that  year. 

These  two  youths  were  apprentices  on  the  Free  Press  of  Newton,  run  by 
the  Campbell  Brothers,  and  they  got  permission  of  these  gentlemen  to  work 
extra  time  and  get  out  a  four-column  daily  paper,  giving  the  important  Civil 
war  news,  as  the\-  had  arranged  to  secure  the  dispatches  from  the  first 
telegrapher  who  e\er  handled  the  keys  at  the  Newton  office.  C.  J.  Housel. 
He  took  them  as  they  passed  over  the  wires  to  the  w estern  cities.  The  1-ree 
Press  l^eing  a  weeklv  paper,  it  u.sed  some  of  this  war  news  matter  in  its  edi- 
tion. Thev  continued  to  conduct  this  daily,  which  had  a  large  circulation 
for  those  days,  until  .\ugust.  1862.  when  both  boys  enlisted  as  volunteers  in 
(10) 


I4^»  JASPER    COl'NTV,    IOWA. 

the  I'nion  cause  (See  War  chapter).  Had  it  not  l)een  for  that  war,  no  tell- 
in;^  what  their  career  might  have  lieen  by  this  time.  The  name  of  the  daily 
was  The  Xci^ion  Monitor.  They  were  at  a  loss  to  know  what  to  call  the 
publication  until  that  well-known  lady.  Mrs.  Nettie  Sanford-Chapin,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Skiff,  suggested  the  name  Monitor,  in  honor  of  the  gun- 
boat 1)\  that  name  that  liad  just  sunk  tlie  Rebel  "Merrimac."  It  was  greatly 
appreciated  by  the  patriotic  citizens  of  Jasper  county. 

The  next  daily  in  Xewton  was  that  run  by  the  Herald  ofifice  (see  Herald 
history).  In  passing,  it  should  be  added  that  the  daily  run  by  the  Herald 
oflfice  was  not  of  long  duration,  as  it  passed  to  the  hands  of  the  present  K'eiv- 
ton  Daily  News. 

The  Herald  dates  back  many  years  in  its  history.  First  the  lozua  Nia- 
tional,  a  Greenback  organ,  was  established  in  the  winter  of  1877-8  in  New- 
ton, and  in  1878  a  stock  company  was  formed.  com[X)sed  of  citizens  of  New- 
ton and  one  Charles  F.  Neal.  The  paper  appeared  February  ist,  with  Mr. 
Neal  as  its  editor.  Soon  J.  D.  Rickman  purchased  a  part  of  Neal's  interest 
and  the  paper  was  published  until  September  23d.  when  Neal  &  Rickman 
sold  their  stock  to  the  balance  of  the  company  and  in  1878  the  stockholders 
were:  Milton  Briggs.  J-  H.  F.  Balderson.  J.  C.  Cotrell,  C.  W.  Harcourt, 
George  Early.  Squire  Sims.  Perry  Engle,  M.  D.,  J.  R-  Clements.  Dr.  Miller, 
John  Meredith.  A.  T.  Hinshaw.  J.  R.  Mershon.  Rev.  T.  F.  Brown.  D.  N.  Mc- 
Cord.  Their  motto  was  ''Forward,  upward  and  onward,  and  while  we  so- 
licit the  indulgence  of  our  friends,  we  ask  no  favors  of  our  enemies."  Dr. 
Perrv  Engle  became  editor  and  changed  the  name  to  the  Newton  Herald.  Tt 
is  still  run  as  a  weekly  paper,  but  has  l)een  in  the  hands  of  many  persons  up 
to  the  ])resent  time.  It  was  run  by  Engle.  then  by  Engle  &  Son  and  they 
sold  to  Ci.  F.  Rinehart.  who  conducted  it  many  years  in  a  successful  man- 
ner, as  a  Democratic  organ.  Tn  Deceml)er.  TQ05.  he  sold  the  plant  to  J.  F. 
Robinson,  and  in  .\])ril,  1906.  he  sold  to  his  son.  L.  E.  Robinson,  and  in  Sep- 
tember of  that  year  he  sold  to  Air.  Rinehart,  who  had  previously  owned  it. 
Rinehart  conducted  it  initil  Noveml)er.  T906.  when  he  sold  it  to  M.  Bilder- 
back.  and  in  Januarw  i(>io.  he  sold  to  C.  F.  Ridings  and  he  in  turn  sold  in 
May,  1910.  to  J.  F.  Klein.  He  ran  it  till  July.  iqio.  when  he  sold  to  M. 
Miller,  and  he  in  October,  1910,  to  the  Herald  Company,  W.  M.  Ward,  edi- 
tor, as  it  is  still  published.  This  paper  has  cut  a  wide  swath  in  the  historv 
of  Newton  pa])ers.  Tt  is  still  one  of  the  leading  newspapers  in  J'lsper  countv. 
It  has  had  good  and  bad  men  at  the  helm.  l)nt  tlie  proi)ert\-  has  al\\a\"S  been 
valuable  and  found  a  warm  welcome  in  many  of  the  homes  of  this  countv. 
Its  numerous  changes  in  form  and  dress  are  of  not  so  much  historic  interest, 
as  its  policv  and  its  editorials. 


JASPER    COUXTV.    IOWA.  I47 

At  present  its  business  is  large,  including  its  subscription  list  and  ex- 
cellent job  department,  operated  through  the  medium  of  the  latest  appliances 
known  to  the  art. 

It  was  once  a  daily,  with  V.  L.  Boyden  as  editor,  and  under  the  editor- 
ship of  Perry  Engle  the  Herald  was  the  hrsi  paper  in  the  nation  to  advo- 
cate the  policy  of  "referendum,"  now  so  highly  popular. 

The  daily  was  sold  to  the  present    Nrzcfoii  Daily  Nez^s  office. 

The  Nczi'fon  Daily  Xczcs  was  established  in  1902.  as  a  separate  publi- 
cation, it  having  been  run  as  the  daily  edition  of  the  Newton  Herald  up  to 
that  time.  The  Nen-s  pulled  its  first  issue  as  a  daily  under  the  present  name, 
on  May  19.  1902.  James  R.  Rhoades  is  its  editor.  It  is  a  newsy,  public- 
spirited  publication,  greeting  hundreds  of  homes  each  week  dav  in  the  vear. 
Its  circulation  grew  rapidly  from  the  first  issue  under  the  present  able  man- 
agement. It  is  perhaps  one  of  Iowa's  best  dailies  for  a  town  of  the  size  in 
which  it  is  published.  Its  moral  tone  and  business  enterprise  is  indeed  praise- 
worthy. Its  present  form  is  a  seven-column  folio.  Its  mechanical  appear- 
ance is  up  to  date.  The  job  office  connected  therewith  is  fullv  abreast  with 
modern  printing.  It  is  set  up  by  means  of  the  first  linotype  in  the  citv.  See 
history  of  the  Herald  for  the  early  history  of  dailies  in  Xewton. 

The  Xezcton  Record  (weekly)  was  established  in  the  month  of  August. 
1894.  by  Blazer  &  W'hitham,  of  Aledo.  Illinois,  and  was  edited  bv  Homer  A. 
Galloway.  October  15,  1897.  it  was  purchased  by  L.  A.  Andrew,  who  con- 
ducted it  five  years,  but  had  many  an  enemy  and  sold  to  C.  A.  Marlin.  of 
Audubon.  Iowa,  and  he  in  turn  sold,  in  Fel)ruary.  1905.  to  W.  S.  Johnson  a 
one-half  interest.  In  1907  \Iy.  Johnson  purchased  the  entire  propertv  and 
still  conducts  the  paper  as  a  weekly.  It  has  always  espoused  the  Republican 
political  cause,  and  is  one  of  the  cleanest,  brightest  local  papers  in  this  section 
of  the  state.  Its  local  editor.  T.  ^I.  Rodgers,  has  long  been  connected  with 
the  press  of  the  town  and  he  makes  it  a  fine  family  newspaper,  because  of  his 
industry  and  wide  acquaintance  throughout  Jasi)er  county.  It  is  a  six-column 
quarto  paper,  run  on  a  Cottrel  power  press  operated  by  electric  motor  power 
for  the  last  five  years.  The  office  also  has  a  fine  job  plant,  including  a  Gordon 
and  a  two-revolution  cylinder  jobber.  Its  subscription  price  is  one  dollar  per 
year. 

NEWSPAPERS  AT  I.YNXVILLE. 

Lynn \i He  has  had  her  own  share  of  newspapers,  some  short-li\ed,  and 
.'^ome  longer.  The  history  of  the  press  at  this  point  in  1878  was  written  up 
as  follows  by  a  local  scribe : 

I 


148  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

The  LynuviUe  Gaccffc  was  established  as  a  six-coluiiTn  folio  newspaper, 
Xoveniber  26,  1868,  by  Evans  &  Arnold.  It  continued  six  months,  when 
Evans  collected  all  ad\ance  subscriptions  he  could  and  went  away  for  the 
enjoyment  of  the  money  thus  obtained,  while  Mr.  Arnold  was  left  to  settle 
up  the  affairs  of  the  oftice.  The  paper  was  soon  discontinued  and  Lynn- 
ville  was  paperless  until  September  16.  1876.  when  Mr.  Arnold  started  the 
lozca  Interior  Nczcs,  which  continued  until  June  i,  1878,  when  the  pro- 
prietor went  to  Kellog\i^  and  there  engaged  in  like  business. 

After  the  editor  of  the  Inferior  decided  to  remove  to  Kellogg,  the  town 
was  without  a  newspaper  for  a  time,  but  other  attempts  were  made  by  dif- 
ferent persons,  these  trials  only  ending  in  dismal  failures.  The  present 
spicy  newspaper,  the  LynnriUc  Star,  was  toimded  in  1900  and  is  ably  con- 
ducted by  Charles  W.  W'ildman.  who  is  the  mayor  of  the  town  and  the  ef- 
ficient postmaster,  as  well  as  an  insurance  and  realty  operator  of  the  place. 
This  paper  is  a  six-column  quarto,  partly  home  and  partly  foreign  print.  It 
is  published  each  Thiirsdav  and  its  yearly  subscription  price  is  one  dollar. 

THE    BAXTER     NEW     ERA. 

At  Baxter  there  was  a  paper  established  soon  after  the  building"  of  the 
railroad,  and  in  1882  it  was  founded  by  a  Mr.  Brown  and  known  as  the 
Baxter  Neics.  Jt  was  l>eing  conducted  in  1888  by  Will  Johnson,  who  sold 
to  C.  B.  Francisco  in  1892  and  after  two  years  he  sold  to  James  Brower. 
who  conducted  it  fourteen  months,  when  it  died.  Brower  then,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1895,  established  what  is  now  the  Nezc  Era.  which  he  sold  to  C.  B. 
Francisco,  Septeml^er  i.  1896.  and  he  in  turn  sold  to  the  present  publisher, 
Harry  Hazlett,  July  i,  1899.  The  present  outfit  is  good,  up  to  date,  and  in 
keeping  with  the  general  enterprise  of  the  town  of  Baxter.  Three  presses 
are  installed,  a  Campbell.  Peerless  and  Gordon  jobber.  The  N^ezv  Era  is 
always  Republican  and  an  organ  of  no  little  or  uncertain  influence.  The 
news,  all  the  news  and  not  afraid  of  printing  tlie  news  as  its  editor  finds  it, 
might  well  be  its  motto. 

COLEAX  JOURNALISM. 

The  hist(jr)-  of  newspapers  in  Colfax  is  somewhat  hartl  to  get  at,  for 
various  reasons,  among  these  the  fact  that  complete  files  have  not  been  pre- 
served from  the  founding  of  the  pioneer  papers. 

It  is  known  that  the  Coif  as  Reporter  was  founded  in  1876  bv  \\'.  B. 
Stearns.     This  was  ])iil)lishe(l  until  Xovember  of  that  vear.  when  it  was  sold 


JASPER    COUXTV,    IOWA.  149 

to  meet  the  debts  incurred  in  founding  it.  It  was  purchased  by  J.  W.  Jarna- 
gan,  and  on  January  4.  1878,  he  began  the  publication  of  the  Sentinel,  first 
a  six-cohnnn  folio,  and  later  a  five-coluntn  quarto. 

The  Colfax  Tribune  was  established  in  1893  ^^^  ^^  "o^^'  conducted  by 
C.  L.  Smith  as  an  independent  local  paper.  It  is  six-column  and  a  quarto, 
fifteen  by  thirty  inches  in  size.  It  is  run  on  a  power  press,  by  gasoline  power, 
and  is  issued  each  Thursday,  at  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per  year  in  advance. 

The  Colfax  Clipper  was  established  in  June,  1879.  by  H.  \\\  Robinson 
and  is  still  owned  and  operated  by  him.  It  is  a  six-column  quarto  paper,  run 
on  a  Campbell  press  by  gasoline  engine.  It  is  a  "stand-pat"'  Repuljlican 
organ,  four  pages  home  print  and  balance  ready  print. 

The  Clipper  succeeded  the  old  Colfax  Sentinel.  It  now  enjoys  a  liberal 
patronage  and  does  an  immense  amount  of  fine  job  work.  Its  plant  is 
equipped  with  the  latest  type  and  presses  for  the  speedy  and  artistic  execu- 
tion of  such  work  and  the  jobljers  are  busy  the  }"ear  round. 

The  Prairie  City  Xez^'S,  among  the  bright  newsful  papers  of  Jasper 
county,  has  come  down  through  the  following  changes  in  proprietors.  The 
following  was  written  of  the  newspaper  history  in  Prairie  City,  in  1878: 

'The  first  paper  published  in  Prairie  City  was  the  Gleaner  and  Herald, 
bv  lacob  Sanders,  in  1870.  which  only  survived  about  one  year. 

■'The  next  publication  was  the  Index,  established  by  McGinitie  &  Bart- 
lett.  in  1873.  After  a  short  time  Bartlett  sold  to  Col.  W.  Hammond,  who 
.soon  purchased  ]\lcGinitie's  interest.  After  a  short  career,  the  Colonel,  hav- 
ing other  business  affairs  of  more  importance  to  him.  ceased  the  publication 
of  the  paper. 

"The  next  paper  was  the  Xeivs,  established  by  H.  L.  McGinitie.  In 
1878  this  paper  was  described  as  a  six-column  folio.  Republican  in  politics 
and  had  a  good  business,  including  a  good  job  office. 

"A  Greenback  organ  was  published  at  this  town  in  1878,  but  in  August 
of  that  year  suspended." 

H.  L.  ;McGinitie  established  the  Nezvs  from  the  old  hulex  office,  and  he 
was  succeeded  by  B.  C.  \\'ard,  now  of  Des  ;Moines,  who  continued  six  or 
more  vears  and  gave  way  to  A.  A.  Thompson  and  he  in  turn  to  Hammack  & 
Allen,  who  sold  to  S.  M.  Robinson,  who  sold  to  Frank  L.  Woodard,  who  is 
now  engaged  in  the  general  insurance  business  at  Prairie  City.  He  con- 
ducted the  paper  from  October.  1891,  to  the  spring  of  1897  and  sold  to 
Robert  lones.  who  consolidated  with  the  Kodaek  T another  paper  of  the 
town)  and  it  was  then  known  as  the  News-Kodack.  The  next  change  was 
when  it  was  purchased  bv  E.  G.  Robison  and  changed  to  the  Prairie  City 


1  :^0  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

A^czi's.  After  some  time  he  sold  to  S.  B.  Patterson  and  he  to  D.  A.  ]McDon- 
ald.  who  sold  to  the  present  proprietor,  Al.  S.  Condon.  The  last  named  took 
possession  some  time  in  1910.  The  office  is  well  equipped  with  job  printing 
material  and  its  proprietor  seems  to  be  the  right  man  at  the  helm,  both  as  a 
local  editor  and  job  printer. 

MONROE  NEWSPAPER    HISTORY. 

At  Monroe,  the  first  newspaper  was  the  South-Side  Transcript,  estab- 
hshed  in  1872,  by  Leroy  W.  Alhim.  Imt  a  year  later  changed  the  name  to 
Monroe  Mirror.  The  founder  sold  the  material,  but  not  the  subscription  list, 
which  the  purchaser  had  overlooked  in  the  sale  contract.  Allum  continued 
the  Mirror  till  1877,  when  P.  St.  Clair  took  a  partnership  for  a  time,  but  re- 
tired in  four  months,  when  Mr.  Allum  took  full  control.  The  Transcript  and 
Mirror  worked  side  by  side  for  nine  months,  when  the  Transcript  ceased  to 
be  issued. 

In  the  month  of  April.  1877.  ^Messrs.  Betzer  &  Jarnigan  estal)lished  the 
Times,  which  survived  three  months  only.  Later  on,  the  Monitor,  a  little 
monthly,  was  started  by  Elder  J.  W.  Todd,  which  publication  was  changed  to 
the  Temperance  Reformer,  and  continued  three  months,  when  it  was  con- 
verted into  a  weekly  paper.     It  had  four  editors  within  a  dozen  weeks'  time. 

Mr.  Allum  was  in  control  until  October,  1880,  when  he  sold  the  office 
to  John  Vandermast,  the  present  owner  and  editor,  who  has  been  constantly 
in  the  editorial  harness  ever  since  that  autumnal  day  thirty-one  years  ago. 
At  three  different  dates  since  his  coming  to  INlonroe,  attempts  have  been 
made  to  run  a  newspaper  outside  of  his,  but  all  have  "gone  up  the  flume." 
The  list  is  the  Monroe  Leader,  by  L.  J.  Anderson,  who  stuck  to  it  three 
months;  the  second  attempt  was  the  Monroe  Reviezv,  by  a  Mr.  Booton,  and 
he  held  down  the  tripod  about  one  year.  Then  came  the  Pride  of  Monroe. 
by  C.  A.  Cox,  who  stuck  to  the  ship  for  about  two  months  and  since  then 
the  Mirror  has  been  the  only  reflector  of  the  local  news  for  the  town,  and  be 
it  said  that  it  is  a  good  newspaper,  run  in  a  modern  way,  by  a  man  who  un- 
derstands what  a  news  item  is  and  runs  it  down.  Long  may  its  pages  shine 
under  the  present  management. 

NEWSPAPERS   AT    KELT.OGG. 

At  Kellogg  the  first  paper  established  was  the  Reporter  in  ^^~^,.  Its 
founder  was  N.  C.  McBeth.  who  continued  until  1878,  when  he  abandoned 
the  field.     His  partner  for  a  short  time  was  M.  E.  Rudolph. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  I5I 

In  1878  the  K'fllogg  Post  was  established  by  B.  F.  Arnold,  during  the 
month  of  June.  It  was  a  bright,  newsy  Republican  local  paper.  At  first  it 
was  printed  on  material  and  presses  of  the  Interior  News  at  Lynnville.  Mr. 
Arnold  sold  the  Post  to  J.  R.  Chandler  and  he  in  turn  sold  to  J.  C.  Pratt,  who 
later  moved  the  plant  to  Perry,  Iowa. 

In  1876,  the  Iozlu  JVorkman  was  founded  at  Kellogg  by  J.  Madison 
Kirk.  This  was  the  organ  of  the  United  Workmen  in  Iowa.  It  had  a  very 
large  circulation  and  was  finally  removed  to  Davenport  in  the  spring  of  1878. 

The  Kellogg  Enterprise,  the  present  creditable  newspaper  of  the  town, 
was  founded  April  30,  1880,  by  J.  W.  Burke  and  W.  P.  Coutts,  who  were 
in  partnership  for  six  and  almost  a  half  years,  when  Mr.  Coutts  became  sole 
proprietor  and  for  all  these  thirty-one  years  has  been  connected  and  edited 
the  Enterprise.  At  first  it  was  a  five-column  quarto  and  was  printed  first  on 
a  Wells  job  press  of  an  ancient  type;  then  it  was  printed  from  a  Washington 
hand-press,  but  today  is  printed  on  a  Hoe  power  press  and  is  an  eight-column 
folio  in  form  and  size.  The  office  is  also  equipped  with  two  modern  style 
jobbers,  a  Star  and  a  Gordon  press.  The  power  press  was  installed  in  1902. 
The  Enterprise  has  missed  but  one  issue  in  thirty-one  years  and  then  on  ac- 
count of  changes  in  oftice  equipment  which  could  not  be  accomplished  in  one 
week.  The  editor  of  this  paper  is  a  true  citizen  of  his  town  and  county  and 
is  now  running  the  only  Democratic  sheet  in  the  eastern  part  of  his  county. 
He  is  an  able  writer  and  works  early  and  late,  year  in  and  year  out.  for  the 
upbuilding  of  Kellogg. 

The  Tribune  was  established  in  1889,  by  J.  W.  Burke,  who  conducted 
it  until  February,  1909,  but  the  plant  was  injured  by  the  great  fire  and  after 
running  it  a  few  months  longer  it  was  suspended.  Its  politics  was  Republi- 
can. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


RELIGIOUS    HISTORY    OF   THE    COUNTY. 


The  ])ioneer  band  who  first  settled  Iowa,  inchuh'n.2:  Jasper  county,  were 
not  all  devoted  Christians,  by  any  means,  but  it  should  be  recorded  that  many 
of  the  men  and  women  who  made  up  the  vanguard  of  true  civilization  here 
were  God-fearing-  persons,  who  in  some  one  of  the  older  ^Middle  or  Eastern 
states  had  been  identified  with  some  church  organization  and  did  not  leave 
their  devotion  and  religious  practices  when  they  departed  for  the  wilds  of 
"beyond  the  Mississippi  river."  On  the  contrary,  they  soon  gathered  in  pri- 
vate houses,  and  later  in  rude  log  buildings,  and  there  worshipped  the  only 
true  and  living  God.  as  they  had  done  in  the  land  of  their  nativity.  Building 
for  themselves  a  home  in  a  new  country  meant  more  than  to  acquire  a  large 
tract  of  cheap  government  land  and  to  erect  a  log  cabin  in  which  to  live  and 
rear  their  young.  It  meant  gaining  a  livelihood,  by  hard  work,  but  coupled 
with  this,  the  aim  was  to  properly  educate  the  mind  and  heart  of  the  on- 
coming generation  ])y  the  formation  of  school  districts  and  the  organization 
of  church  societies  which  carried  their  own  religious  conviction  into  practice. 
Erom  the  best  obtainable  evidence,  the  first  religious  service  in  Jasper  county 
was  in  the  fore  part  of  1844  at  the  house  of  Adam  Tool.  It  was  a  meeting- 
presided  over  by  a  young  Methodist  Episcopal  minister  whose  voice  sounded 
like  "one  crying  m  the  wilderness,"  and  he  was  gladly  listened  to  bv  the  few 
who  lived  within  four  or  five  miles  of  Tool's  Point.  The  historv  of  the 
^lethodist  church  at  Monroe,  found  within  this  cha])ter.  will  gi\e  the  historv 
of  this  starting  of  religious  .services  in  Jasper  county,  and  which  have  in- 
creased in  strength  and  good  works  until,  according  to  the  1905  state  census 
report,  Jasper  county  had  the  following  denominational  representation,  the 
list  showing  the  number  of  church  organizations  and  the  niembershi]^  of  the 
denomination  in  this  county : 

Bapti.st  (Regular),  three  congregations  and  a  total  membership  of  405. 

Catholic,  three  congregations,  350  members. 

Christian,  four  congregations  and  t,6oo  members. 

Congregational,  seven  churches,  886  members. 

Eree  Methodist,  one  society,  thirty  members. 

Friends  (Orthodox),  tw^o  meetings,  370  members. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  I53 

German  Baptist  Brethren,  one  society,  fifty  members. 

Lutheran  churches,  two,  members,  i88. 

Methodist  Episcopal,  nineteen  churches.   1.676  members. 

Methodist  (African),  one  with  a  membership  of  16. 

Presbyterians,  three  churches,  219  members. 

United  Presbyterians,  three  churches.  247  members. 

United  Brethren  churches,  two,  membership,  100. 

Total  number  churches,  fifty:  total  number  of  members,  in  all  churches 
in  the  county,  5,664:  total  value  of  churches  and  parsonages  in  countv.  $27,"/,- 
500. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  summer  of  1844.  while  on  his  way  to  get  some 
supplies  for  his  household,  Adam  Tool  met  a  stranger  who  proved  to  be  a 
young  ^Methodist  preacher,  sent  out  to  establish  a  circuit.  He  met  Mr.  Tool 
on  the  open  prairie  and  on  horseback.  He  was  invited  to  make  Tool's  place 
a  stopping  place  and  a  preaching  point  in  the  new  settlement.  In  1845  ^^^'O 
ministers  were  sent  in.  Their  circuit  took  in  the  old  Agency  City,  and  Tool's 
Point  circuit  was  seventy-five  miles  long.  In  1846  the  work  changed  so  that 
it  extended  northwest  to  connect  Tool's  Point  with  Coon  Mission,  extending 
to  where  Boonsboro  was  later  located,  then  across  the  Des  ^loines  river  and 
the  Coon  river  at  Fort  Des  ^Moines,  then  down  the  Three  River  country. 
With  so  many  unbridged  streams,  fording  was  a  frequent  occurrence,  and 
the  early  circuit  rider's  life  was  anything  but  a  "flowery  bed  of  ease." 

The  first  Sunday  school  was  established  in  1844  just  over  the  Marion 
county  line,  but  attended  by  the  settlers  of  Jasper  county. 

The  first  church  organization  of  Jasper  county  was  perfected  in  the 
winter  of  1846-7  by  J.  A.  Hammond.  E.  R.  Wright  was  soon  made  class 
leader,  the  society  being  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  faith. 

The  third  societv  was  formed  in  1848.  made  up  of  diflferent  denomina- 
tions, but  mostly  of  the  Baptist  faith.  Preaching  was  had  at  Hartwell  Hayes* 
place. 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCHES. 

At  ^Monroe  the  first  religious  denomination  was  formed  in  Jasper  county. 
It  was.  as  has  so  many  times  been  the  case,  given  to  the  ^Methodist  people  to 
first  set  up  the  cross  of  Christ  in  this  new  country  at  a  time  when  the  red 
man  had  just  alx)ut  given  his  last  farewell  to  the  country  and  a  few  settlers 
had  set  their  claim  stakes  and  built  their  rude  log  cabins. 


1  :;_^  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1844.  Adam  M.  Tool,  while  going  to  mill  at 
Brighton,  chanced  to  fall  in  with  a  young  ]\Iethodist  preacher,  who  asked  him 
if  he  helieved  the  people  in  his  little  neighborhood  would  like  to  have  him 
come  in  and  preach  for  them.  Mr.  Tool  replied  he  thought  they  would.  This 
young  man  of  God  was  Rev.  J.  W.  Johnson,  who  soon  came  to  the  settlement 
and  preached  at  Mr.  Tool's  house.  Soon  afterwards  a  class  was  organized, 
the  same  consisting  of  Mrs.  Susan  A.  Tool,  Washington  Fleenor  and  wife, 
and  David  Worth  and  wife. 

Later  in  the  same  season,  a  two  days'  meeting  was  held,  when  James  A. 
Tool  and  his  sister,  Airs.  Hill  united  with  the  class.  The  membership  re- 
mained stationary  then  until  the  winter  of  1849-50,  during  which  season  a 
revival  was  held,  probably  in  charge  of  Rev.  J.  Q.  Hammond,  when  the 
membership  was  increased  to  si.xteen,  a  part  being  by  letter.  It  is  know-n 
that  Revs.  Gibson  and  Hanson  had  preached  the  Word  in  1846-7,  and  Rev. 
Raynor  and  Rev.  Kirkpatrick  during  1848.  The  revival  was  held  at  the 
school  house. 

The  first  church  building  was  a  frame  building,  erected  in  1856;  it  was 
homely,  but  very  comfortable  for  those  early  times.  In  size  it  was  thirty  by 
fortv  feet,  and  cost  about  one  thousand  seven  hundred  dollars.  By  that  date 
the  church  membership  had  increased  to  about  seventy-five. 

In  1874  another  church  was  built.  This  was  a  frame  structure  forty  by 
sixty-four  feet,  with  a  vestibule  and  bell  tower.  Its  cost  was  five  thousand 
dollars.  In  1878  this  church  was  still  doing  good  service  and  the  church  had 
a  membership  of  three  hundred  and  twenty. 

The  following  have  served  as  pastors  in  this  church,  with  possibly  a  few- 
others  whose  names  have  not  been  inscribed  on  the  record  books:  Revs.  J. 
Q.  Hammond,  Gibson,  K5rkpatrick.  Michael  Seay,  1850;  Rev.  Pierce,  1851; 
Joseph  Hall.  1853;  J.  B.  Allender,  1854-5;  E.  M.  H.  Fleming  and  Rev.  Gard- 
ner in  1856;  A.  Coleman,  1857;  Bussey,  1858;  E.  Wood,  1859;  A.  Lauback, 
i860;  C.  W.  Shaw,  1862-3;  B.  Holland,  1864-5;  Early,  1866;  F.  :M.  Slusser, 
1867-69;  George  Clammer,  1870;  T.  McKay  Stuart,  1870-73;  D.  Mclntyre, 
1874;  P.  St.  Clair,  1875;  ^^^'-  Brown,  1876.  From  that  date  to  the  present 
the  following,  among  others,  have  served :  Revs.  Brown,  Clammer,  Murphy, 
Durfey,  Heaton,  Stahl,  September,  1893  to  1896;  R.  W.  Smith,  1896-98;  A. 
V.  Knepper,  1898  to  1902;  D.  M.  Hilmich,  1898-02;  J.  A.  Ross,  1902  to 
1904;  A.  E.  Foutch,  1904  to  1906;  J.  C.  Pike,  1906-1909;  Charles  P.  John- 
son, 1909  to  date. 


JASPER    COUXTV,    IOWA.  1 55 

THE    NKWTOX    METHODIST    CHURCH. 

The  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Newton  was  organized  in 
1848  by  a  Httle  class  which  had  been  collected  by  Rev.  Strange  Brooks. 
Among-  the  original  members  were  Willis  Green  and  wife  and  their  two 
daughters.  E.  Shipley  and  wife,  James  Pearson  and  wife,  Thomas  Pearson 
and  wife.     Willis  Green  was  the  first  class-leader. 

In  the  winter  of  1858-9  a  union  revival  service  was  held  at  the  old  court 
house,  which  was  conducted  by  Rev.  Thomas  Merrill,  and  Rev.  Bartlett, 
Congregationalists,  Rev.  Fleming,  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  Rev.  ^Ir. 
Steel,  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  After  the  new  converts  had  chosen  their 
own  church  home,  it  was  found  that  eighteen  had  united  with  the  Methodist 
society. 

The  first  church  edifice  for  this  society  was  erected  in  1856-7  and  cost 
two  thousand  dollars.  It  was  thirty  by  fifty  feet.  Later  a  good  bell  was 
added  to  the  property. 

The  records  show  that  in  1877  there  were  two  hundred  and  ten  mem- 
bers in  good  standing,  which  has  increased  with  the  passing  years  to  seven 
hundred  and  twenty-five. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  not  quite  clear  during  the  first  few  years,  but  it  is 
certain  that  the  following  is  not  far  from  a  complete  list,  beginning  at  1854: 
Revs.  Parker,  Hiles,  Petefish.  Flemming,  Carrier,  Shaefer.  Hestwood,  \\'in- 
nings,  Shaw,  Brown,  Harris,  Busby,  Reynolds,  Shriner,  Evans  (in  1878), 
W.  G.  Thorn,  R.  A.  Carimine,  J.  A.  Boatman,  J.  G.  Barton.  I.  O.  Kimble. 
G.  M.  Tuttle,  E.  L.  Shriner,  J.  W.  Lewis,  E.  C.  Brooks,  C.  V.  Cowan,  J-  C. 
Willits,  J.  \\'.  Hackley,  O.  S.  Baker,  W.  P.  Stoddard,  W.  H.  Perdew. 

The  present  value  of  the  church  property  of  this  society  is  twenty  thou- 
sand dollars.  Of  the  various  building  operations  it  should  be  stated  that  in 
1 88 1  the  present  church  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  fourteen  thousand  dollars. 
It  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1885,  caused  by  a  poor  furnace.  It  was  rebuilt 
the  same  vear  at  a  cost  made  up  largely  from  insurance  money  received. 
In  1898  an  addition  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  five  thousand  dollars,  making  it 
almost  as  large  again. 

The  increasing  membership  necessitates  a  new  and  larger  building,  and 
in  the  spring  of  191 1  the  trustees  were  instructed  to  secure  subscriptions, 
plans,  etc..  with  the  view  of  erecting  a  larger  edifice,  which  will  doubtless 
be  carried  forward  in  the  near  future.  Great  is  the  contrast  in  Xewton 
Methodism  between  these  days  and  those  early  times  of  which  the  county 
record  books  speak  as  follows : 


1-6  JASl'ER    COrXTV.    IOWA. 

••Ordered,  that  the  trustees  of  the  parsonaiie  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
mission  church  have  a  deed  granted  to  them  for  lot  No.  8.  block  No.  25." 
(Dated  July,  1851.  and  signed  by  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners.) 

tool's   chapel METHODIST. 

[The  following  is  from  the  hfty-sixtli  anniversary  of  this  church's  his- 
tor\ .  compiled  in  a  neat  booklet  and  is  worthy  of  reproducing,  it  relating  to 
earlv  Methodism  in  Jasper  county. — Editor.] 

The  earlv  history  of  the  Methodist  circuit  rider  and  the  development  of 
this  country  run  side  by  side.  With  the  foundation  of  this  government 
Methodism  came  on  the  scene,  and  as  rapidly  as  the  boundary  was  pushed 
westward,  and  in  some  instances  before,  the  friendly  face  of  the  Methodist 
circuit  rider  was  seen  in  his  work  of  spreading  the  gospel  of  Jesus  of 
Niazareth. 


The  first  religious  service  held  in  this  section  was  in  the  home  of  Brother 
Tool,  in  1849.  in  a  ten-by-twelve  log  house  that  stood  where  now  stands  the 
home  of  Austin  Sheeler.  During  this  year  a  camp-meeting  was  held  by  the 
big  spring,  a  half  mile  north  of  Draper,  by  Re^•.  Mr.  Parker,  a  supply  on  the 
Monroe  mission. 

The  work  continued  until  December,  1853,  when  a  class  was  organized 
called  ''Tool's  Class,"  R.  B.  Allender  being  the  preacher  in  charge  and  John 
Hayden,  presiding  elder,  with  James  A.  Tool  as  class  leader.  The  members 
at  that  date  were :  James  A.  Tool,  Mrs.  S.  Tool,  Allen  McDannel,  Louis 
Wright  (later  Mrs.  J.  H.  Woody),  Mrs.  Elizal^eth  Miller,  Mrs.  Mary  F. 
Franklin,  William  Burns,  Mrs.  Amelia  Burns.  Mrs.  Mahala  Romans,  Mrs. 
Sarah  Rater.  In  the  old  class-1x)ok  is  still  to  be  seen  this  inscription :  ''Re- 
member the  Friday  preceding  each  quarterly  conference,  as  a  day  of  fasting 
and  praver.  for  the  prosperity  of  Zion  in  our  midst." 


A  church  was  erected  in  1866.  under  the  direction  of  the  pastor.  Rev. 
I.  O.  Kemble.  This  was  after  another  great  camp-meeting  by  the  old  spring- 
just  mentioned.  J.  A.  Tool  gave  the  site  for  the  building  and  soon  a  neat 
chapel  was  erected,  twenty-six  by  thirty-six  feet,  costing  one  thousand  four 
hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars,  dedicated  in  1867.     Tt  was  named  "Tool's 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  137 

Chapel"  l)v  the  pastor,  Rev.  Kemble.  In  1899  it  was  remodeled  and  rededi- 
cated.  and  was  re-seated  in  1904. 

The  record  of  pastors  shows  the  followin,t^  array  since  that  pioneer 
commencement  in  1853.  given  in  the  order  in  which  they  served:     Revs.  R. 

B.  .\llender,  Eli  Fleming,  Austin  Coleman,  Amos  Bussy,  Enoch  Wood,  A. 
Eauback,  C.  Shaw.  B.  Holland,  E  O.  Kemble,  Horton,  Worden,  Carrier, 
Kino-.  Armstead.  1".  J.  Meyers,  Eli  Sampson,  IJ.  B.  Smith,  A.  Kershaw.  A. 
Shaffer,  A.  J.  Belknap.  Cook,  J.  Butler.  Slusser,  E.  Hartley,  C.  V.  Cowan, 
S.  Hestwood,  Brown,  J.  Clulow.  C  P.  Van  Wye,  ^E  S.  Stryker.  G.  "^^oun- 
kin,  P.  B.  Davison,  ^^^  H.  Gifford,  Will  Hughes,  E.  E.  Doud,  D.  S.  Dunla- 
vey.  D.  F.  Stiles,  W.  H.  Jones,  W.  E.  Fry,  H.  C.  Millice,  F.  S.  Seeds. 

IRA    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Tra  was  organized  in  1S89,  l>y  the 
following  members:  W.  E.  Rippey.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eli  Cross,  James  Poul- 
son.  James  Cross.  Mrs.  Mary  Crawford,  Mrs.  Zimmerman.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Doctor  Goodman.  Mrs.  Roberts.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Baker,  Mrs.  Colwell. 

The  church  now  has  a  membership  of  eighty  in  good  standing.  The 
church  edifice,  thirtv  bv  forty  feet,  cost  three  thousand  dollars,  and  was 
erected  of  wooden  material. 

The  pastors  have  been  Revs.  Patterson,  Raymond.  T.  A.  Eami)Son, 
Frank  Ewan,  E.  C.  Hackathorn,  M.  A.  Wright.  William  Blood,  Bartholo, 

C.  C.  Wilkins.  W.  D.  Price,  Charles  Knoll,  W^  \\'.  Williams. 

VALERIA    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

Methodism  at  Valeria  was  established  in  1890  and  now  the  church  has 
a  membership  of  twenty-eight.  The  first  members  were  Mrs.  Henninger,  of 
Bondurant;  Mrs.  Mary  Henninger.  ]\Irs.  Maria  Eawrence,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Poling. 

.\  church  building  was  erected  thirty  by  forty  feet,  at  a  cost  of  two 
thousand  dollars.  AA'hen  the  great  Valeria  cyclone  passed  through  the  county 
in  May,  1896.  this  building  was  removed  four  feet  from  its  foundation.  The 
list  of  pastors  have  been  the  same  as  found  in  the  lu'story  of  the  church  at  Tra. 

MIXGO   METIIODI.ST  EPISCOPAL  ClfURCH. 

At  Mingo  the  Methodist  church  was  estal)lished  in  1887  and  now  has  a 
membership  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-four.  The  congregation  now  worships 
in  a  five  thousand  dollar  edifice.     The  pastors  serving  here  are  the  same  as 


158  JASPKK    fOlXTV,    IOWA. 

those  given  in  tlie  Ira  church  history.  The  charter  members  of  the  Alingo 
church  were  as  follows:  Robert  Boyd  and  wife.  John  Penquite,  Mrs.  John 
Penquite.  Mrs.  John  Boyd.  \\'.  A.  W'itmer.  Mrs.  W.  J.  Southern,  Mrs.  Fred 
Wiles,  Eli  Boyd.  :\Irs.  Eli  Boyd.  Mrs.  Fred  Utiles.  Mrs.  Abe  Penquite. 

KKLI-OGG    METHODIST    KPISCOP.VL    CHURCH. 

This  church  was  organized  in  1866.  For  some  time,  in  the  early  history 
of  Kellogg.  Sunday  school  was  held  in  a  passenger  coach,  this  being  the  end 
of  the  Rock  Island  road  at  that  time.  UpcMi  the  erection  of  a  school  house 
(  bv  a  stock  company)  the  school  was  transferred  to  that  building  and  all  de- 
nominations used  it  as  a  church.  The  present  church  building  is  a  frame 
structure,  thirty-two  by  fifty  feet,  erected  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  R.  J. 
Kenyon.  in  1870.  In  June.  1870.  during  the  erection  of  the  building,  a  storm 
struck  it  with  such  force  that  it  had  to  be  partly  rebuilt.  The  record  shows 
that  among  tlie  first  members  were:  William  \"aughan  and  wife.  Mehnda 
and  Elijah  Cowles.  Mrs.  Mary  Cowles  and  daughter  Elizabeth  united  on 
probation  at  the  same  time.  The  earliest  preaching  was  by  Rev.  Mr.  Moore, 
of  the  Grinnell  circuit.  Other  members  of  about  that  date  were  Almira  Bron- 
son.  John  Bronson.  Clark  Florer.  Mrs.  Hannah  Florer,  Martin  Schoffner. 
Rel)ecca  Schoffner.  J.  E.  Fisher.  ]\Irs.  ^l.  E.  Fisher.  W.  J.  Hagwood.  Mrs. 
Betsa  Hagwood.  Mrs.  Mira  J.  Stanley,  S.  C.  Beeleney.  ]Mrs.  Sarah  Beeleney, 
Phil  Shoemaker.  Helen  Shoemaker,  Amanda  Mirely.  John  E.  Auten.  Sarah 
.\uten.  Mr.  and  ^^Irs.  Hyatt.  Marion  Monett.  Maggie  IMonett.  Mrs.  Thomas 
W'ingate.  Joel  Dunton.  Mary  Dunton,  D.  S.  McCoun,  Retta  AlcCoun.  The 
present  membership  is  forty-three. 

\\'hat  is  styled  the  Kellogg  circuit  was  formed  in  1866.  and  consisted  of 
Kellogg.  Lynnville,  Rushville.  Rock  Creek  and  Pleasant  View.  Rev.  B.  F. 
Wright  was  assigned  to  the  charge.  The  following  have  served  as  pastors : 
Revs.  Rankin,  Moore.  1867;  C.  W.  S.  Shaw.  1868-9;  R-  J-  Kenyon,  1870-1-2: 
J.  M.  Coats,  1873-4:  Cyrus  Morey,  1875-6:  C.  P.  Reynolds,  1877-8-9:  B.  F. 
Share,  1880-1-2;  John  Potter.  1883;  O.  C.  Shelton,  1884:  R.  A.  Allison, 
1885:  G.  W.  Younkin,  1886;  James  Cleeclow.  1887:  A.  \Y.  Haines.  1888- 
9-90;  C.  W.  Shephard.  1892-3-4;  M.  A.  Aleagher,  1895;  Isaac  Borts,  1896- 
7:  D.  R.  Martin,  1898-9-1900:  H.  F.  Robin.son.  1901-02:  A.  J.  Bruner  and 
L.  A.  Crull.  1903;  L.  A.  Crull,  1904-5:  H.  W.  Munster,  1906;  Richard 
Breeden,  two  months;  J.  .\.  Murray.  1907-8;  Ireland.  1909:  H.  C.  Millice, 
1910-11.  The  church  cost  two  thousand  se\en  hun(b-cd  dollars  and  the  par- 
sonage six  hundred  dollars. 


JASPER    COUXTV,    IOWA.  1 59 

RUSIIVILLE    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

The  Rushville  church  of  this  denomination  was  organized  April  25, 
1855.  ^y  i^ev.  J.  D.  Hiles,  and  had  for  its  original  class  Robert  W.  Wilson 
and  wife  and  their  daughters,  Frances,  Charlotte  and  Irene;  William  Morrow 
and  wife.  Margaret,  and  daughter.  Mary  Ann;  John  Oldfield  and  wife.  R. 
A\'.  Wilson  being  the  first  class  leader.  The  membership  in  April,  191 1.  is 
thirty- four  and  three  probationers. 

The  pastors  have  been  Revs.  J.  D.  Hiles,  1855;  William  Clearage.  1856; 

A.  H.  Murphy.  1857-8;  A.  H.  Shafer.  1859-60;  George  Clammor.  1863-4-5; 

B.  F.  Wright.  1866;  Rev.  Moore.  1867;  C.  W.  Shaw,  1868-9;  R.  J.  Kenyon, 
1870-1-2;  J.  M.  Coats.  1873-4;  Cyrus  Morey.  1875-6;  C.  P.  Reynolds.  1877- 
8-9;  B.  F.  Shane,  1880-1-2;  John  Potter.  1883;  O.  C.  Shelton.  1884;  R.  A. 
Allison,  1885;  G.  W.  Younkin,  1886;  James  Clulow.  1887;  A.  W.  Haines, 
1888-9.  1899-91;  C.  W.  Shephard.  1892-3-4;  M.  A.  Meagher,  1895;  Isaac 
Borts.  1896-7;  D.  R.  Martin.  1898-9;  H.  F.  Robinson.  1901-02;  A.  J.  Bruner, 
1903 ;  L.  A.  Crull.  1904-5  ;  H.  W.  Munster.  1906  (ten  months  and  R.  Breeden 
two  months)  ;  J.  A.  Murray.  1907-8;  W.  B.  Ireland.  H.  C.  Millice.  1910-11. 

Services  were  first  held  in  a  log  school  house  fourteen  by  sixteen  feet, 
then  a  frame  school  building  was  used  until  the  present  church  was  erected 
in  1885.  This  building  is  twenty-eight  by  fort}'  feet,  a  frame  structure,  and 
cost  one  thousand  two  hundred  dollars.  It  was  dedicated  during  the  pas- 
torate of  Rev.  G.  W.  Younkin,  l)y  Rev.  J.  T.  McFarland.  It  was  dedicated 
free  of  deht. 

MOl'XT    PLEASAXT     METHODIST    CHURCH. 

This  church,  located  three  miles  southwest  of  Xewburg.  was  built  in 
1 871;.  at  a  cost  of  one  thousand  three  hundred  dollars.  The  stone  used  were 
hauled  about  tw enty  miles  and  one  team  w as  lost  by  overheating  in  this  work. 
Anions  those  who  labored  hard  for  the  building  of  this  edifice  were  Tohn 
Breedon,  Calvin  Dickson  and  Aaron  Moxley.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  C. 
P.  Revnolds.  whose  class  had  thirty-five  meml)ers.  This  church  is  a  neat 
frame  building. 

The  pastors  have  been:  Revs.  C.  P.  Reynolds.  1879;  B.  F.  Shane, 
1880-1-2;  John  Potter,  1883;  J.  Craig.  1885;  S.  F.  Bishop,  A.  S.  Loveall. 
1886-7;  A.  \\'.  Haines.  1888-9;  C.  W.  Shephard.  1892-3-4;  M.  A.  Meagher. 
1895;  Isaac  Borts,  1896-7;  D.  R.  ^Tartin.  1898-9-1900;  H.  F.  Robinson. 
1901-02;  A.  I.  Bruner.  1903.  with  L.  A.  Crull.  a  part  of  the  year;  L.  A 
Crull.    iC)04-5;   H.   W.   Munster.    i()o6    ften  months.    Richard   Breeden   two 


]C)0  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

months):  J.  A.  Murray.  1907-8 :  preachino:  suspended  in  1909;  assigned  to 
H.  C.  Millice  on  Kellogg  charge.  The  present  membership  is  small.  Al- 
though small,  this  church  has  sent  out  three  preachers  from  its  midst.  Revs. 
D.  C.  Bevan.  Richard  Breeden  and  Silas  Ludwick. 

The  publishers  are  greatly  indebted  to  Re\ .  Henry  C.  Millice.  of  Kel- 
logg, for  his  aid  in  getting  facts  together  for  the  history  of  the  churches 
under  his  immediate  charge  and  for  those  whicli  he  has  heretofore  been  the 
pastor  of. 

RE.VSOXEK     METII01U.ST     EPISCOPAL     CHURCH. 

This  church  was  formed  in  1885  and  now  enjoys  a  membership  of  one 
hundred  and  forty.  The  following  have  ser\'ed  as  pastors :  Revs.  ].  Clulow. 
1885;  G.  P.  VanWye.  1886:  M.  S.  Stryker.  1887-8;  G.  Younkin.  1889-90-92: 
W.  H.  Gifford,  1893-4;  E.  E.  Doud.  1895-6;  D.  S.  Dunlavey,  1897-8:  D.  O. 
Stiles.  1899-1901  ;  W.  H.  Jones.  1902-3-4:  A\'.  L.  Ery.  1905-6:  H.  C.  Millice. 
1907-9:  E.  S.  Seeds.  1910-11. 

COLFAX    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

The  first  minister  of  this  faith  to  preach  the  gospel  at  Colfax  was  Rev. 
J.  W.  Anderson  in  1869.  followed  by  RIev.  Roby,  who  continued  until  1872. 
Re\'.  Da\id  Shenton  succeeded  and  found  here  Mr.  Eoy  and  wife.  Mrs.  Hin- 
ton  and  one  other  woman  of  the  Methodist  faith.  So  little  seemed  in  store 
for  the  location,  he  was  transferred  to  Sand  Ridge.  But  again,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1874,  this  same  minister  came  to  Colfax  and  preached  in  the  Presbyter- 
ian church,  from  John  xiv:T5-i7.  A  class  was  formed  composed  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Eoy  and  R.  Price  and  wife.  Tn  November.  1875.  he  began  to  hold  ser- 
N'ices  in  West  &  Weaver's  hall,  and  on  December  19th  a  Sabbath  school  was 
organized.  Rev.  Osljorne  became  pastor  in  1876,  followed  in  1877  jjy  Re\". 
J.  A.  Smith,  and  the  year  following  came  Re\".  D.  Thompson. 

The  church  was  completed  in  l'el)ruary.  1878,  and  dedicated  b\-  Bishop 
Andrews.  May  5th.  It  was  a  frame  structure  thirty-two  by  fiftv  feet,  costing 
about  two  thousand  four  hundred  dollars.  Tn  1878  the  churcli  had  a  mem- 
ber.ship  of  eight\-  and  its  present  membership  is  three  luuKb'ed  and  fortv. 
The  value  of  church  property  is  al)0ut  ten  thousand  dollars.  In  1890  the 
church  was  struck  by  lightning  and  the  steeple  entirely  destroyed:  the  loss, 
howe\er,  was  made  good  by  insurance  in  force. 

The  following  is  believed  to  be  the  order  in  which  the  various  pastors 
have  served  at  Colfax:     Revs.   David   Slienton,   Osborne.    T.   A.    Smith.   D. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  l6l 

Thompson,  L.  Jean,  W.  A.  Chambers,  Laidlay,  Dr.  Vinson,  M.  Harnerd,  A. 
E.  Griffith,  B.  F.  W.  Cozier,  C.  J.  English,  R.  E.  Shaw,  M.  Stahl,  E.  H. 
Fleisher,  H.  A.  Walbiirn  and  E.  W.  F.  Requa. 

CLYDE  METHODIST   CHURCH. 

During  the  autumn  of  1874  the  society  erected  a  church  edifice  at  this 
Httle  hamlet  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  worshipers  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal faith  in  the  surrounding  neighborhood.  It  was  forty  by  sixty  feet  in 
size,  with  a  neat  spire  and  bell  swung  in  the  same,  the  latter  being  a  donation 
from  ^^'arren  Maxwell,  of  State  Center.  The  cost  of  the  church  was  two 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars. 

FAIRMOUNT   METHODIST  CHURCH. 

The  Methodist  church  at  Fairmount  was  formed  about  1877  and  in  a 
year  or  two  a  house  of  worship  was  erected  of  frame;  it  had  a  steeple  and 
its  cost  was  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  nineteen  dollars.  It  was  dedi- 
cated September  20,   1878,  by  Rev.  Cullen. 

KILLDUFF  METHODIST  CHURCH. 

The  Killduff  Methodist  Episcopal  church  is  located  in  Buena  Vista  town- 
ship. It  was  organized  in  1883  ^3'  Rev.  I.  O.  Kemble  and  now  has  a  mem- 
bership of  ninety-seven.  The  charter  members  were  as  follows :  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Andrew  Jackson,  James  Rairdon,  Ollie  Rairdon,  Phoebe  Williams.  Har- 
vey Hall,  Barbara  Dove,  W.  L.  Dennis,  R.  A.  Smith,  Susan  A.  Smith,  James 
Carey,  ^Mary  Carey.  John  Klein,  Hetty  Klein,  Everet  Leslie,  Mary  Leslie, 
Sarah  Young,  Alice  Newell.  Frances  Hall,  John  Weeks,  Clara  Weeks,  Will- 
iam Doak. 

The  pastors  who  have  faithfully  served  this  church  are:  Revs.  I.  O. 
Kemble,  J.  Craig.  S.  F.  Bishop,  A.  S.  Loveall,  D.  R.  Martin,  A.  W.  McBain. 
L.  G.  Cummins  and  Jesse  A.  Monk.  The  present  house  of  worship  was  built 
of  wooden  material,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  three  hundred  and  fifty,  and 
cost  three  thousand  dollars 

PRAIRIE    CITY    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

From  the  best  authority  obtainable,  this  church  had  its  beginning  away 
back  in  a  log  dwelling  owned  by  John  Butters,  in  1856.  Rev.  Caleb  Bundy 
being  the  preacher.     The  church  was  legally  organized  April  26,  18:^7.     The 

(11) 


1 62  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

organi;^ing  minister  was  Rev.  William  Clarridge.  of  Greencastle  circuit  and 
within  Iowa  conference,  .\mong  the  charter  members  may  be  named  the 
following,  though  not  a  full  list :  Caleb  Bundy,  Mary  Head,  Mrs.  Caleb 
Bundy,  S.  T.  Butters,  Margaret  Butters,  Jacob  Main  and  wife,  Mrs.  Daniel 
]\Iain  and  daughter,  Julia;  J.  Minchell  was  class  leader  and  his  daughter  was 
also  a  member.  •  • 

The  following  have  served  as  pastors  at  this  point  to  the  present  date 
(191 1 ),  the  date  following  name  indicating  when  they  took  charge  of  the 
church:  Revs.  Caleb  Bundy,  1856;  William  Clarridge,  1857;  Smith,  1859; 
Garrison,  i860;  Whittier,  1861  :  J.  D.  Moore,  1862;  J.  G.  Eckles,  1864;  A. 
Badley,  1867:  W.  A.  Richards,  1868;  F.  M.  Slusser,  1869;  Sexton,  1871 ;  D. 
Thompson.  1873;  J.  W.  Snodgrass,  1874;  H.  ]\I.  Sexton,  1877;  A.  H.  Shafer, 
1878;  H.  H.  Murphy.  1879;  A.  ].  Barton,  1881 ;  E.  W.  McDade,  1883:  C. 
H.  Newell,  1885;  J.  H.  Anderson,  1887;  A.  H.  Rusk,  1889:  A.  M.  Shea. 
1892;  William  G.  Riheldaffer,  1895;  John  Cox  Hall,  1897;  \V.  R.  Alartin, 
1898;  B.  W.  Cozier,  1899;  A.  T.  Jeffry,  1900;  C.  W.  Proctor,  1903;  J.  R. 
Ramsev,  1907;  William  Mercer,  1908;  the  last  named  is  still  serving  this 
church. 

The  first  church  was  erected  in  1878;  a  frame  building,  thirty  by  forty 
feet,  costing  one  thousand  two  hundred  dollars.  The  present  building  was 
erected  of  brick,  on  the  same  site  as  the  old  structure.  This  was  built  in 
1884,  costing  seven  thousand  dollars.  The  present  parsonage  was  built  in 
1893.  costing  two  thousand  dollars.  It  is  possible  the  first  church  building 
was  erected  a  few  years  earlier  than  the  date  here  given. 

LYNXVILLE    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL. 

The  ^Methodist  church  at  Lynnville  was  organized  in  1865  by  Rev. 
Wright.  The  first  members  were  H.  Moody  and  wife,  William  Reardon  and 
wife,  D.  C.  Edwards  and  wife.  Harrison  Dryden,  A.  O.  Silver  and  wife.  John 
P.  Stallings  and  A.  Chambers  and  wife.  In  1871  the  society  purchased  the 
old  district  school  house  and  converted  it  into  a  house  of  worship.  The  next 
church  was  provided  in  1879  at  a  cost  of  three  thousand  five  hundred  dollars. 

The  present  membership  of  the  Lynnville  circuit  is  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five.  This  includes  the  three  appointments.  The  following  have  been 
pastors  at  this  point:  Revs.  Wright.  Rollins.  Ditarr,  ]\richner,  S.  R.  Fergu- 
son, Morey.  Shane,  C.  P.  Reynolds,  1881  ;  N.  Wells,  1883;  John  Potter, 
1884:  O.  C.  Shelton,  1885;  R-  A.  Allison.  1886;  F.  A.  Piper.  1888:  David 
Philips.  1889:  F.  C.  Demorest,  1893;  R.  Collier,  1894;  A.  C.  Boyd.  1898;  H. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  1 63 

I.  Poage.  1899;  A.  W.  Haines,  1901 ;  Alfred  J.  W.  Tongue,  1902;  Thomas  A. 
Adams,  1903;  A.  T.  James,  1904;  H.  C.  ]\Iillice,  1905;  \V.  D.  Merryman, 
1907:  T.  B.  Hughes,  1908;  Frank  Pfoutz,  1909. 

At  this  date  there  are  three  appointments  on  the  Lynnville  circuit : 
Bethel  church,  five  miles  north  of  Lynnville;  Searsboro,  four  miles  east  of 
Lynnville;  the  Lynnville  appointment.  The  Lynnville  circuit  was  formed  at 
the  Iowa  conference  in  September,   1867. 

OTHER    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCHES. 

The  churches  in  connection  with  the  work  at  Kilduff  are  the  Grace 
church,  six  miles  south  of  Newton;  Mount  Zion,  nine  miles  southeast  of 
Xewton;  Pleasant  Mew,  se\'en  miles  east  of  Newton.  Killduff  was  organ- 
ized either  in  1883  or  1884;  Pleasant  View  in  1868;  ]\Iount  Zion  in  1870; 
Grace  in  1872.  The  church  in  Killduff  was  erected  in  1868  at  a  cost  of  two 
thousand  three  hundred  dollars;  the  one  at  Mount  Zion,  in  1870,  costing  two 
thousand  dollars;  Grace,  in  1876,  costing  two  thousand  four  hundred  and 
sixty-seven  dollars.  Total  membership  of  all  these  churches,  three  hundred 
and  fifty. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  faithful  pastors  who  have  served  in  about 
the  order  here  given,  for  a  greater  or  less  time :  Revs.  J.  H.  Boyd,  George 
Clammor,  P.  F.  Bresee,  M.  Carrier,  A.  M.  Shafer.  G.  H.  Clark,  E.  R.  Frost, 
R.  J.  Kenyon,  S.  Hestwood.  John  Elrod,  J.  W.  Robinson.  J.  ^L  Coates,  E.  P. 
McCliene,  Ira  O.  Kimble,  J.  Craig,  S.  F.  Bishop,  A.  S.  Loveall,  R.  Woese, 
David  Phillips,  Elias  Handy,  A.  S.  Loveall,  D.  R.  Martin,  A.  \\\  ^IcBalin, 
L.  G.  Cummins,  Jesse  A.  Monkman. 

Of  the  first  church  edifice  at  Mount  Zion,  it  should  be  stated  that  it  was 
destroyed  by  a  cyclone  in  1881  and  rebuilt  the  same  season. 

METHODIST  PROTESTANT  CHURCH. 

At  Sully  is  located  a  Methodist  Protestant  church  which  was  organized 
about  i860,  known  first  as  Lynn  Grove  church.  The  charter  members  of 
this  society  were  inclusive  of  these :  J.  R.  Sparks  and  family.  \\\  R.  Mathews 
and  family,  Levi  Conover  and  family.  J.  R.  Mathews  and  family.  Moses  Shay 
and  family.     Mrs.  A.  R.  Mathews  is  the  only  surviving  charter  meml>er. 

The  pastors  serving  have  been  as  follows:  Revs.  W.  B.  Warrington, 
\V.  F.  Price,  John  F.  Rouge.  Josiah  Sanders.  Josiah  Selby.  G.  T.  Dewitt,  J. 
R.  Bolton.  I.  L.  Scott.  G.  M.  Scott.  G.  I.  Reeves.  E.  S.  Brown.  R.  C.  F. 


164  JASPER    COUNTY^    IOWA. 

Chambers,  A.  A.  Peterson,  T.  W.  Noble,  James  Kirkwood,  J.  H.  Schull,  P. 
A.  Keople,  J.  R.  McKaig,  S.  M.  Petty,  A.  H.  Linder,  J.  W.  Payne,  A.  J. 
Green,  F.  G.  Aylmore,  A.  N.  Courtney,  the  present  pastor. 

The  present  church  was  erected  about  1870  and  was  then  locaed  about 
one-half  mile  east  of  the  present  town  of  Sully.  It  was  moved  about  1883 
to  its  present  site  within  the  town  incorporation  limits  of  Sully.  It  is  a  frame 
structure,  thirty -two  by  forty-four  feet  in  size,  costing  originally  two  thou- 
sand three  hundred  and  seventy  dollars. 

The  only  other  church  of  this  denomination  in  Jasper  county  is  the 
Hixon  Grove,  with  Rev.  J.  \A'.  ]\Iurphy  as  present  pastor. 

At  the  date  of  its  organization  the  Sully  church  was  a  part  of  the  Oska- 
loosa  circuit  and  was  known  as  Lynn  Grove.  It  was  organized  in  a  school 
house  a  mile  to  the  east  of  where  Sully  now  stands.  It  was  later  made  a  part 
of  the  Newton  circuit  and  later  still  became  a  self-supporting  charge,  as  it  is 
today. 

NEWTON     FREE    METHODIST     CHURCH. 

This  society  was  formed  and  incorporated  October  17,  1892,  there  being 
but  six  members  present  at  that  date.  It  has  grown  to  number  about  thirty 
now.  In  1894  a  neat  frame  chapel  was  erected  on  North  Market  street.  In 
1896  a  parsonage  was  built,  which  ^^  ith  the  church  have  cost  the  society  four 
thousand  dollars. 

The  present  officers  are :  T.  C.  Ewing,  H.  E.  Rinehart,  George  Chap- 
man, trustees,  and  Mrs.  L.  Chapman,  secretary. 

The  following  have  served  as  pastors :  Revs.  J.  V.  ]Murray,  W.  E 
Boger,  W.  Chouts.  I.  H.  Gorrill,  I.  B.  Neville.  E.  I.  Lish.  I.  P.  Doud,  F.  M. 
Smith.  I.  S.  Booton,  Euke  Scripter,  E.  E.  Dalbey,  and  the  present  pastor. 
Rev.  R.  B.  Ralls. 

BAPTIST    CHURCHES. 

Among  the  first  Baptist  churches  organized  in  Jasper  countv,  so  far  as 
is  known  to  the  compiler  of  this  chapter,  was  the  one  at  Newton,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1852,  and  during  that  year  one  was  formed  at  A^andalia,  whether  before 
or  after  the  Newton  church  is  not  now  known  from  a  lack  of  records  at  the 
former. 

At  Newton  the  society  was  formed  at  the  court  house,  November  20th, 
by  Rev.  E.  Evans,  moderator,  and  Rev.  J.  A.  Nash,  secretary  of  the  council. 
The  charter  members  numbered  eight.  They  adopted  the  "New  Hampshire 
Declaration  of  Faith  and  Church  Covenant.''     Meetings  were  held,  at  least 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  165 

once  a  month,  at  the  court  house.  In  1856.  through  the  aid  of  the  Home 
Missionary  Society,  this  church  secured  the  services  of  Rev.  J.  E.  Guild,  who 
preached  every  Sabbath  in  the  Presbyterian  church.  In  1857  they  worshiped 
in  the  old  academy  building,  with  increased  interest.  In  1862  the  lots  on 
which  the  church  edifice  was  later  erected  were  purchased  for  two  hundred 
and  thirty-four  dollars.  In  1863  the  church,  having  adopted  rules  of  incor- 
poration, began  building  operations.  The  society  then  had  only  thirty-three 
members. 

The  Sabbath  school  was  not  organized  until  May  14,  1865.  On  May  12. 
1866.  the  chairman  of  the  building  committee,  William  Blackman,  reported 
the  church  as  finished,  and  that  the  total  cost  of  church  and  lots  was  three 
thousand  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  It  was  built  of  brick  and  was 
thirty  by  forty  feet  in  size.  In  June,  that  year,  the  parsonage  was  commenced 
and  was  finished  that  year,  at  a  cost  of  one  thousand  two  hundred  dollars,  a 
portion  of  which  debt  the  society  authorized  the  building  committee  to  pay 
ten  per  cent,  interest  for  the  money  borrowed.  This  debt  hung  over  the 
church  like  a  pall  until  1874.  In  1878  the  membership  was  eighty-two  and 
its  present  membership  is  one  hundred  and  thirty. 

The  following  have  served  as  pastors  of  this  church :  Revs.  E.  Evans, 
from  1852  to  1855;  Rev.  Orin  W'hitcomb,  1855-56;  Rev.  J.  E.  Guild,  1856- 
57  \  J-  Currier,  from  ]March.  i860,  to  June,  1863;  J.  Y.  Atchison,  from  Xb- 
vember.  1865.  to  June,  1868;  T.  M.  Bailey,  from  January.  1869,  to  October. 
1869;  S.  M.  Chamblet.  May,  1870,  to  1871  :  D.  M.  Mead,  from  September, 
1870,  to  October,  1871  ;  Amos  Robinson,  from  November.  1871,  to  1879; 
Gilman  Parker,  one  year:  N.  H.  Daily,  two  years;  in  1883.  Rev.  G.  G. 
Daugherty  became  pastor,  serving  only  nine  months,  and  was  not  satisfactory 
to  many  in  the  church.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  L.  F.  Compton.  in  1885. 
remaining  two  and  a  half  years,  and  was  followed  by  J.  R.  Murphy,  D.  D.. 
serving  two  years.  In  1891  H.  D.  Weaver  became  pastor,  serving  three 
years;  in  1894,  J.  S.  Xasmith  came  from  Kansas  and  took  charge  of  the 
church,  remaining  two  years ;  he  was  succeeded  by  J.  E.  Lemar,  who  re- 
mained nine  months  and  returned  to  college ;  then  came  C.  F.  Lusk,  followed 
by  M.  J.  Sigler,  C.  A.  Tenny,  G.  H.  Rookns,  N.  G.  Thomas,  who  is  the 
present  pastor. 

As  to  the  present  brick  edifice,  let  it  be  said  that  it  was  dedicated  in 
March,  1901.  and  cost  eight  thousand  dollars.  It  stands  one  block  south  of 
the  southwest  corner  of  the  court  house  square.     It  is  modern  in  ever}-  way. 

The  building  committee  was  as  follows:  Pastor  Irwin  Forbes,  \\'illiam 
Amos,  J.  H.  Fugard.  F.  D.  Brown,  William  E.  Holtz. 


l66  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

The  First  Baptist  church  of  Colfax  was  organized  by  a  band  of  ten 
famihes  holding  this  faith.  This  was  in  the  spring  of  1889,  and  they  strug:- 
gled  along  as  best  they  could  until  the  next  year  by  holding  their  meetings  in 
the  homes  of  their  members.  That  year,  however,  they  called  Rev.  Allen, 
who  labored  with  the  society  about  one  year.  Rev.  T.  R.  Stitt  became  the 
next  pastor  and  under  his  administration  a  house  of  worship  was  planned.  A 
member  of  the  church,  \\\  A.  \\'inder,  donated  the  lot  on  which  the  church 
now  stands.  The  edifice,  which  was  not  erected  until  1891,  is  a  frame  struc- 
ture, costing  four  thousand  five  hundred  dollars. 

The  church  has  grown  from  its  original  twenty  members  to  have  two 
hundred  and  sixty -one.  The  pastors  have  been  in  the  following  order :  Revs. 
Allen,  T.  R.  Stitt,  Ferguson,  Lilley,  Reed,  Miller,  A.  J.  McColl,  J.  B.  Banker, 
R.  S.  Wallace.  T.  W.  Evans,  J.  L.  Barton,  and  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  Al- 
bert van  der  Ploeg.  Only  two  of  the  original  members  still  remain  in  Colfax, 
Thomas  Ryan  and  Mrs.  Frankie  IMarion. 

Sugar  Grove  Baptist  church  was  organized  about  1870  in  Sherman  town- 
ship and  struggled  along  many  years,  finally  providing  themselves  with  a 
house  of  worship,  built  by  popular  subscriptions.  The  society  finally  run 
down  and  the  building  was  sold  to  the  Free  Methodists  under  a  contract  that 
it  should  always  be  used  for  religious  purposes.  But  not  long  since  the  last 
named  society  sold  the  property  to  William  Baker,  who  sought  to  convert  the 
same  into  a  hog  house,  on  his  farm.  But  before  its  removal  from  its  original 
site,  the  matter  became  a  matter  for  the  district  court  to  attend  to,  as  it  was 
involved  in  an  injunction  suit  brought  by  E.  B.  IMoffitt,  of  the  Baptist  denom- 
ination. The  case  was  tried  in  the  district  court  at  Newton,  before  Judge 
Preston,  at  the  May  term,  191 1,  at  which  time  it  was  decided  by  the  court 
that  the  property  should  not  be  removed,  as  it  was  built  by  subscriptions  of 
people  in  the  community  who  understood  that  it  should  always  be  uSed  for 
church  purposes  at  that  point.  The  case  has  been  appealed  to  the  supreme 
court  of  the  state. 

BAPTISTS    AT    VANDALIA. 

From  an  old  record  the  following  is  found  concerning  the  earlv  Baptist 
church  at  Vandalia: 

"A  Baptist  society  was  organized  in  1852.  by  Elder  J,  A.  Nash,  later  of 
Des  Moines.  The  first  members  were  Henry  Shearer  and  wife,  J,  Q.  Deakin 
and  wife,  George  Anderson  and  wife,  Ira  Sllers  and  wife.  The  first  pastor 
was  Elijah  Evans,  who  moved  to  Vandalia  about  1854,  remaining  ten  vears. 
A  building  was  erected  by  the  society  during  the  first  years  of  its  history,  and 
was  the  only  church  building  Ijuilt  at  \'andalia  up  to  1878." 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  J  6/ 


METZ    BAPTIST    CHURCH. 

There  is  a  new  Baptist  organization  at  the  village  of  Metz,  west  of  New- 
ton, and  during  the  spring  and  summer  of  191 1  a  neat  frame  church  edifice 
was  erected  and  dedicated  in  May  or  June. 

BAPTIST    CHURCH    OF    MONROE. 

The  First  Baptist  church  at  ^Monroe  was  formed  ]\Iay  5,  1855,  at  which 
date  the  following  assembled :  Rev.  E.  ScarfT.  E.  O.  Town,  E.  Bockenoogan, 
I.  Talbott,  A.  Udell,  J.  J.  Haven,  W.  Q.  Ellis,  from  Pella,  and  Rev.  A.  B. 
Leavitt,  of  Indiana.  W.  J.  Ellis  was  chosen  clerk.  The  church  was  then  or- 
ganized and  in  March.  1856,  preparations  were  made  to  build  of  brick 

Among  the  pastors  who  have  served  in  this  place  may  be  recalled :  Revs. 
A.  \\\  Russell,  J.  Carrier,  up  to  1868;  G.  W.  Hertzog,  from  1869  to  1875; 
J.  A.  Abbott,  to  1877. 

In  1878  the  membership  was  about  eighty.  At  this  date  it  is  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty.  Following  Rev.  Abbott,  came  Revs.  \\'.  C.  Pratt,  Hertzog, 
Wilson,  Mills.  H.  J.  Shutts,  J.  D.  Collins,  Richmond  A.  Smith,  G.  F.  Reik- 
ing,  F.  H.  \\'ebster,  C.  O.  Johnson,  O.  H.  Sisson,  the  present  pastor,  who 
came  in  September,  1910. 

In  1885,  *oi'  the  sum  of  six  hundred  dollars,  the  society  purchased  the 
old  Congregational  church  building  and  used  it  as  it  was  until  1894,  when 
they  rebuilt  it,  leaA'ing  only  one  of  the  side  walls.  It  is  now  a  fine  veneered 
structure,  costing  six  thousand  four  hundred  dollars.  It  seats  comfortably 
five  hundred.  It  stands  on  the  east  side  of  the  public  square  and  has  a  fine 
belfr\%  bell,  baptistry  and  circular  pews,  all  in  modern  style. 

It  should  be  here  recorded,  however,  that  this  was  not  the  first  Baptist 
societv  in  this  neighborhood,  for  one  was  forn-ted  ^larch  3,  1850.  At  a  meet- 
ing held  on  the  day  just  mentioned,  met  Elder  George  Bond,  and  Warren  D, 
Everett,  as  secretary.  Those  who  united  with  a  new  church  were :  Hartwell 
and  Rebecca  Hayes,  John  and  Polly  Woody,  James  D.  and  Diadema  Putnam, 
Tarlton  P.  Duncan,  Lucy  Horton  and  Polly  ]\Iangrum.  This  society  was 
named  "Harmony  Church."  Elder  Evans  preached  in  1854  and  in  1855 
the  church  increased  in  its  membership,  but  the  Republican  political  party 
having  arisen,  dissensions  of  a  political  nature  aroSe.  coupled  with  other 
minor  differences,  caused  the  church  to  go  do\\  n.  The  newer  members  asked 
to  withdraw,  but  this  was  not  granted.     A  meeting  was  called  and  the  latter 


1 68  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

membership  voted  to  take  their  letters  and  they  formed  a  new  church  at  Mon- 
roe. The  old  original  membership  revived  the  old  church  and  removed  the 
place  of  meeting  to  the  Woody  neighborhood,  where  it  ever  afterward  con- 
ducted its  church  services. 

PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCHES. 

One  of  the  earliest  churches, in  the  city  of  Newton  is  the  Presbyterian, 
formed  in  1854.  Among  the  pioneer  members  were  C.  J.  Housel  and  wife, 
G.  W.  Chambers  and  wife  and  a  Mr.  Martin  and  wife. 

This  society  was  incorporated  March  i.  1859.  with  J.  S.  Hunter,  John 
C.  Wilson  and  Thomas  McCord  as  trustees.  The  house  of  worship  was 
built  at  a  cost  of  six  thousand  dollars  in  1865  ;  it  was  of  brick,  thirty  by  sixty 
feet  in  size.  It  was  dedicated  February  23,  1868,  the  sermon  being  deliv- 
ered by  Rev.  W.  R.  IMarshall,  of  Marion,  Iowa.  In  1878  the  membership 
was  seventy-five.     Its  present  membership  is  placed  at  two  hundred. 

The  pastors  who  have  served  this  congregation  include  the  following : 
Revs.  Jones.  L.  B.  Crittenden,  John  Seele,  E.  S.  Vail,  George  L.  Little, 
James  Agnew,  John  X.  Wilson,  E.  L.  Williams,  Isaac  Whittemore,  R.  R. 
Westcott,  David  Brown,  Edwin  J.  Rice,  R.  F.  Chambers,  1898  to  1906;  W. 
N.  Hess,  1906  to  1908;  Theodore  M.  Balcoff,  1908  to  1909:  George  Furniss, 
May  22,  1910,  and  still  pastor. 

The  present  church  edifice  was  built  in  1889,  dedicated  December  22d, 
free  of  all  debts.  The  present  valuation  of  the  church  property,  including 
the  manse,  is  fourteen  thousand  dollars. 

The  present  officers  are  S.  G.  Russell,  clerk;  H.  S.  Morrison.  A.  T. 
Guthrie,  T.  G.  Bryant,  C.  W.  Winn,  Benjamin  Jones,  elders ;  C.  W.  Jarvis, 
J.  I.  Cunningham,  Percy  R.  McCord.  James  Davidson,  T.  G.  Bryant  and 
Lyman  A.  Russell  (treasurer),  trustees. 

THE    COLFAX    rUESBYTERIAX    CHURCH. 

At  Colfax  the  Presbyterian  formed  their  church  as  the  first  church  so- 
ciety in  the  place  The  petition  was  dated  April  6,  1868,  and  was  signed  by 
J.  T.  and  Salina  Lamb,  R.  N.  and  Lizzie  Stewart,  W.  H.  Bonnell,  E.  O.  Par- 
ker, G.  W.  Parker,  Jane  A.  Parker.  James  and  Sarah  L.  McCracken,  Levi 
^IcCracken.  and  Sarah  C.  Mytinger.  Elders  J.  T.  Lamb  and  R.  N.  Stewart 
were  chosen  September  20th.  The  church  was  erected  in  i868.  at  a  cost  of 
one  thousand  two  hundred  dollars.  In  1884.  a  new  church  edifice  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  five  thousand  four  hundred  dollars. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  T69 

The  present  membership  of  this  church  is  one  hundred  and  eighty.  The 
various  pastors  here  have  included  the  following :  Revs.  Thompson,  Wilson, 
Agnew,  Gordon,  Hammer,  F.  A.  Shearer,  1879;  S.  N.  Vail,  1886;  Charles 
R.  Hunt,  1890;  William  E.  Knight,  1892;  D.  Wallace  McMillen,  1899; 
Henry  Ouickenden,  1899;  John  McLinn,  1902;  Scott  W.  Smith,  1904;  W. 
C.  Brewer,  1905;  D.  D.  Buchanan,  1906;  N.  R.  Miles.  1907,  and  still  serving. 

The  society  was  incorporated  May  10,  1868,  by  E.  O.  Parker,  J.  M. 
Kennedy,  W.  H.  Bonnell,  R.  N.  Stewart,  J.  L.  Lamb,  with  W.  D.  Ballantyne 
as  moderator.     J.  R.  Rodgers  and  R.  N.  Stewart  are  the  only  pioneers  left. 

During  the  last  four  years  the  church  has  put  in  new  cement  steps  to 
both  entrances  to  the  church  building;  put  in  a  basement;  replaced  old  and 
added  new  windows.  The  members  give  an  average  of  about  eleven  dollars 
each  to  support  the  church,  some  as  high  as  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
dollars. 

UNITED     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCHES. 

The  United  Presbyterian  church  at  Monroe  was  an  early  organization 
in  this  county.  It  dates  its  history  from  before  1855,  and  the  organization 
was  perfected  in  1861  and  now  has  a  membership  of  sixty-three.  It  built  a 
frame  church  building  in  early  Civil-war  days  which,  with  remodeling  and 
repairs,  has  served  until  now.  It  is  probably  the  oldest  church  in  use  in  Jas- 
per county,  and  is  in  fine  condition.  Its  surrounding  grounds  are  kept  in 
fine  shape  and  the  main  structure  is  surmounted  with  a  neat  belfrv  and  vesti- 
bule.    It  is  located  southeast  from  the  business  portion  of  the  citv. 

A  WONDERFUL  COUNTRY  CHURCH. 

The  Palo  Alto  United  Presbyterian  church  was  formed  in  December. 
1870 — really  after  the  church  building  had  lieen  completed,  for  that  was 
dedicated  in  December  and  was  started  in  February  of  that  year,  by  a  mere 
handful  of  neighbors  of  this  particular  religious  faith.  In  1869.  preaching 
was  held  at  the  old  court  house  and  at  the  Wild  Cat  school  house,  five  miles 
south  of  Newton,  and  in  1870  there  was  some  talk  early  in  the  year  of  erect- 
ing a  place  for  worship.  Finally,  five  families,  the  Hills,  Reeses,  Matchetts, 
McCartneys  and  Kellers,  organized  themselves  into  a  church.  Pioneer  Robert 
M.  Hill,  after  consulting  with  the  preacher.  Rev.  Johnson,  at  Newton,  com- 
menced to  circulate  a  sub.scription  paper  for  the  purpose  of  raising  the  neces- 
sary funds.     He  was  successful  in  getting  one  thousand  dollars  pledged  in 


lyO  JASPER    COUNTYj    IOWA. 

one  day  in  material  and  cash.  Seven  hundred  dollars  of  this  amount  was 
donated  by  members  of  the  above  mentioned  families,  the  sums  ranging  from 
twenty-five  dollars  to  one  hundred  dollars  each.  In  all  the  house  cost  about 
two  thousand  dollars.  It  was,  after  some  parleying,  decided  to  build  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  road  from  the  little  country  cemetery  that  had  been 
established  a  few  years  prior.  The  land  was  really  not  worth  over  fifteen  dol- 
lars per  acre,  but  the  owner,  a  Catholic,  wanted  sixty  dollars  per  acre  for  the 
tract,  which  amount  was  finally  given  him.  This  church  and  cemetery  is 
just  south  of  the  present  homestead  farm  of  R.  M.  Hill.  Mrs.  Badger  was 
the  lady  who.  carrying  out  the  wishes  of  her  deceased  husband,  paid  for  the 
ground  and  finally  made  a  clear  deed  to  the  trustees  of  the  newly  organized 
church  society.  These  first  trustees  were  Messrs.  Amos  B.  Rees.  Henry  C. 
Richardson  and  Joseph  ]\Iiller.  The  structure  was  commenced  February  14, 
1870.  The  timbers  were  drawn  from  Adamson's  grove  and  much  of  it  was 
hewed  out  from  the  forest  kings  by  hand.  A  carpenter  named  Conle} ,  of 
Newton,  was  engaged  to  build  the  cliurch,  the  ^^•ork  being  largel}-  performed 
by  the  men  of  the  church.  The  ladies  furnished  dinners  for  the  workmen, 
both  at  the  timber  and  at  the  building  site.  All  but  the  price  of  two  barrels 
of  lime  for  the  foundation  had  been  contributed.  \\'hen  Fourth  of  July 
came  round  they  held  a  rousing  celebration  and  it  was  visited  b\-  many  from 
outside,  including  many  from  Newton.  The  ladies  made  a  handsome  profit 
on  articles  sold  on  the  Fourth  and  the  first  to  occupy  the  new  church  was  the 
Robert  M.  Hill  family,  of  father,  mother  and  three  children.  They  stayed 
the  night  after  the  celebration  in  order  to  watch  and  care  for  dishes  and  pro- 
visions that  had  been  left  over  from  the  feast.  They  were  joined  in  the  early 
niorning  by  ^Irs.  Badger,  who  walked  from  her  farm  home  and  took  break- 
fast in  the  church  w  itli  the  Hills  and  they  then  counted  over  the  proceeds  of 
the  celebration  with  thankful  hearts.  This  church  was  not  erected  without 
much  sacrifice.  State  Treasurer  Rankin  had  been  selected  to  orate  on  that 
Fourth  (1870),  but  not  coming,  he  sent  a  twenty-dollar  bill  for  the  use  of 
the  church.  One  hundred  dollars  more  was  sent  by  the  Church  Extension 
Society  and  another  hundred  from  Mrs.  Hill's  old  home  church  in  Linn 
county,  Iowa. 

The  date  of  real  church  organization  was  October  27,  1870.  It  was 
not  fully  perfected,  however,  until  in  December  of  that  year,  when  fifteen 
members  were  taken  into  the  church.  At  that  time,  the  elder  was  Robert 
McCartney ;  trustees,  Amos  B.  Rees  and  Henry  C.  Richardson. 

By  the  excellent  financial  management  of  Robert  M.  Hill  (still  living), 
ihe  church  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  William  Johnson,  free  of  any  debts.     The 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  I7I 

first  person  to  be  baptized  here  was  David  J.  Matchett,  at  the  second  meeting 
held  in  the  new  building.  Weekly  prayer  meetings  were  established  "to  con- 
tinue Wednesday  evenings,  perpetually."  A  Sabbath  school  was  early  formed 
and  has  been  kept  up  ever  since. 

Rev.  William  Johnson  was  to  be  the  pastor,  but  had  a  call  to  preach  in 
Indiana,  and  wrote  the  church  officers  ("on  the  wing")  that  he  had  to  leave 
them  and  could  not  accept  the  work  here,  but  wanted  to  frequently  "hear 
from  the  church  that  dwelt  solitary  in  the  woods.'' 

Among  the  preachers  who  served  as  supplies,  for  a  longer  or  shorter 
period,  may  be  recalled  Revs.  Joseph  Boyd.  Richard  Turnbull,  Hugh  F.  Wal- 
lace, R.  C.  Wyatt.  A.  J.  Graham,  A.  McCartney,  J.  Taylor,  J.  F.  Tate,  C.  T. 
McCanaghan,  F.  K.  Martin,  S.  M.  Black,  H.  McHatton.  R.  Gray,  S.  Mc- 
Arthur.  The  last  served  until  the  call  of  the  regular  pastor.  Rev.  E.  S.  Mc- 
Michael,  who  had  charge  both  here  and  at  Xewton  till  1873,  ^vhen  Newton 
was  set  off  into  a  church  by  itself.  Rev.  ^IcMichael  served  in  all  from  1872 
to  1879.  and  was  followed  by  Rev.  J.  A.  Ferguson,  who  served  till  1882,  and 
then  came  Rev.  J.  A.  McCalmount  to  1889.  The  next  was  Rev.  W.  A. 
Campbell,  1890-92;  in  the  first  twenty-five  years  of  the  church's  history  there 
had  been  twelve  supply  and  thirteen  stated  pastors  "settled."  Since  then 
there  have  been  Revs.  John  Ferguson,  E.  F.  Gillis,  each  seven  years'  pastor- 
ate, and  now  the  church  is  "supplied." 

The  present  total  meml>ership  is  about  sixty.  At  one  date,  this  church 
had  sent  out  and  in  acti^■e  work  sixteen  members  who  were  teachers,  college 
students,  preachers  and  lawyers,  showing  the  wonderful  influence  for  good 
citizenship,  education  and  Christianity  that  had  sprung  from  this  little  coun- 
try church.  ^liss  Kate  A.  Hill,  daughter  of  Robert  ^I.  Hill  and  wife,  has 
been  a  missionary  to  India  for  fifteen  years.  A  better  family  and  church 
record  can  scarcely  be  found  in  the  state  than  this  one.  Miss  Hill  is  one  of 
five  sisters,  all  of  whom  were  teachers.  She  is  building  up  a  thirty  thousand 
dollar  school  for  girls  in  India,  to  be  named  for  her.  Another,  reared  in  this 
church,  is  Avery  Fales,  doing  home  missionary  work  in  New  Mexico. 

Robert  M.  Flill,  one  of  the  founders  of  this  church,  worked  at  day  wages 
for  a  few  shillings  per  day,  to  pay  for  the  few  evergreens  and  willow  trees 
which  now  grace  the  front  yard  of  this  beautiful  country  church.  These  now 
tall,  stately  trees  will  doubtless  stand  in  their  waving  green  long  years  after 
the  death  of  the  devout  man  who.  in  the  prime  of  his  manhood,  planted  them, 
a  living,  growing  monument  to  his  rare  devotion  to  the  cause  he  had  so 
sacrificed   for. 


172  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

NEWTOX      UNITED     PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH. 

The  United  rresbyterian  church  at  Newton  has  a  history  running  along 
the  same  lines  as  the  one  in  Palo  Alto,  just  mentioned.  It  sprang  from  this 
parent  church  in  1873.  and  they  worshiped  in  the  Presbyterian  church  until 
they  purchased  the  old  Universalist  church  building.  After  a  number  of  years 
they  tore  this  down  and  erected  in  1897  their  present  neat  church  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Olive  and  McDonald  streets,  the  old  site  of  the  original  Universalist 
building.  Tlie  same  pastors  have  served  both  this  and  the  Palo  Alto  church 
for  all  of  these  eventful  years.  Just  now  they  have  no  pastor.  The  present 
membership  is  something  over  one  hundred  and  seventy. 

UNITED    r.RETIIREN     IN     HICKORY    GROVE    TOWNSHIP. 

This  churcli  was  formed  in  1872,  organized  by  Rev.  G.  P.  Fisher  in 
Hickory  Grove  township,  where  there  is  also  another  of  the  same  denomina- 
tion. The  one  now  written  of  is  known  as  Hickory  Gro\'e,  and  the  other,  a 
history  of  which  follows  this,  is  known  as  the  Union  Chapel.  Hickoiy  Grove 
church  now  has  a  membership  of  about  sixty.  The  only  remaining  charter 
member  of  this  society  is  Mrs.  Priscilla  Burroughs. 

The  building  at  Hickory  is  frame,  thirty-six  by  forty  feet,  and  in  the 
beginning  cost  one  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  but  in  later  times  has  been 
remodeled  and  added  to,  at  an  expense  of  one  thousand  five  hundred  dollars 
more. 

UNION     CHAPEL     UNITED     BRETHREN. 

This  societ\  was  organized  in  section  5.  Hickory  township,  sometime 
early  in  the  eighties.  Its  edifice  cost,  originally,  one  thousand  three  hundred 
dollars.  It  has  a  present  membership  of  about  fifty.  One  of  the  members 
has  kindly  furnished  the  following  facts  concerning  this  society  : 

In  the  eighties,  sometime  after  the  school  house  was  built  on  section  5, 
Hickor\'  Grove  township,  the  United  Brethren  organized  a  class  and  the 
preacher  from  the  Hickory  Grove  church  of  the  same  denomination,  preached 
at  the  school  house  in  the  afternoon,  once  in  two  weeks.  The  members  at' 
that  date  were  as  follows:  Daniel  Benedict  and  wife,  Hiram  Benedict  and 
wife,  Dewitt  Benedict  and  wife.  Thomas  Doane  and  wife.  Nathaniel  Welch 
and  wife. 

The  pastors  who  have  served  here  are  the  same  as  served  at  the  Hickory 
Grove  church,  and  included  these,  but  the  list  is  incomplete :     Revs.  Durfee, 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  1 73 

George  Rose.  George  \'andeventer,  W.  T.  Dawson,  Frank  Butley,  A.  B.  C. 
Dewatter,  R.  L.  Purely,  H.  E.  Slattery,  D.  C.  and  A.  M.  Tolbett,  E.  A. 
Elliott.  L.  L.  Nichols,  under  whom  the  church  was  erected;  Revs.  L.  "L. 
Nichols,  1898;  W.  A.  King;  1899,  W.  A.  King;  1900.  A.  T.  Wright;  1901- 
02,  W.  Stevenson;  1903.  E.  C.  Wolcott;  1904,  E.  C.  McCurdy;  1905-06,  N.  F. 
Hicks;  1907-8,  C.  Violett;  1909,  C.  E.  McCurdy;  1910,  R.  P.  Roberts;  191 1. 
C.  C.  Hobson. 

The  present  building  was  erected  in  1869-70,  as  above  referred  to,  and 
tion  5,  township  81,  range  17.  It  is  twenty-six  by  forty  feet,  is  built  with 
arched  ceiling  and  is  beautifully  frescoed  and  has  modern  seats. 

CONGREGATIONAL     CHURCHES. 

The  Congregational  church  at  Xewton  was  formed  in  September,  1856. 
Rev.  J.  R.  Mershon  was  the  moderator  at  the  organizing  meeting.  The  first 
membership  was  as  follows :  C.  B.  and  Alary  W.  Eels,  Robert  and  Marinda 
Scott,  Edwin  and  Ruth  Ann  Scott.  Chester  and  Henrietta  Seymour.  Elhan- 
nan  Winslow  and  wife,  P.  E.  and  Matilda  J.  Charrand,  Lemuel  Scoville,  J. 
R.  Mershon,  Elisha  Woodruff  and  Mrs.  A.  A.  Stevens. 

In  1859  a  church  was  built  at  the  cost  of  two  thousand"  five  hundred  dol- 
lars ;  it  was  thirty  by  fifty  feet  in  size,  with  an  anteroom  and  was  surmounted 
by  a  bell.  In  1878  this  church  had  a  membership  of  one  hupdred  and  fifty. 
Its  membership  in  the  spring  of  191 1  was  four  hundred  and  thirteen.  The 
present  beautiful  church  building  was  built  in  1892,  at  a  cost  of  fifteen  thou- 
sand dollars. 

The  pastors  who  have  served  this  church  include  the  following :  Re^■s. 
E.  P.  Kimball,  E.  N.  Bartlett,  from  July,  1858,  to  December,  i860;  E.  D. 
Jones,  from  February,  1861,  to  February,  1863;  George  H.  Beecher.  from 
August.  1863.  to  May,  1864;  H.  E.  Barnes,  from  June.  1864,  to  July,  1868; 
E.  N.  Bartlett,  from  September,  1868,  to  September,  1869;  W.  L.  Bray,  from 
January,  1870,  to  September,  1870;  D.  H.  Rogan.  from  September,  1871.  to 
August.  1874;  R.  P.  Foster,  from  May,  1875,  to  March,  1876;  E.  D.  Eaton, 
from  November,  1876,  to  December,  1879;  J.  E.  Bissell,  from  July,  1884,  to 
1890;  C.  H.  Harrah,  from  September.  1890,  to  May,  1897;  B.  C.  Baum- 
gardner,  from  May,  1897.  to  May.  1900;  J.  \\'.  Cowan,  from  August.  1900. 
to  October,  1901 ;  G.  L.  Smith,  from  March,  1902,  to  May,  1906;  A.  B. 
Appleby,  from  September,  1906,  to  1910;  George  H.  Kemp,  from  November. 
1 9 10,  the  present  pastor. 


174  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

The  Congregational  church  of  Kellogg  is  among  the  oldest  societies  of 
that  place.  It  dates  its  organization  from  February,  1868.  when  a  council 
convened  for  that  purpose,  made  up  of  the  following  gentlemen :  Rev. 
H.  E.  Barnes,  of  Newton;  Rev.  T.  G.  Brainard,  of  Grinnell.  and  Rev.  S.  J. 
Whitton,  of  the  old  W'ittemberg  church.  The  pulpit  was  supplied  from  Grinnell 
and  other  towns  until  the  call  of  the  first  pastor.  Rev.  A.  Lyman,  of  Sheffield, 
Illinois,  who  remained  a  number  of  years,  doing  excellent  work.  In  June, 
1869,  several  members  purchased  the  old  Union  meeting  house  and  fitted  it 
up  for  themselves  as  a  church  home.  In  1878  the  society  had  a  membership 
of  about  sixty.  Up  to  that  time  the  pastors  had  been  Revs.  A.  Lyman,  R. 
Hassell  and  H.  S.  Thompson.  Year  after  year  the  church  grew  and  pros- 
pered until  by  removal  from  the  community  and  by  deaths  the  society  finally, 
in  1909,  had  to  give  up  its  support  of  a  pastor  and  soon  the  Sunday  school 
also  went  down.  The  society  now  only  has  a  few  members,  who  deeply  re- 
gret the  fact  that  services  in  their  own  church  can  not  be  maintained ;  how- 
ever, with  true  Christian  spirit,  they  willingly  worship  with  some  one  of  the 
other  orthodox  churches  in  the  town. 

In  May.  1889,  the  church  dedicated  a  new  frame  church.  Dr.  Magoun, 
of  Grinnell  College,  preached  the  dedicatory  sermon.  Rev.  Edward  Allen 
was  serving  as  pastor  of  the  church  at  that  time.  Deacon  William  F.  Pringle 
was  a  deacon  and  treasurer,  as  well  as  church  clerk  for  many  years,  even  up 
to  within  a  short  time  before  he  was  called  hence  by  death. 

The  last  pastor  here  was  Rev.  J.  Franklin  Smith,  who  ceased  his  labors 
in  March,  1909,  a  few  months  ahead  of  the  time  for  which  he  had  really 
contracted  for. 

THE     PRAIRIE     CITY     CONGREGATIONAL     CHURCH. 

The  Congregational  church  at  Prairie  City  was  formed  in  ]\Iarch,  1868. 
It  was  accomplished  through  the  untiring  labors  of  Rev.  C.  H.  Eaton.  The 
constituent  members  were  E.  Adkins  and  wife,  Sarah  Fugard.  Elijah  Elliott 
and  wife,  John  Hume  and  wife,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Sladen,  Mrs.  Bidwell  and 
possibly  a  few  more. 

The  building  committee,  in  September.  1868,  consisted  of  E.  Adkins 
and  C.  H.  Eaton.  The  first  building  was  finished  in  the  spring  of  1869,  and 
dedicated  June  20th  that  year.  Its  cost  was  about  two  thousand  dollars.  In 
1877  the  recorded  membership  of  this  society  was  fortv-five.  Its  present 
membership  is  not  large,  but  they  are  all  devout  church  workers. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  1 75 

The  present  Iniilding  was  erected  in  1869-70.  as  above  referred  to.  and 
is  of  the  New  England  type  of  "meeting  houses"  so  called  there.  A  basement 
is  being  provided  for  the  church  now. 

The  following  have  served  as  the  pastors  of  this  church :  Revs.  C.  H. 
Eaton.  C.  C.  Harrah.  J.  Allender,  William  J.  Smith.  Charles  Slater,  B.  F. 
Sherman.  J-  W.  Ferner,  two  or  more  years;  Rev.  Sharpley.  about  the  same 
length  of  pastorate:  then  for  four  years  there  was  no  pastor;  the  next  was 
Rev.  H.  M.  Skeels,  who  held  meetings  for  a  month  and  sent  Rev.  Houston 
for  pastor  and  he  remained  one  year  and  was  followed  by  Rev.  W.  W.  Hazen. 
for  three  years:  then  came  Rev.  J.  J-  ^litchell,  who  served  seven  years,  and 
was  followed  by  Rew  W.  C.  Barber :  next  was  Rev.  R.  B.  Hall,  followed  by 
Rev.  George  Deakin  and  Rev.  A.  A.  Thorn.  The  present  pastor.  Rev. 
William  C.  North,  was  called  in  1909. 

MOXROE     CONGREGATIOXAL     CHURCH. 

At  ^lonroe  the  Congregational  church  was  formed  in  1866,  with  about 
twenty-five  members,  under  the  ministration  of  Rev.  Thomas  ^Merrill,  of 
Newton,  who  remained  as  pastor  during  the  first  year's  history.  Among  the 
first  to  unite  with  this  society  may  be  recalled  the  names  of  Theodore 
Bethel  and  wife,  ^Mr.  Holdridge  and  wife  and  W.  H.  Langan  and  wife. 

The  same  year  the  church  was  built,  twenty-eight  by  fortv  feet  in  size, 
with  a  tower  and  l^ell  swung  within  the  same.  This  building  was  erected  on 
the  east  side  of  the  square,  on  ^^lonroe  street. 

The  pastors  have  included  these :  Revs.  S.  N.  Crout,  two  years :  C.  C. 
Harrah.  one  year:  C.  N.  Bingham,  four  years;  Rev.  C.  C.  Harrah  returned 
in  1876  and  served  several  years. 

The  church  finally  went  down  for  lack  of  support  and  the  building  was 
bought  by  the  Baptist  society,  who  have  remodeled  and  re-built  it  and  now 
occupy  the  same. 

SULLY    COXGREGATIOXAL    CHURCH. 

This  is  one  of  the  latest  churches  formed  in  Jasper  county,  the  date  of 
its  organization  being  Februarv-  i.  191 1.  Tt  has  a  membership  of  about 
fifty  persons.  The  constituent  members  were  F.  G.  Ayhnore  and  wife.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  F.  G.  Sherman.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goat.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  M.  Forsythe. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  E.  Forsythe.  F.  M.  Sherman,  ^^r.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Wells.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  E.  Awtrv,  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  C.  T  Roten.  Mr  and  Mrs.  John  Bnmner, 


176  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  S.  Haines,  ^Iv.  and  Mis.  P.  A.  Kling,  Mrs.  G.  Youngkin, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ch-de  Mitchell.  Mrs.  D.  Mitchell,  Mrs.  John  Holdsworth,  Mrs. 
E.  J.  Haines,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fred  Haines,  Mrs.  Hammer. 

The  only  pastor  the  society  has  ever  had  is  the  present  one,  Rev.  Fred 
G.  Ayhnore.  The  trustees  are  William  Talbot,  F.  M.  Sherman,  A.  C.  Boat 
(treasurer),  F.  G.  Sherman  (clerk). 

A  neat  church  edifice  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  one  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars,  size  thirty  by  forty-five  feet,  on  the  north  half  of  lots  Nos. 
I,  2  and  3,  block  16,  Sully. 

NEWBURG     CONGREGATIONAL     CHURCH. 

This  society  was  formed  ]\larch  28,  1880.  During  the  winter  of  1879- 
80,  Rev.  F.  H.  ^lagoun,  of  Gilman,  preached  at  Newburg  school  house. 
Several  persons  were  converted  to  this  faith  and  hence  a  church  was  formed 
at  once.  H.  H.  Morris,  A.  H.  Palmer  and  J.  R.  Dewhurst  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  send  letters  missive  to  the  churches  at  Toledo,  Chester,  Grin- 
nell,  Kellogg,  Gilman  and  ^Nlarshalltown,  also  to  Rev.  C.  H.  Eaton,  President 
G.  F.  Magoun,  Rev.  J.  M.  Chamberlain  and  Prof.  S.  G.  Barnes.  Other  meet- 
ings were  held  and  articles  of  faith  and  covenant  were  adopted  and  several 
persons  presented  themselves  for  admission  as  members  by  letter  and  by  pro- 
fession of  faith. 

On  April  8,  1880,  the  council,  composed  of  pastors  and  delegates  from 
the  invited  churches,  and  Rev.  G.  F.  Magoun  and  C.  H.  Eaton  of  Grinnell, 
assembled  and  proceeded  to  organize  the  church  with  the  following  members : 
George  H.  [Morris,  from  First  Congregational  church,  Grinnell;  Howard 
H.  Morris,  from  First  Congregational  church.  Grinnell;  Mrs.  Mary  O. 
Morris,  from  First  Baptist  church,  Tiskilwa,  Illinois ;  A.  H.  Palmer,  from 
First  Congregational  church,  Gilman,  Iowa;  Mrs.  Abi  Palmer,  from  First 
Congregational  church.  Gilman ;  William  Parker,  from  First  Congregational 
church,  Gilman;  Mrs.  Hannah  J-  Parker,  from  First  Congregational  church. 
Gilman ;  James  R.  Dewhurst.  from  First  Congregational  church,  Gilman ; 
James  R.  Wood,  from  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  Gilman;  ]\Irs.  Elizabeth 
Royer,  from  First  Congregational  church,  Chester;  Mrs.  Olive  N.  ISTewton, 
from  United  Brethren  church.  Hickory  Grove;  Harrison  Newton,  on  pro- 
fession ;  John  Newcomer,  on  profession ;  Mrs.  Laura  Newcomer,  on  profes- 
sion; Mrs.  Lucy  T.  Morgan,  on  profession;  Miss  Lottie  E.  Sisco,  on  pro- 
fession; Miss  Emma  Kate  Williar,  on  profession;  Mrs.  Laurette  Green,  on 
profession;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wheelan,  on  profession. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  .    I// 

A  church  was  erected  on  lots  9  and  10,  block  2,  of  Xewburg,  costing 
three  thousand  dollars.  It  is  thirty-two  by  forty-eight  feet  and  built  of  lum- 
ber. There  are  now  about  forty  members  in  the  church.  The  following 
have  served  as  pastors : 

Revs.  C.  H.  Eaton,  1880-81:  F.  H.  Magoun.  1881-2;  W.  L.  Coleman, 
August  1882,  to  July.  1884;  G.  M.  D.  Slocum,  1884  to  1887;  A.  J.  Houston, 
June.  1887,  to  latter  part  of  1891  ;  C.  L.  Hammond,  March,  1898,  to  De- 
cember. 1903:  G.  R.  Chambers,  April,  1894.  to  1907;  H.  L.  Wissler,  Januarv, 
1898,  and  still  pastor. 

WITTEMBURG     C0XGREG.\TI0N  AL     CHURCH. 

Wittemburg  Congregational  church  of  Newton  township  was  organized 
in  1865  by  members  of  the  Free  Presbyterian  church  and  now  enjoys  a 
membership  of  ninety-seven  members.  The  size  of  the  edifice  is  thirty-six 
b\-  sixty  feet,  its  cost  being  about  two  thousand  dollars.  The  parsonage 
and  three  acres  of  land  are  now  valued  at  two  thousand,  five  hundred  dol- 
lars. 

The  following  have  served  as  pastors :  Revs.  David  Crage,  S.  Whiton, 
White.  DeBois.  S.  Mills,  J.  J.  Mitchell,  W.  M  Dunham,  E.  Durant,  S.  A. 
Arnold,  A.  J.  Benton,  R.  F.  Lavender. 

To  go  into  the  origin  of  this  church  and  society  it  will  be  well  to  in- 
troduce the  reader  to  Rev.  Thomas  ]<klerrill  and  Richard  Sherer  and  others 
from  southern  Ohio,  all  members  of  the  Free  Presbyterian  denomination 
and  anti-slavery  men  who  settled  in  1853  in  Newton  township,  this  county. 

They  believed  God  had  created  all  men  free  and  equal  and  many  a  poor 
black  man  and  woman  (runaway  slaves)  found  refuge  and  help  from  them 
in  the  days  of  Jasper  county's  "underground  railroad."  They  also  founded 
Wittemberg  Manual  Labor  College  in  this  township,  an  account  of  which 
W.  O.  McElroy  has  kindlv  written  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Rev.  Merrill 
taught  and  preached  for  this  society  until  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  Company 
B,  Fifth  Iowa  Infantry  Regiment,  as  its  chaplain.  Rev.  Poage  filled  his  ])ul- 
pit  while  he  was  at  the  front  fighting  and  praying  for  the  cause  of  the 
L'nion.  After  his  return  he  became  a  home  missionary,  preaching  to  the  people 
of  Wild  Cat  Grove,  Newton,  Rushville.  etc.,  and  the  strong  moral  influence 
he  threw  into  the  community  is  felt  even  to  this  day. 

The  Civil  war  having  forever  settled  the  slavery  question,  which  had 
divided  the  main  Presbyterian  lx)dy  before  the  war.  and  the  fact  that  there 
were  but  few  Presbvterian  churches  in  Iowa,  one  night  at  a  church  meeting 
(12) 


IjS-  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

at  the  suggestion  of  pioneer  John  P.  Beatty,  of  the  Free  Presbyterian  body 
here,  and  \\ho  still  lives  at  Newton,  honored  and  revered  by  all  who  ap- 
preciate good  old  gentlemen,  a  Congregational  church  was  organized  in 
1865,  as  shown  above.     /\.t  first  the  membership  was  forty-seven. 

Owing  to  the  fact  of  this  being  an  early  church  of  this  denomination 
and  the  circumstances  imder  Avhich  it  was  formed,  it  may  be  of  interest  to 
note  who  the  charter  members  were,  their  names  following : 

Samuel  Failor,  Mrs.  Lucy  Skiff,,  ^Irs.  Berrie  Dodge,  L.  A.  Dungan, 
John  P.  Beatty,  Mrs.  E.  K.  J.  Beatty,  John  M.  King,  Julia  M.  King,  M.  V. 
Calhoun.  \\'.  S.  Calhoun.  Albert  Harrah,  Mrs.  E.  M.  King,  Mrs.  Sarah 
Bosworth,  William  Bosworth.  Mrs.  Margaret  Woods,  William  Woods,  W. 
N.  Dungan,  Mrs.  B.  Dungan,  Dorcas  Hanger,  George  Hanger,  Mrs.  Abi- 
gail Hanger.  Phoebe  Condit,  Mrs.  J.  V.  Crawford,  Sarah  Crawford,  James 
R.  Crawford,  Mrs.  Mary  Jackson,  Thomas  Vanatta,  Rebeca  Sherer,  Martha 
Wade,  D.  C.  Work.  :\Iaggie  E.  Work,  George  F.  Work,  William  Work, 
]\Iargaret  Work,  Maria  Banks.  N.  E.  Baxter,  James  R.  Poage,  Harriet  E. 
Poage,  Bell  ^^^  Poage,  Jane  R.  Poage,  George  L.  Poage,  L.  E.  Merrill.  S. 
E.  Merrill.  E.  J.  Merrill. 

Too  much  can  not  well  he  recorded  of  the  good  accomplished  by  Rev. 
]Merrill  and  his  excellent,  devoted  family.  The  daughters,  Lucy  and  Sarah, 
were  fine  singers,  the  former  ha\'ing  a  sweet,  strong  soprano  voice,  while 
her  sister  had  a  fine  contralto.  Those  days  there  were  no  hymn  books  and 
the  minister  read  the  lines,  after  which  all  the  congregation  joined  in  sing- 
ing the  same.  The  people  came  from  many  miles  around  on  horseback 
on  foot  and  w  ith  big  lumber  wagons.  They  had  no  roads,  but  traveled  along 
trails  along  the  higher  divides.  No  matter  what  might  be  the  weather, 
the  meeting  house  was  always  full. 

Sarah  Merrill,  the  eldest  daughter  above  named,  edited  a  college-church 
paper,  giving  the  lecture  and  weekly  news  of  the  community. 

CHURCH     OF     CHRIST      (dISCIPLES). 

This  denomination  is  quite  strong  in  Jasper  county,  having  in  1905 
four  congregations  with   a  total  membership  of  sixteen   hundred. 

The  first  church  of  this  denomination  to  organize  within  the  county  was 
at  Lynnville,  in  1857.  It  was  then  styled  in  this  section  of  the  country  as 
the  "New  Light"  church.  This  organization  was  perfected  by  Elders  James 
Ouillan  and  John  A.  Killim.  As  near  as  can  now  be  learned,  the  original 
members  included  Boston  Finders  and  wife,  IVIatthew  Sparks  and  wife,  and 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  1 79 

possibly  three  others.     Soon  afterwards,  Mrs.  Mayfield,  John  R.  Sparks,  Jr., 
and  Stephen  J.  Sparks  united. 

During  the  Civil  war,  many  having-  enlisted  in  the  defense  of  their  coun- 
try's flag,  the  church  became  almost  extinct,  but  at  the  close  of  the  great 
civil  strife  it  was  at  once  revived,  nearly  all  the  male  membership  having 
been  fortunate  enough  to  return  to  their  homes.  In  1878  the  record  shows 
the  church  to  have  enjoyed  a  membership  of  about  one  hundred. 

CHURCH     OF     CHRIST     AT     NEWTON. 

At  Ne\\ton  the  first  church  of  this  sect  to  organize  was  formed  in 
1864  by  Elders  N.  A.  McConnell  and  Allen  Hickey,  with  twenty-six  mem- 
bers. T.  F.  Brown  and  C.  M.  Davis  were  chosen  elders  and  William  Broth- 
ers, Alvah  Viles  and  William  N.   Harrah,  deacons. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  November,  1867,  it  was  decided  to  build.  At 
least  twenty-three  members  wanted  to  and  signed  a  petition  to  do  so,  but 
others  of  the  church  refused  to  co-operate  and  withdrew  from  membership. 
This  weakened  the  church,  and  in  fact  it  did  not  fully  recover  from  the 
secession  until  1869,  when,  by  the  earnest  efforts  of  Elder  Richards,  nearly 
all  of  the  seceders  were  induced  to  return  to  the  flock.  During  the  winter 
of  1869-70  occurred  a  genuine  revival,  by  which  many  were  added  to  the 
church.  After  this  protracted  meeting  the  matter  of  building  was  taken  up 
and  the  plans  carried  forward  and  the  house  of  worship  was  completed  two 
years  later.  This  house  cost  three  thousand  one  hundred  dollars  and  was 
thirty-six  by  fifty-six  feet  in  size.  The  dedication  sermon  was  preached  by  El- 
der Hill,  of  Des  Moines,  February  25.  1872.  The  structure  was  of  frame  and 
served  the  congregation  until  the  present  fine  edifice  was  built  in  1893,  at 
a  cost  of  twelve  thousand  dollars.  It  is  a  frame  structure,  built  in  modern 
style  and  well  furnished.  The  present  membership  of  this  church  is  three 
hundred  and  seventy-five,  having  grown  from  a  charter  membership  of 
twenty-three.  The  191 1  officers  of  the  church  are:  Elders,  E.  C.  Ogg, 
James  Lee,  A.  Dennis;  deacons,  C.  H.  Holden,  Lee  Hayes,  John  Hews. 
Frank  Morrow,  A.  Green,  Frank  Starrett,  P.  C.  Daly:  clerk,  E.  C.  Smith: 
treasurer,  Mrs.  Jennie  Ogg;  chorister,  ^Irs.  Laura  Reeves:  trustees,  George 
Hows,  James  Lee,  E.  C.  Ogg. 

The  various  pastors  include  the  following  in  about  the  order  given : 
Revs.  Blackwell,  Gay,  Roach,  Dennis,  Johnson,  three  years:  S.  B.  Letson. 
one  year;  J.  K.  Cornell,  four  years;  B.  F.  Alesworth,  three  years;  S.  J. 
Martin,  one  vear  and  a  half;  L.  C.  Pace,  one  year;  J.  C.  Hanna,  three  years; 


l8o  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

J.  H.  Freeman,  one  year;  W.  H.  Betts,  one  year;  E.  F.  Leake,  present  pastor, 
having  served  in  all  eight  years. 

In  the  country  this  denomination  has  churches  at  Baxter,  Kellogg, 
Galesburg,  Prairie  City,  Colfax,  besides  the  N^ewton  church. 

CHRISTIAN     CHURCH     AT     COLFAX. 

« 

The  Christian  church  at  Colfax  was  formed  in  February,  1890,  by  Rev. 
Wilson  and  about  a  dozen  members,  but  has  grown  to  a  society  numbering 
two  hundred  and  forty-three  now.  The  original  members  were  Wesley 
Jordan.  Lavina  Jordan.  Cora  Jordan,  C.  A.  Dotson,  Mariam  Dotson,  and 
daughter.  Sadie  D.  Hurst;  W.  B.  Wells,  Amanda  Wells,  Emily  Myhill, 
Flora  Robinson,  F.  A.  Smith,  Jennie  Smith,  Elihu  Wiley,  Nancy  Wiley, 
Walter  Hall.  Ann  Penn,  C.  D.   Snow. 

Howard  Street  chapel  was  erected  in  1891,  and  dedicated  January  10, 
1892.     Its  cost  was  seven  thousand  dollars. 

The  first  pastor  was  A.  ]\I.  Haggard, now  dean  of  Drake  University.  Other 
ministers  have  been  B.  O.  Aylsworth,  E.  A.  Ott,  H.  L.  Laye,  O.  H.  KHng, 
J.  H.  Ragan.  W.  S.  Stairs,  P.  H  Popplewell,  Lyle  De  Jarnett,  Vernon  Har- 
rington, Gertrude  Harmon.  Jesse  Bader. 

The  present  officers  are  S.  A.  Potts,  A.  \\'hitehead,  elders ;  W.  T.  Davis, 
Charles  A.  Butler,  B.  E.  Copeland,  John  Price,  Dr.  Edward  Bowker,  George 
T.  Robinson,  Elton  Briggs,  deacons ;  Mrs.  Chloe  C.  Dawson,  Mrs.  Mattie 
Penquite,  Mrs.  Rose  M.  Scott,  Mrs.  Bell  Weirick,  Miss  IMinnie  Tripp,  Mrs. 
Maggie  Price,  deaconesses.    The  church  clerk  is  W.  E.  Brown. 

CHRISTIAN     CHURCH   OF     KELLOGG. 

At  Kellogg  the  Christian  denomination  first  organized  themselves  into 
a  church  society,  located  at  the  Saum's  school  house,  in  Buena  Vista  town- 
ship, June  26,  1870,  with  sixteen  members.  The  first  officers  were:  Jesse 
Reed,  Luther  Foot.  G.  W.  Close,  elders ;  S.  A.  Saum,  Robert  Ludwick, 
deacons. 

In  1875  the  society  moved  to  Kellogg,  and  in  the  spring  of  1877  a 
church  building  thirty-eight  by  forty-five  feet  in  size  was  erected  at  a  cost 
of  one  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  It  was  dedicated  June  23,  1877.  In 
1878  the  church  had  a  membership  of  seventy-five.  Its  present  membership 
is  one  hundred  and  fifty. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  l8l 

An  addition  to  the  old  clnircli  was  made  later,  at  a  cost  of  one  thousand 
dollars.  The  following  have  been  the  pastors  of  this  society :  Elders,  T.  F. 
Brown,  Ellis  and  J.  E.  Gaston,  Elder  Dyer,  D.  R.  Lucas,  J.  B.  Vantor,  Rev. 
Roach,  Rev.  McConnell,  M.  S.  Johnson,  T.  F.  Odimreller,  A.  M.  Haggard, 
Rev.  Mclntyre,  Rev.  Roby,  and  C.  F.  Ladd. 

PRAIRIE     CITY     CHRISTIAN     CHURCH. 

It  is  not  certain  when  this  church  was  organized,  but  it  was  not  later 
than  1857  or  1858.  This  was  through  the  efforts  of  Elder  J.  P.  Roach. 
In  an  historic  account  of  this  branch  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  compiled  in 
1877-8,  we  find  the  following  record  made: 

"Elder  White,  the  present  pastor,  states  that  when  he  began  his  labors 
here  the  society  had  erected  a  frame  building — this  was  in  1868.  He  also 
found  members  as  follows :  J.  H.  Elliott  and  wife.  Reason  Moore,  Lemuel 
Doud  and  wife,  Jesse,  Frazier  and  wife,  Morris  McKeever,  Dr.  Adams, 
Charles  Norris  and  wife,  and  probably  J.  W.  Deweese.  Mr.  White  undertook 
to  carry  on  a  revival  and  succeeded  in  bringing  some  twenty  persons  into  the 
church.  The  building  was  completed  in  1869,  and  the  dedication  held,  at  which 
Prof.  G.  T.  Carpener,  of  Oskaloosa,  preached.  The  building  cost  three 
thousand,  five  hundred  dollars;  is  thirty-four  by  fifty-one  feet  in  size,  and  is 
provided  with  a  bell."  This  same  church  bell  is  still  in  use,  calling  the  church- 
goers together. 

Notwithstanding  the  population  was  fluctuating,  the  organization  con- 
tinued to  grow  in  strength  and  influence  and  the  regular  services  were 
always  maintained. 

During  the  pastorate  of  L.  B.  Ames  the  present  parsonage  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  one  thousand  dollars. 

The  year  1893  marked  an  important  epoch  in  the  history  of  the  church, 
as  on  November  6th  the  handsome  new  brick  edifice  was  dedicated.  The 
cost  of  the  new  church  was  seven  thousand  one  hundred  sixty  dollars  and 
fifty  cents.  B.  A.  Wilkinson  served  as  pastor  at  this  time.  The  dedica- 
tory sermon  was  delivered  by   F.  M.   Rains  of  Cincinnati. 

During  its  organization  the  following  have  served  as  pastors  of  the 
church  :  D.  R.  Ellis,  James  E.  Gaston.  George  T.  Carpenter,  John  C.  White, 
James  P.  Roach,  P.  Donan,  J.  C.  White,  a  second  term;  John  ^,L  Crocker. 
Henry  D.  Dennis,  D.  C.  Morris,  D.  R.  Dungan,  Joel  Brown,  Allen  Hickey. 
Lucius  B.  Ames.  B.  A.  Wilkinson,  Luther  Moore,  J.  A.  Bennett,  C.  A.  Grav. 


152  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Charles  E.  Wells,  M.  L.  Anthony,  A.  L.  Zink,  H.  C.  Strawn,  G.  H. 
Kemp.  A.  B.  Cornell,  twenty- four  in  all.  The  following  evangelists  have 
conducted  services  here :  E.  R.  Cotton,  Thomas  Brown,  ]\Iarion  Boyles, 
H.  P.  Dyer,  Alec.  AlcK\eever,  Clark  Braden,  Allen  Hickey,  George  F.  Devol, 
A.  B.  Moore,  Lee  B.  Myers,  Bruce  Brown,  J.  A.  Bennett,  Matthew  Small, 
C.  C.  Davis,  A.  B.  Leverett,  Rev.  Pickett. 

Besides  the  pastors  and  the  evangelists,  tlie  burden  of  the  church  has 
been  upheld  by  manv  faithful  men  and  women  who  have  prayed,  paid  and 
sacrificed  to  bring  the  congregation  to  its  present  efficiency. 

Since  the  organization,  seven  hundred  and  eighty-three  members  have 
been  enrolled  and  at  present  there  are  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  members. 

UNIVERSALIST      CHURCH. 

This  denomination  has  never  been  very  strong  in  the  west,  especially 
in  Iowa  and  in  Jasper  county. 

At  Newton,  right  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  war,  in  1865,  such  a  so- 
ciety was  formed  with  but  a  small  membership.  The  following  year  its 
numbers  had  increased  to  that  extent  that  it  was  thought  best  to  build  for 
themselves  a  house  of  worship.  They  bought  a  lot  with  an  unfinished 
church  building  upon  it,  for  which  they  paid  one  thousand  dollars.  This 
building  was  finished  to  the  taste  of  the  new  society  at  a  cost  of  two  thou- 
sand dollars  more,  making  the  whole  property  cost  three  thousand  dollars. 
It  was  situated  at  the  corner  of  Olive  and  McDonald  streets  and  still  stands. 

Up  to  1876  the  ministers  who  preached  for  this  society  included  Revs. 
Edmonds,  J-  B.  Gilman,  Woodbury,  Nash  and  Sage.  About  1874  Rev. 
Rogan,  a  former  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church,  having  modified  his 
radical  opinions,  resigned  his  charge  and  entered  into  other  work  for  a  time, 
but  in  1876  or  1877  he  began  to  hold  meetings  in  the  Universalist  church, 
which  were  attended  by  several  members  of  the  Congregationl  faitli.  This 
led  up  to  a  unity  of  organization  among  liis  hearers,  who  joined  in  the  plan 
of  employing  him  as  settled  pastor. 

The  trustees  in  1878  were  recorded  as  O.  G.  Drew,  Henry  Krisner. 
Albert  Harrah,  S.  N.  Lindley  and  John  Long.  .After  vears  of  struggle 
this  society  went  down  and  many  of  its  members  found  a  chiUTli  home  in 
the  Newton  Congregational  church.  The  Universalist  building  was  sold 
to  the  United  Presbyterian  society  whose  church  now  stands  where  stood 
the  old  church. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  1 83 

CATHOLIC      CHURCHES      OF      JASPER      COUNTY. 

In  the  early  history  of  the  county,  services  for  this  denomination  were 
held  every  six  months  by  Father  Brazil,  of  St.  Ambrose  church  of  Des 
Moines,  at  the  house  of  Michael  ]\Iorring^,  also  at  the  residence  of  James 
Hickey.  Finally,  in  1868,  a  church  building  was  erected  a  short  distance 
southwest  from  the  Rock  Island  depot  in  Newton,  which  continued  as  a 
place  of  worship  until  the  erection  of  the  present  Sacred  Heart  church, 
which  was  dedicated  in  1896.  A  rectory  was  erected  about  thirty  years  ago 
by  Father  Fogarty.  The  present  membership  of  the  Newton  church  is 
about  twenty-eight  families.  Attached  to  Newton  parish  are  the  missions 
at  Monroe  and  other  points  in  the  county,  while  at  Colfax  and  Valeria  a 
priest  has  charge  of  the  work  at  that  point  and  at  Colfax.  There  is  a  neat 
chapel  at  both  the  last  named  towns.  During  the  history  of  the  church  at 
Newton  there  have  been  fifteen  pastors,  including  Father  Braswin  and  the 
present  pastor,  Rev.  Father  Thomas  McCann.  The  latter  is  a  native  of 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  who  was  educated  in  the  parochial  schools  of 
his  native  city  and  later  he  studied  in  the  college  of  Mount  St.  Mary  at  Em- 
metsburg,  Maryland ;  also  at  St.  Mary's  University  and  Johns  Hopkins  Uni- 
versity, Baltimore,  Maryland.     He  came  to  Newton  in   1909. 

At  Kjellogg  the  first  Catholic  services  were  held  in  the  early  seventies, 
soon  after  the  construction  of  the  Rock  Island  railroad.  The  work  was 
then  under  the  guidance  of  Father  Fogarty.  of  Newton.  There 'are  a  few 
families  of  this  denomination  at  Kellogg  at  present  and  are  cared  for  by 
the  Newton  priest. 

At  Monroe  the  Catholic  people  organized  a  church  in  1865.  Father 
■\IcCabe  was  the  first  priest  to  hold  Catholic  services  at  this  point.  He 
found  here  the  families  of  Edward  Mead,  Patrick  Mulkahey.  Michael 
Cragin  and  Daniel  Holland,  whom  he  at  once  organized  into  a  church  so- 
ciety. 

In  1875  3.  building  was  erected  under  the  pastorate  of  Father  Malone. 
It  was  thirty  by  fifty  feet  in  size,  costing  about  two  thousand  dollars.  In 
1878  the  society,  or  congregation,  numbered  about  twenty  families  and  at 
this  writing  it  has  a  membership  of  many  more  families. 

The  various  pastors  who  have  had  charge  here  have  included  Revs. 
McCabe.  Cogan.  Lewisman.  J.   P.  Clabby,  Minahan.  ]\falone,  Fogarty. 

EPISCOPAL     CHURCH. 

Not  manv  of  this  religious  faith  have  ever  united  in  a  society  in  Jasper 
county.  There  was.  however,  one  such  church  formed  in  Newton,  St. 
Stephen's  parish,  which  was  organized  by  Rev.  \\\  T.   Currie  in  October, 


184  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

1867.  the  same  being  incorporated  December  i,  1868.  The  original  mem- 
bers were  J.  Green,  M.  B.  Atwater,  F.  P.  Miller,  S.  Van  Riper,  Thomas 
Arthur,  D.   and  R.   Ryan. 

The  corner  stone  for  the  church  was  laid  in  September,  1871,  and  the 
edifice  was  finished,  except  the  spire,  in  Easter  time,  1874.  The  cost  of 
church,  furnishings,  painting  and  grounds,  amounted  to  about  six  thou- 
sand dollars. 

The  rectors  who  ser\ed,  so  far  as  can  now  be  learned,  were  Revs.  W. 
T.  Currie,  T.  B.  Niewby,  J.  H.  Magoffin,  S.  C.  Gaynor. 

In  1878  the  record  shows  that  there  were  about  thirty  communicants 
in  St.  Stephen  parish.  In  later  years  the  society  found  it  impossible  to  sup- 
port a  regular  rector  and  services  were  discontinued  for  a  long  period  at  a 
time,  but  in  the  spring  of  191 1  the  society  had  been  revived  again  and  a 
regular  pastor  secured  and  regular  services  are  now  held  again. 

MORMON     CHURCH. 

There  have  been  but  two  societies  of  these  religionists  in  this  county, 
and  that  was  the  church  formed  at  Newton  about  1858  and  continued  about 
a  quarter  of  a  century.  John  X.  Davis  was  its  president.  It  came  to  have  a 
membership  of  about  forty,  who  held  services  in  a  hall  on  the  north  side  of 
the  public  square.  The  belief  of  this  peculiar  sect  is  based  jointly  on  the 
Bible  and  the  "Book  of  Mormon,"  which  latter  was  accepted  as  a  later 
revelation  to  the  original  Bible. 

A  society  flourished  at  Monroe  for  a  number  of  years,  but  finally  went 
down. 

LUTHERAN      CHURCH      AT      KELLOGG. 

St.  Clement's  Lutheran  church  at  Kellogg  was  formed  in  1869,  by 
Rev.  F.  A.  Boden,  who  served  as  pastor  many  years.  In  1878  the  congre- 
gation had  a  membership  amounting  to  thirty  families.  In  1873  ^  house  of 
worship  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  one  thousand  three  hundred  and  sixty -five 
dollars.  The  present  membership  is  about  seventy  communicants.  The  first 
child  christened  here  was  that  of  ]\[r.  and  Mrs.  Louis  Boden.  August  31,  1873. 
Rev.  J.  G.  Olterman,  now  of  State  Center.  Iowa,  was  pastor  here  until  a  few 
months  since,  he  being  the  last  pastor  serving  the  congregation. 

At  Elk  Creek,  this  denomination  has  another  church  of  about  seventy- 
five  communicants,  worshipping  in  a  frame  church  erected  in  1900. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  1 85 

THE   NEWTON     LUTHERAN     CHURCH. 

This  society  was  organized  in  July.  1868.  under  the  labors  of  Rev. 
H.  S.  Cook.  The  first  members  were  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Failor,  Mr.  Ramsey, 
and  wife,  Joseph  Lyday  and  wife,  John  Dutot  and  wife,  J.  T.  Xewell  and 
wife.  Dr.  Benjamin  Failor  and  wife  and  Andrew  Failor. 

A  house  of  worship  was  erected  in  1873,  known  as  the  "Ten-Cent 
Church."  About  two  thousand  dollars  was  raised  by  the  society  and  alx)ut 
five  hundred  dollars  by  the  people  of  Xewton,  regardless  of  denominational 
lines.  This  not  being  sufficient  to  carry  out  their  plans,  the  pastor  sent  let- 
ters to  churches  in  Pennsylvania,  Ohio  and  other  states,  soliciting  ten-cent 
subscriptions  from  each  member  in  the  Eastern  churches.  About  eight 
hundred  dollars  was  thus  realized.  The  structure  was  built  of  brick,  a  short 
distance  from  the  northeast  angle  of  the  public  square  and  is  still  in  use.  In 
1878  this  society  had  a  membership  of  about  fifty  and  at  present  it  has  one 
hundred  and  fifty-six.  The  society  owns  the  church  and  a  good  frame 
parsonage,  near  by.  The  pastors  who  have  cared  for  this  congregation 
since  its  organization  have  been :  Revs.  H.  S.  Cook,  1869,  to  September  6, 
1876:  Walter  L.  Lilly,  April  8,  1877,  to  1878;  J.  H.  Culler,  1879  to  1884: 
Albert  Bell,  1884-87:  Rev.  O.  F.  Weaver,  B.  F.  Grenoble,  1888-92;  Rev. 
Litzell,   Rev.   Simon,   Rev.  Tait,   Rev.   Dieffenbach,  W.  L.   Bright. 

The  records  show  the  church  was  established  with  seventeen  members. 

THE     GERMAN      REFORMED     CHURCH. 

The  Bethany  German  Reformed  church  at  Baxter  was  located  one  mile 
east  of  the  village,  November  7,  1869,  with  about  twenty-six  constituent 
members,  including  these :  Simon  Haeger,  Henry  Krueger,  Karl  Krueger, 
Simon  Klemme.  Henry  Haeger,  Frederick  Krampe,  \\'illiam  Hermsmeier. 
Henry  Krampe  and  Henry  Kanne. 

The  following  have  served  as  pastors :  Rev.  Solomon  Elliker,  from 
July  4,  1869,  to  August  26,  1883 ;  Rev.  A.  Heineman,  from  November  7. 
1883,  to  January  13,  1889;  Rev.  Edward  Scheidt,  from  January  27.  1889, 
to  October,  1907:  Rev.  Paul  Treager.  from  April  5.  1908,  and  still  pastor. 

The  first  church  building  was  dedicated  July  25,  1869;  this  becoming  too 
small,  another  church  was  erected  in  its  place  and  dedicated  August 
18,  1878:  it  was  thirty-six  by  fifty-four  feet,  built  of  wood.  The  interior 
was  tastefully  arranged  and  fitted  out  with  a  large  two-manual  pipe  organ. 
On  Christmas  day,  1910.  this  edifice  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire.     Another 


1 86  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

church  of  pressed  brick,  forty  by  seventy-eight  feet,  with  a  steeple  eighty 
feet  high,  in  gothic  style,  is  now  under  course  of  construction. 

The  congregation  owns  a  large  parsonage,  a  school  house  for  parochial 
purposes  and  different  buildings  of  wood  construction,  representing  a  total 
value  of  about  twenty  thousand  dollars.  All  buildings  are  located  close  to- 
gether on  a  two  and  one-half  acre  tract.  It  also  owns  a  cemetery  of  two  and 
a  half  acres,  located  a  half  mile  north  of  the  church. 

The  congregation  is  now  composed  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  communi- 
cating members.  This  is  now,  perhaps,  the  only  church  in  Jasper  county 
where  regular  school  is  kept  exclusively  in  the  German  language  and  where 
all  services  are  conducted  entirely  in  the  same  language. 

Another  church  of  this  denomination  is  located  seven  miles  east  of 
Baxter,  known  as  the  Reformed  Zoar  church. 

REFORMED     CHURCH. 

At  Galesburg,  this  county,  there  was  formed  a  church  of  the  Reformed 
denomination,  early  in  July,  1891.  The  Reformed  Church  in  America  be- 
gan mission  work  at  this  point  and  in  October,  1891,  the  society  was  or- 
ganized. At  first  the  congregation  worshiped  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  later  in  the  Christian  church,  and  then  for  a  time  on  the  second 
floor  of  the  parsonage.  In  the  fall  of  1897  the  building  of  a  church  was 
contemplated,  and  on  the  nth  of  April,  1898,  the  corner  stone  was  laid 
and  on  July  13th,  the  same  year,  this  neat  mission  church  was  most  joy- 
fully dedicated.  People  from  different  parts  of  the  country  and  pastors  from 
the  various  denominations  participated. 

THE     CHRISTIAN     REFORMED     CHURCH. 

This  denomination  is  a  branch  of  the  great  Reformed  church  of  the 
world.  It  differs  from  the  Dutch  Reformed  church  only  in  minor  affairs, 
and  in  the  old  country  is  all  one  body.  At  Sully,  this  county,  this  church 
was  formed  in  1896.  The  denominations  are  represented  in  many  states 
and  territories  in  this  Union.  Among  the  original  charter  members  at  Sully 
were  these :  D.  Van  Zante,  of  Sully,  and  A.  G.  Vos,  of  Galesburg.  At 
present  there  are  eight  consistory  members.  The  present  total  membership  is 
three  hundred  and  forty-five  souls,  or  sixty-five  families. 

The  church  building  is  located  on  the  road  from  Killduff  to  Lynnville 
in  the  edge  of  the  village  of  Sully.     It  is  forty-four  by  sixty-six  feet.     The 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  iSj 

basement  is  of  cement  l>Iocks,  nine  feet  high,  the  balance  being  of  frame. 
It  stands  on  a  tract  of  eleven  acres  of  land  with  the  parsonage  in  the  center. 
The  first  church  was  sold  to  the  Congregational  people  and  in  January,  191 1, 
a  new  edifice  was  dedicated,  which,  together  with  the  parsonage,  etc.,  is 
valued  at  ten  thousand  dollars. 

The  growth  of  the  church  is  slow  from  the  fact  that  teaching  takes 
much  pains  and  time.  Most  of  the  congregation  are  farmers  and  the  high 
price  of  the  land  in  this  county  keeps  many  from  settling  here,  hence  a  slow 
groA\th  in  congregation  matters,  but  good,  thorough  work  is  effected. 

The  following  have  served  as  pastors  at  this  point:  Revs.  J.  Van  der 
Mey,  1897-1903;  W.  Stuart,  1904-07;  M.  Van  der  Heide,  1908-10;  the 
present  pastor  in  charge  is  Rev.  H.  Danhof,  who  came  and  was  installed 
September  18.  1910. 

CHRISTIAN     REFORMED     CHURCH     OF     GALESBURG. 

This  society  was  organized  in  1898  with  eight  families  and  seventeen 
communicants  and  about  twenty  members  by  baptism.  Garret  Uppel  and 
family  are  among  the  first  and  strongest  members  of  the  church  here,  al- 
ways being  counted  on  and  present  when  possible  to  attend  services.  He 
is  eighty-three  years  old,  but  neither  summer's  heat  nor  winter's  blast  pre- 
vents him  coming  to  church.     He  lives  all  of  five  miles  from  his  church. 

At  first  the  society  rented  a  place  to  worship,  but  in  a  few  years  pur- 
chased the  old  Christian  church  building  and  have  since  used  that  as  a 
church  home.  About  1907  the  society  bought  a  parsonage  at  a  cost  of 
one  thousand,  three  hundred  dollars.  Among  the  pastors  here  may  be  re- 
called. Rev.  T-  Van  der  ]\Iey,  1903-4;  Rev.  Van  der  Hock.  1905-08,  and  the 
present  pastor,  Rev.  S.  Bouma,  who  came  in  1909. 

The  church  now  has  a  membership  of  twenty-two  families,  forty-two 
communicants  and  sixty  members  by  baptism — all  told,  one  hundred  and 
two.     All  services  are  held  in  the  Holland  language. 

REFORMED    CHURCH     OF    SULLY. 

This  society  was  organized  as  the  First  Reformed  church  December  7. 
1904.  and  now  has  forty-six  members,  including  these :  John  Verenkamp 
and  wife,  Cornelius  De  Jong,  G.  Van  Workman  and  wife,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
James  Dykstra,  W.  K'ooistra  and  wife,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wisgerhof  and  names 
not  now  at  hand. 


l88  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

The  list  of  pastors  includes  the  following:  Revs.  B.  Bruim,  from  No- 
vember, 1905.  to  November,  1907;  John  Hoffman,  from  July  i,  1908,  and  still 
serving-  the  church  as  its  pastor. 

The  church  and  parsonage,  both  frame  buildings,  at  Sully,  are  valued 
at  fifteen  hundred  dollars. 

THE    SOCIETY    OF     FRIENDS    ( ORTHODOX ). 

This  denomination  has  two  societies  within  Jasper  county  at  the  present 
date.  The  first  work  of  this  good  sect  was  in  the  early  fifties,  near  Lynnville. 
They  first  formed  into  a  society  in  1851  at  Lynn  Grove.  Just  a  few  years 
prior  to  this  came  to  this  settlement  Ambrose  Osborn  and  family,  who 
located  there.  He  purchased  the  mill  erected  by  Mr.  Sparks.  Soon  after 
this  came  Jervis  Johnson,  accompanied  by  his  wife,  Melissa,  and  four  sons, 
who  emigrated  from  Indiana.  Then  came  Jesse  Arnold,  his  wife,  Sarah, 
and  six  children:  Henry  Zimmerman  and  wife,  Paris  ]Mendenhall  and  fam- 
ily, Solomon  Edwards  and  family.  Such  a  number  desired  meetings  and 
came  under  the  Sugar  Creek  (now  Oskaloosa)  monthly  meeting.  J.  A.  Grin- 
nell  was  their  first  preacher. 

This  pioneer  effort  upon  the  part  of  the  Friends  was  made  known  to 
those  of  like  faith  living  in  Indiana  and  large  numbers  came  hither.  From 
out  this  number  of  Friends  was  organized  the  Sugar  Creek.  Chester  and 
Lynnville  meetings.  About  1858  they  commenced  to  hold  monthly  meet- 
ings and  by  1878  they  had  come  to  number  of  four  hundred.  These,  to- 
gether with  those  at  Kellogg,  made  up  a  quarterly  meeting  known  as  Lynn 
Grove  quarter,  having  a  membership  of  six  hundred  and  thirty-one  in  1877. 
In  1856  a  meeting  house  was  built  thirty  by  sixty  feet  in  size.  Later,  meet- 
ings w'ere  held  in  the  old  academy. 

The  present  Friends'  church  at  Lynnville  was  erected  in  1899  at  a  cost 
of  two  thousand  dollars,  when  material  and  labor  was  much  lower  than  at 
this  date.  The  present  membership  of  tin's  society  is  two  hundred  and  eighty- 
three. 

THE    CHESTER    CHURCH     FRIENDS'    SOCIETY. 

Among  the  early  settlers  in  Lynn  Grove  township  were  believers  in  the 
faith  of  the  Friends  (Quakers).  Among  the  pioneers  of  this  church  are 
recalled  now  the  names  of  Lemuel  and  Thomas  Butler,  Warren  Bufkin,  Will- 
iam Dysart,  A.  T.  Kirk,  Eli  White,  James  Williams  and  others.  These  peo- 
ple all  came  in  from  Indiana  and  most  of  them  had  families  partlv  grown  to 
manhood  and  womanhood  at  the  time  of  their  coming. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  1 89 

The  first  prairie  was  broken  in  1855  and  the  first  house  erected  in  1856. 
While  improving  their  lands  and  making  for  themselves  comfortable  homes, 
they  forgot  not  the  God  of  their  fathers  beyond  the  rolling  waters  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi river  from  whence  they  had  emigrated.  They  formed  here  a  cliurch 
and  set  in  motion  the  wheels  of  a  common  school.  For  a  time  this  settlement 
attended  meeting  at  Lvnnville.  but  soon  provided  one  nearer  to  their  homes. 
The  first  meeting  was  held  at  the  home  of  Lemuel  Butler.  After  the  school 
house  was  erected  that  was  also  used  for  meeting  house  purposes,  until  1857, 
when  a  church  was  built.  The  first  minister  in  this  neighborhood  v/as  Jane 
Jones,  Mattie  Bufkin,  Anna  \\'hite,  Aaron  Symons  and  his  wife,  Anna,  were 
included  among  the  early  ministers  of  this  church.  After  1887  Charles 
Renaud  faithfully  served  as  minister  for  a  number  of  years  and  was  still 
there  in  1901.  The  membership  was  small,  but  they  believed  it  their  dutv 
to  maintain  a  home  meeting. 

SEVENTH-DAY     ADVENTIST     CHURCH. 

This  denomination  is  not  now  represented  largely  in  Jasper  county. 
A  small  body  of  this  faith  of  religionists  was  organized  at  ^lonroe  in  1871,  by 
Elder  Canright.  The  first  members  were  Rebecca  and  Sarah  A.  Stemm,  John 
Johnson  and  wife,  Joseph  Bennington  and  wife  and  George  Marshall  and 
wife.  This  denomination  has  not  grown  to  any  considerable  extent  in 
Jasper  county  with  the  passing  of  the  vears. 

AFRICAN      METHODIST     EPISCOPAL      CHURCH. 

This  society  was  organized  by  the  colored  people  of  Newton  of  this  de- 
nomination in  1877,  and  a  house  of  worship  was  provided  in  the  northeast 
part  of  the  city  by  the  purchase  of  an  old  frame  school  house,  which,  after  a 
number  of  years,  was  rebuilt  into  a  respectable  church  edifice  which  still 
serves  the  congregation,  which  includes  many  of  the  colored  people  of  the 
place,  there  being  only  the  one  African  church  in  Xewton. 

YOUNG     men's     CHRISTIAN     ASSOCIATION. 

A  society  of  this  order  was  established  at  Newton  in  Februarv,  1874, 
with  seven  members.  The  officers  were :  S.  J.  Moyer,  president ;  J.  C. 
Aydelotte.  vice-president :  David  Van  Giesen.  treasurer;  James  Mitchell, 
Charles  Jackson,  Charles  A.  Clark,  trustees. 


190  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

A  mission  Sabbath  school  was  organized  by  this  association  in  North 
ISTewton  in  March,   1876. 

The  association  also  established  a  lecture  course  in  1877.  which  was 
highly  successful.  A  reading  room  was  maintained,  open  afternoons  and 
evenings,  as  well  as  Sundays.  For  a  number  of  years  this  society  was  very 
active,  but  with  the  formation  of  other  kindred  societies  within  the  numerous 
churches,  the  "^'oung  Men's  Christian  Association  was  allowed  to  run  down. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


CIVIC   SOCIETIES   OF   THE    COUNTY. 


In  almost  every  part  of  the  civilized  globe  there  are  found  secret  orders 
of  various  kinds,  both  ancient  and  modern  in  their  origin.  Of  recent  years — 
the  last  forty — there  ha\e  sprung  up  a  legion  of  beneficiary  societies,  semi- 
secret  in  their  workings,  but  it  is  not  of  this  class  that  this  chapter  will  treat, 
for  they  are  too  numerous  and  of  too  little  general  interest.  They  come  and 
go  like  the  shadows — some  are  good  and  some  are  spurious.  As  most  of  these 
are  now  under  state  control,  they  afford  a  very  safe  life  insurance,  and  have 
coupled  with  them  some  very  excellent  work  and  are  quite  good  social  or- 
ganizations. Among  such,  in  this  county,  may  be  named  in  passing,  the 
Woodmen,  Workmen,  Knights  of  Columbus,  Red  Men,  Ben  Hur,  etc. 

This  chapter  will  seek  only  to  give  the  general  history,  organization, 
present  standing,  etc.,  of  the  three  great  civic  orders  of  this  century,  the 
Masons.  Odd  Fellows  and  Knights  of  Pythias. 

ANCIENT  FREE  AND  ACCEPTED   MASONS. 

The  first  Masonic  lodge  instituted  within  Jasper  countv  was  Newton 
Lodge  No.  59,  founded  under  dispensation  of  James  L.  Hogin,  grand  master. 
March  30,  1855.  The  first  officers  were:  R.  D.  Minard.  worshipful  master; 
Jesse  Rickman,  senior  warden ;  Hugh  Rodgers,  junior  warden ;  S.  Cooper, 
treasurer;  Elisha  Hammer,  secretary;  William  Rodgers,  senior  deacon;  Z. 
M.  Allen,  junior  deacon ;  Lewis  Helfry,  tiler. 

Hugh  Rodgers  represented  this  little  band  as  proxy  for  the  worshipful 
master  at  the  grand  lodge  the  following  June,  the  session  being  held  at 
Keosaqua.  The  report  of  that  session  remarked  in  record :  "The  work  of 
this  lodge  is  mostly  square.  The  lodge  was  opened  May  26,  1855,  and  has 
not  yet  been  closed.  Otherwise  the  work  is  good  and  the  by-laws  correct. 
They  recommend  that  a  charter  be  granted  to  said  lodge  by  the  name  of 
Newton,  No. ."  Later  in  the  grand  lodge  the  number  "59"  was  be- 
stowed upon  this  lodge.  The  lodge  was  represented  at  grand  lodge  at  Oska- 
loosa  in  1856  by  Jesse  Rickman.  It  does  not  appear  that  any  "work"  was 
done  until  in  June,   1855,  but  a  year  later  the   ft^llowing  had   "formed  the 


19-'  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

perfect  square:"'  J.  A.  Harris,  Caleb  Laml).  j.  R.  Sparks,  P.  AI.  Wood,  G. 
W.  Corney.  Little  Woods,  John  Dunsmore,  David  Evans,  W.  M,  Springer, 
Henry  Welker.  Joshua  Rickman.  Thomas  Rees,  W.  R.  Matthews,  William 
H.  Silssby,  G.  \\'.  Louthian,  \\illiam  Dinwiddy,  Riley  Ashley,  A.  R.  Joslin, 
William  Dunn,  Thomas  Pearson,  Henry  Blake,  Levi  Combs,  S.  W.  Foreman, 
T.  J.  Dinsmore.  At  the  close  of  1858  this  lodge  had  a  membership  of  forty- 
two.     In  1878  it  had  increased  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight. 

In  1875,  ^^  conjunction  with  the  chapter  and  commandery,  they  built  a 
third  story  over  the  building  erected  by  ]\Iorgan  &  Ledyard  and  R.  Burns, 
on  the  west  side  of  the  public  square,  which  was  fitted  up  for  their  use  at  a 
cost  of  twelve  thousand  dollars.  The  rooms  and  equipment  of  this  hall  were, 
in  their  first  days,  considered  as  good  as  any  in  Iowa. 

The  present  number  in  this  lodge  is  two  hundred  and  sixty-four.  Its 
officers  in  the  spring  of  191 1  were  as  follows:  James  E.  Callison,  worshipful 
master;  Frank  Wilson,  senior  warden;  O.  N.  Green,  junior  warden;  Christ- 
ian Griebling,  treasurer;  Fred  L.  Kiennedy,  secretary;  J.  B.  Harvey,  senior 
deacon;  John  W.  Kennington.  junior  deacon;  David  Conn,  senior  steward; 
George  F.  Scott,  junior  steward ;  L.  B.  Westbrook,  tiler. 

The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  the  past  worshipful  masters  in  New- 
ton:  R.  D.  Minard,  Jesse  Rickman,  1857;  R.  D.  Minard,  1858;  R.  D.  Min- 
ard,  1855-6;  Jesse  Rickman.  1857;  R.  D.  ]\Iinard,  1858;  William  Rodgers, 
1859;  J.  A.  Harris.  1860-61;  T.  H.  Miller,  1862;  William  Rodgers,  1863; 
I.  A.  Hammer,  1864-5;  William  Rodgers,  1866;  I.  A.  Hammer.  1867;  S.  G. 
Smith,  1868;  J.  W.  Wilson,  1869-70-71-72-73,  and  grand  master,  1878-79; 
S.  H.  Galusha,  1874-5;  S.  J.  Condit,  1876-77;  A.  P.  Hanson,  1878;  J.  W. 
McLaughlin,  1879-80:  Caleb  Lamb,  C.  P.  Axtel  1882;  J.  B.  Eyerly,  1883; 
Robert  Burns.  1884;  O.  W.  Treman  (May  to  December)  ;  H.  S.  Winslow, 
1885;  H.  K.  Stahl,  1886:  \'.  W.  Skiff.  1887-8;  C.  F.  Morgan,  1889-90;  J.  Y. 
Bailey,  1891-92-93:  H.  V.  Byers,  1894;  O.  N,  Wagley,  1895-96-97-98,  and 
grand  custodian:  F.  D.  \\'inn.  1899-1900;  J.  T.  Pound,  1901-02;  S.  C. 
Hughes,  1903;  David  Conn.  1904-05;  E.  P.  ]\Ialmberg.  1906;  David  L 
Clark,  1907;  Walter  J.  ]\Iorgan.  1907;  Clifford  V.  Cox,  1909;  James  E.  Cal- 
lison, 19 10.    All  are  now  deceased  but  twenty-one. 

ROYAL  ARCH    MASONS. 

Gebal  Chapter  No.  12  was  granted  a  dispensation  for  charter  by  James 
R.  Hartsock.  grand  high  priest,  March  6,  1856,  to  J.  Swallow,  J.  D.  Minard, 
Caleb  Lamb  and  a  few  others. 


JASl'ER    COUNTY,    IOWA  I93 

In  1878  the  number  of  members  of  this  chapter  was  ninety-eight  and 
at  this  date  it  is  one  hundred  and  sixty-one. 

The  hst  of  high  priests  have  been  as  follows:  Joshua  Swallow,  Caleb 
Lamb,  William  Rodgers,  D.  R.  Minard,  Jesse  Rickman.  1863;  William 
Rbdgers,  1864;  Caleb  Lamb.  1865;  ^^'i^iam  Rodgers,  1866-67;  J.  W.  Mur- 
phy, 1868;  William  Rodgers,  1869;  H.  S.  ^^■inslow,  1870-71-72-73,  and 
grand  high  priest.  1875-76-77:  S.  J.  Condit.  1874:  S.  E.  Zinn,  1875-6 
George  R.  Ledyard.  1877-78:  A.  P.  Hanson.  1879-80;  S.  H.  Galusha,  1881 
D.  L.  Clark.  1882;  J.  W^  McLaughlin,  1883;  C.  P.  Axtel,  1884-5:  O.  W 
Treman.  1886:  Charles  H.  \\'ilder,  1887,  and  grand  custodian,  1894-5:  J.  W 
McLaughlin,  1888:  C.  H.  ^^'ilder,  1889-90;  O.  C.  Meredith,  1891-92;  F.  D 
Winn,  1893-94-95:  J.  Y.  Bailey.  1896-97;  Howard  Case,  1901-02;  John 
Hartwig,  1903-04-05;  David  Conn,  1906-07-08;  Fred  L.  Kennedy,  1909-10. 
Dates  given  denote  the  year  elected,  the  election  occurring  in  November.  All 
are  now  deceased  but  sixteen. 

KNIGHTS   TEMPLAR. 

Oriental  Commandery  No.  22,  at  Newton,  was  organized  March  28, 
1872,  the  charter  having  been  granted  October  16,  1871.  The  following  is 
the  list  of  the  eminent  commanders :  Caleb  Lamb,  J.  B.  Eyerly,  J.  W.  Wil- 
son, George  R.  Ledyard,  Wesley  Roberts,  N.  Townsend,  J.  Y.  Bailey,  J.  \\'. 
McLaughlin,  D.  L.  Burnett,  J.  P.  Newell,  Charles  H.  W^ilson,  O.  C.  Mere- 
dith, Robert  Burns,  C.  F.  Morgan,  A.  M.  Hough,,  Frank  D.  Winn,  Fred  E. 
]\Ieredith.  A.  H.  Benjamin,  D.  R.  Tripp.  Lee  E.  Brown,  Fred  L.  Kennedy, 
Walter  J.  ]\Iorgan,  A.  P.  Hanson,  E.  E.  Lambert.  R.  A.  Rhoades,  C.  A'ar- 
num.  William  Rodgers.  S.  E.  Zinn,  S.  L.  Patton.  H.  S.  Galusha. 

The  present  membership  is  one  hundred  and  ninety. 

MONROE  LODGES. 

Monroe  Lodge  No.  88.  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Alasons,  at  !\Ionroe. 
was  formed  by  dispensation  granted  March  5,  1856,  hence  is  one  of  Jasper 
county's  earliest  Masonic  bodies.  The  grand  master  named  B.  Putnam  as 
worshipful  master;  D.  S.  Smoke,  senior  warden,  and  John  Tyler  as  junior 
warden.  Nothing  was  accomplished,  however  (owing  to  some  irregularities 
in  admitting  members  without  proper  recommendations),  until  1857.  In 
1858  John  Tyler  became  worshipful  master  and  three  members  had  been  ad- 
mitted bv  initiation  ;  then  three  had  been  passed  and  three  raised,  four  de- 
mitted  and  the  total  membership  was  twenty-one. 

(13) 


194  JASl'EK    rOlNTV.    IOWA. 

The  lodi^'e  was  finallv  chartered  in  ^^^J.  hnt  from  internal  causes  the 
charter  was  surrendered  in  June,  iS^g.  w  lien  the  body  ceased  to  exist.  After 
the  close  of  the  Civil  war  and  in  1X66  the  fires  of  Masonry  were  again  lighted 
here  in  Monroe  and  a  dispensation,  was  issued  in  June  of  that  year  to  h^air- 
view  Lodge  Xo.  194.  The  first  officers  of  the  new  lodge  were:  G.  R.  Led- 
vard.  worshipful  master:  G.  W.  Richards,  senior  warden;  John  Taylor,  junior 
warden.  The  lodge  was  chartered  as  Xo.  194  in  the  following  year.  From 
that  date  on  peace  was  the  record  of  the  lodge  at  Monroe  and  in  [HjH  it  en- 
I'oved  a  membership  of  ninety.  Its  present  membership  is  recorded  as  one 
hundred  and  fourteen.  The  present  officers  are:  (i.  C.  Ammer.  worshipful 
master;  C.  D.  Fouch,  senior  ^\■arden ;  S.  Scharf.  junior  warden;  O.  W.  Burch- 
inal.  treasurer;  F.  L.  Lane,  secretary. 

Fairview  Lodge  rented  a  hall  until  1873,  ^^hen  they  built  a  home  of 
their  o\\  n.  and  the  present  fine  brick  hall  was  erected  in  1909,  the  same  being 
as  complete  as  anv  hall  in  Towa.  The  Order  of  the  Fastern  Star  is  repre- 
sented here. 

Geber  Chapter  L^.  D..  Royal  Arch  Masons,  was  instituted  June  20, 
1878.  bv  the  appointment  of  G.  AL  Bethel  as  eminent  high  ])riest;  Seth 
Dixon,  excellent  king;  V.  M.  Slusser.  excellent  scril)e.  The  chapter  grew 
rapidlv  from  the  first  and  fifteen  belonged  in  Octol)er,  1878,  its  first  year's 
history. 

KELLOGG    MASONIC   LODGES. 

At  Kellogg.  ^Meridian  Lodge  Xo.  280,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Ma- 
sons, was  established  February  10.  1870.  under  dispensation  granted  Febru- 
ary Lst.  which  named  Lsaac  Burnett  as  worshipful  master;  C.  H.  Russell, 
senior  warden;  S.  S.  Patterson,  junior  warden.  The  other  members  Avere : 
\V.  R.  Reynolds,  D.  Vaughn.  W.  F.  Rowland,  Charles  Morgan,  Walter  Mor- 
gan. J.  AW  A\'ilson  was  the  first  master  under  the  charter,  which  instrument 
was  granted  the  following  June.  In  1878  the  records  show  a  membership  of 
about  fifty;  at  present  it  is  seventy-one. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows:  R.  C.  Burton,  worshipful  master; 
F.  R.  Foster,  senior  warden;  P>.  A.  Barton,  junior  warden;  C.  R  Irish,  treas- 
urer; E.  J.  Birchard,  secretary;  A.  R.  W.  P)rown,  A.  !>.  Cra\en,  James  Drake, 
trustees. 

In  the  nineties  this  lodge  ])urcliase(l  its  present  brick  hall  building. 

L^■x^\"ILLl•;  ?il\soxi('  lodge. 

Lebanon  Lodge  X^o.  227,  Ancient  b'ree  and  .Accepted  ^lasons,  at  Lvnn- 
ville,  was  organized  under  dispensation  December  7,  1867,  with  fames  B. 
Naylor,  worshipful  master;  I.  J.  AAHiite,  senior  warden;  AA'.  R.   Matthew^s, 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  I95 

junior  warden:  J.  P.  lUmi]),  treasurer;  Joseph  R.  Xaylor,  secretary;  Dewitt 
Dunham,  senior  deacon;  W.  C.  Rayburn.  junior  deacon;  S.  W.  Caster,  tiler. 
The  only  other  charter  meml)er  was  John  R.  Sparks.  S.  M.  Robertson  was  the 
first  candidate  for  the  forming-  of  the  ''perfect  square."  J.  B.  NIaylor  served 
as  master  for  seven  years. 

The  present  membership  of  this  lodge  is  sixty-seven  and  its  elective  offi- 
cers are:  C.  H.  Potter,  worshipful  master;  A.  W".  Meredith,  senior  warden; 
C.  L.  Zimmerman,  junior  warden;  AT.  G.  Garner,  treasurer;  C.  E.  Ouire. 
secretar}'. 

BAXTER    MASONIC    LODGE. 

Unit  Lodge  No.  520.  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  at  Raxter. 
was  instituted  in  1892  by  charter  members  as  follows:  John  R.  Peck.  William 
R.  Vandike.  George  M.  Web]),  James  Williamson.  P.  J.  Cool,  Martin  L. 
W'eaver,  F.  T.  Gilmore,  Alfred  Davey.  W^illiam  H.  Blair,  C.  P.  Rairdon,  J. 

0.  Gardner.  W^illiam  Bailey,  George  Greenfield,  Jesse  Cross.  W.  F.  Rippey. 

The  first  officers  (elective)  were:  John  R,.  Peck,  ^^•orshipful  master; 
William  A^andike,  senior  warden ;  George  M.  Webb,  junior  warden ;  James 
Williamson,  treasurer ;  P.  G.  Cool,  secretary. 

The  first  place  of  meeting  was  in  the  rooms  o\'er  Hanson  &  Downs"  drug 
store.  That  burned  in  1897,  when  they  built  a  hall  of  their  own  on  lot  15, 
l)lock  2,  of  Rippey's  addition  to  Baxter.  They  lease  to  the  Odd  Fellows  and 
\\'oodmen. 

The  present  membership  of  this  lodge  is  forty-four,  or  \\as  on  January 

1.  191 1.  Its  present  officers  are:  John  Allan,  worshipful  master;  L.  E.  Fow- 
ler, senior  warden ;  J.  S.  Booth,  treasurer ;  Carl  C.  Webb,  secretary.  The 
trustees  are  Paul  Cooper,  C.  E.  Davey  and  W.  R.  A^andike. 

THE  GALESBURG  LODGE. 

Monumental  Lodge  Xo.  311,  Ancient  Free  and  .\ccepted  Masons,  at 
Galesburg,  was  organized  in  1872  and  in  1884  they  erected  their  present  hall. 
They  now  have  a  membership  of  forty-two,  with  the  elective  officers  in  1911 
as  follows:  Albert  Lust,  worshipful  master;  B.  A.  Romans,  senior  warden; 
L  M.  Carnahan.  junior  warden;  W.  A.  AA'ilHamson.  treasurer;  .\rthur 
Wheeler,  secretary. 

COLFAX  MASONRY. 

Riverside  Lodge  No.  389,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  at  Colfax, 
worked  under  dispensation  from  some  time  in  1878.  when  J.  R.  Rodgers  was 
worshipful  master;  L  N.  Paschal,  senior  warden;  J.  T.  West,  junior  warden; 


196  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

W.  L.  West,  secretary;  John  Fanselor.  treasurer.  The  remainder  of  the 
charter  members  were:  John  Cochran.  C.  A.  Dotson.  D.  ^1.  Morrison,  John 
D.  Dee.  E.  M.  Holland,  Dr.  J.  R.  Ryan.  William  Foy.  William  Clark,  J. 
Keasey,  William  Little.  Dr.  S.  K.  Pickens  and  three  more. 

PRAIRIE  CITY  MASONRY. 

Preston  Lodge  No.  218.  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  at  Prairie 
City,  was  organized  under  dispensation,  iMay  14.  1867,  with  J.  G.  Eckles, 
worshipful  master:  A.  B.  Jenks.  senior  warden;  C.  F.  Head,  junior  warden; 
the  other  petitioners  were  Charles  Dustin.  W.  L.  Clark,  Lewis  Clark.  Levi 
Jenks,  William  L  Church,  F.  T.  Murrah,  Ralph  Nixon.  The  charter  was 
granted  in  June,  1868.  In  1878  the  lodge  had  a  membership  of  fifty-two  and 
in  the  spring  of  191 1  it  has  forty-eight.  The  present  officers  are:  K.  F. 
Harp,  worshipful  master;  F.  J.  Binford,  senior  warden;  J.  A.  Ray.  junior 
warden:  Fred  Daly,  senior  deacon;  D.  ]\I.  Henninger,  junior  deacon;  B.  E. 
Moore,  treasurer;  J.  H.  Freeman,  secretary. 

A  lodge  hall  was  erected  in  1881,  at  a  cost  of  about  one  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  worshipful  masters  of  this 
lodge:  J.  T.  Eckles,  C.  F.  Head.  F.  J.  Reigart,  H.  C.  DeWolf,  W.  L.  Clark. 
W.  G.  Clements,  F.  M.  Austin,  Jesse  Wilson.  B.  C.  Ward.  J.  F.  Harp,  A.  T. 
Dowden,  G.  L.  McFadden,  C.  S.  Jenks,  Arthur  Graham,  D.  H.  Gill,  H.  M. 
Wilson,  C.  D.  Johnson,  J.  F.  Harp. 

MASONIC   LODGES   IN  JASPER   COUNTY,    I9II. 

The  following  ^Masonic  lodges  were  in  existence  in  ]\Iay,  1911  :  Newton 
Lodge  No  59;  Fairview  Lodge  No.  194,  at  Alonroe;  Preston  Lodge  Nb.  218, 
at  Prairie  City :  Lebanon  Lodge  No.  227.  at  Lynnville ;  Meridian  Lodge  No. 
280,  at  Kellogg:  Alonumental  Lodge  No.  311,  at  Galesburg;  Riverside  Lodge 
No.  389.  at  Colfax;  Unit  Lodge  No.  520,  at  Baxter. 

INDEPENDENT  ORDER  OF  ODD  FELLOWS. 

The  pioneer  Odd  Fellows  lodge  of  Jasper  county  was  formed  at  New- 
ton. It  was  Central  Lodge  No.  /T,,  established  October  11,  1855,  by  author- 
ity of  the  grand  lodge  of  Iowa.  The  charter  members  were :  H.  J.  Skiff, 
Solomon  Gardner,  A.  Failor,  C.  Conlev  and  \\'il]iam  Rodgers.  The  latter 
was  the  first  noble  grand;  H.  J.  Skiff,  \ice-grand :  S.  Gardner,  recording  sec- 
retary ;  C.  Conley,  permanent  secretary ;  A.  Failor,  treasurer. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  I97 

This  lodge  flourished  with  the  town  of  Xewton  until  the  breaking  out 
of  the  Civil  war,  Ijut  in  1862  it  was  found  impossible  to  sustain  it  on  account 
of  the  large  numbers  who  had  gone  into  the  service  of  their  country  under 
President  Lincoln's  call  for  troops.  The  charter  had  to  be  surrendered,  but 
about  the  close  of  that  terrible  conflict  it  was  petitioned  for  at  the  grand  lodge 
to  have  the  original  charter  returned,  and  the  prayer  was  answered,  as  they 
were  entitled  by  their  patriotism  to  this  complimentary  token  of  good  will 
from  the  head  of  the  order. 

In  1878  this  lodge  had  a  membership  of  fifty-six  and  was  in  a  flourishing 
condition.  The  lodge  now  has  a  membership  of  two  hundred  and  fifty-two. 
Its  present  officers  are:  Elroy  Scott,  noble  grand;  O.  M.  Keith,  vice-grand: 
John  R.  Hall,  recording  secretary:  F.  H.  Russell,  financial  secretary;  George 
^^^  Simpson,  treasurer. 

Xewton  Encampment  Xo.  16  was  instituted  April  19,  1876.  by  charter 
from  the  grand  encampment  of  Iowa,  with  Caleb  Lamb,  chief  patriarch ;  J. 
H.  F.  Balderson,  high  priest;  A.  ^I.  Hinsdale,  senior  warden;  William 
^'aughan,  junior  warden;  J.  S.  Agnew,  scribe;  J.  H.  !McCalmont,  first  war- 
der; G.  F.  Schurtz,  second  warder.  The  other  members  were  E.  Shipley,  G. 
Meyer  and  J.  S.  Knight. 

In  1878  the  records  show  a  membership  of  twenty-seven;  its  present 
membership  is  one  hundred  and  thirty-two. 

The  present  officers  are :  A.  C.  Raridon,  chief  patriarch :  H.  E.  Ras- 
mussen,  high  priest;  Arthur  Jackson,  senior  warden;  E.  P.  Grant,  junior 
warden:  J.  R.  Hall,  secretary;  S.  S.  ^Marshall,  treasurer. 

PATRIARCHS    MILITANT. 

Canton  X^o.  31,  at  X'ewton,  was  possessed  of  the  following  elective  offi- 
cers in  June.  191 1:  H.  E.  Rasmussen.  captain;  A.  L.  Guthrie,  lieutenant; 
W.  L.  Kintz,  ensign ;  J.  R.  Hall,  clerk  and  accountant.  The  order  now  has  a 
membership  of  one  hundred  and  thirty. 

The  order  is  represented  in  the  state  department  of  Odd  Fellowship  by 
Maj.-Gen.  E.  E.  Lambert  and  Col.  H.  J.  ^NIc^Furray.  of  the  Second  Regi- 
ment of  Iowa. 

The  hall  occupied  by  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  X'ew- 
ton  was  erected  many  years  ago.  At  first  the  order  built  the  east  half  of  the 
present  block  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the  square  and  later  purchased  the 
balance  of  the  block.  They  have  a  fine  hall  and  the  membership  in  all  de- 
grees is  one  of  activity  and  good  works. 


198  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

ODD  FELLOWS  AT  COLFAX. 

At  Colfax  the  Odd  Fellows  organized  Lodge  Xo.  476,  May  24,  1884, 
with  the  following  charter  members:  F.  W.  Carey.  J.  R.  Sharp,  M.  Thomas, 
D.  M.  Guessford.  J.  I).  Johnson,  A.  J.  Chalmers.  J.  M.  Stayner. 

The  present  membership  is  one  hundred  and  ninety.  Its  present  officers 
are :  B.  F.  W'intersteen,  nol)le  grand ;  E.  A.  Wheeler,  vice-grand ;  R.  E. 
Cnmmings.  secretary;  J.  H.  Hahn.  treasurer.  The  lodge  hall  is  owned  in 
company  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  order.  The  past  grands  are  as  follows : 
J.  R.  Sharp,  A.  S.  Kizer.  J-  R.  English.  C.  \V.  Paschal,  W.  H.  Ball,  Henry 
Sharp.  B.  L.  Logsdon.  J.  H.  Clements.  F.  W.  Logsdon.  John  Pearson,  A. 
Dale.  W.  X.  Smith.  J.  O.  Pflaum.  C.  H.  Keipp.  B.  Winpegler.  A.  H.  Irwin. 
John  Harris.  Fred  Ackrael.  R.  E.  Cummings.  yi.  E.  Penquite,  E.  E.  Clark, 
\\\  S.  Cutter.  A.  A.  W'allburn.  T.  P.  Barnes,  E.  E.  Kiendig,  E.  J.  Howe, 
Orvil  Morgan.  A.  Denholm.  l-'red  Hanson.  C.  Winslow.  J.  H.  Hahn,  J.  M. 
Stayner,  O.  D.  Acton. 

BAXTER   ODD    FELLOWSHIP. 

As  is  usually  the  case  in  these  progressive  times,  towns  where  enterpris- 
ing men  do  Imsiness  ha\e  time  and  desire  for  keeping  up  the  various  secret 
orders  and  looking  after  each  other's  ^^•elfare.  Baxter  has  ever  been  fore- 
most in  such  laudable  work 

Acton  Lodge  X"o.  516  was  organized  December  27,  1902,  Iw'  twenty- 
eight  charter  memljers.  including  these  :  X.  Hazlett,  P.  S.  Hill,  W.  H.  Bair. 
George  Chamlierlain.  who  held  office.  The  total  membership  now  is  fifty- 
five.  The  lodge  meets  in  Masonic  hall,  which  they  lease.  The  191 1  electi\e 
officers  are :  J.  F.  Coakley.  noble  grand ;  T.  1'.  K'elley.  ^■ice-grand ;  James 
McKenzie,  secretary :  ^^^  T.  Thorp,  treasurer. 

Baxter  Encampment  X^o  224  was  organized  June  2/,  1909,  with  twenty- 
five  memliers.  The  present  officers  are:  Clint  McMahon.  chief  patriarch; 
J.  1"'.  Coakley,  junior  warden:  R'.  \\\  Crawford,  high  priest;  James  Garrison, 
scribe. 

Baxter  Rebekah  Lodge  X'^o.  579  was  organized  February.  1909.  and  now 
enjoys  a  membership  of  fifty.  Its  present  officers  are:  Mrs.  Walter  Grant, 
noble  grand:  Mrs.  Alice  Earl}-,  vice-grand:  Mrs.  Belle  Chamberlain,  secre- 
tary. 

MIXGO    ODD    FELLOWSHIP. 

Mingo  Lodge  Xo.  174  was  formed  at  Mingo,  July  10.  1905.  with  forty- 
six  charter  members.  The  total  membership  of  this  lodge  is  one  hundred 
and  nine.     Its  present  officers  are:     Henry  Byal.  nol)le  grand;  J.  W.  Ramlio, 


JASPER    COUXTY,    IOWA.  I99 

vice-grand;  C.  C.   Black,  treasurer;  W.   A.  PeiKiuite.  secretary.     The  lodge 
meets  every  Wednesday  evening,  in  Baker's  hall. 

The  following  have  served  as  noble  grands  in  this  lodge;  A.  L.  Rees, 
F.  B.  Rose.  E.  C.  Battles.  Lee  Signs.  M.  F.  Berkley.  H.  K.  Poorbaiigh.  C.  C. 
Black.  \V.  J.  Southern  (deceased).  J.  L.  Coughlan.  W.  A.  Penciuite  and  C. 
Hebers. 

MONROE   ODD    FELLOWSHIP. 

At  ]Monroe,  Jasper  Lodge  No.  i68  dates  its  history  from  Septeml)er. 
1868.  when  a  meeting  was  held  and  it  was  decided  to  petition  for  a  charter. 
A  dispensation  was  granted  by  William  P.  Sharpe.  who  ordered  if  the  peti- 
tioners would  wait  three  weeks  or  so.  to  come  and  establish  a  lodge,  which 
was  consummated  December  lo.  1868.  The  recognized  charter  members  were 
as  follows:  William  Howard,  L.  G.  Zerley.  J.  W.  Johnson.  W.  F.  Hill. 
Josiah  Turner.  Jacob  Kipp,  Ximrod  Caple  and  T.  Burchinal. 

Early  in  1871  the  lodge  purchased  a  set  of  jewels  at  a  cost  of  one  hun- 
dred dollars,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1870  the  lodge  moved  to  new 
lodge  (|uarters.  In  1875  the  lodge  bought  a  lot  of  ground  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  pul)lic  s(|uare.  paying  one  thousand  dollars  therefor  and  there 
their  hall  was  erected. 

In  1878  the  lodge  had  a  membership  of  seventv-one;  its  191 1  member- 
ship is  eighty-five.  Its  present  officers  are ;  C.  M.  Hetherington.  noble 
grand;  Harry  Worth,  vice-grand;  W.  T.  Woolcott.  recording  secretary;  W. 
H.  Hetherington.  financial  secretary;  C.  W.  Burchinal.  treasurer. 

At  first  this  lodge  had  its  home  in  the  second  story  of  a  building  on  the 
north  side  of  the  public  scjuare.  Its  present  quarters  are  situated  in  the  haU 
in  the  second  story  of  a  brick  building  over  the  State  Savings  Bank,  at  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  s(|uare.  This  hall  was  l)uilt  at  a  cost  of  three  thou- 
sand dollars.     It  was  erected  in  1898  and  is  the  property  of  the  Odd  Fellows. 

Monroe  Encampment  Xo.  60.  at  Monroe,  was  instituted  May  20.  1872. 
The  first  officers  were:  T.  B.  Burchinal.  chief  patriarch;  T.  McR.  Stewart, 
high  priest;  I.  Hawkins,  senior  warden;  J.  R.  Hall,  junior  warden;  R.  R. 
Foehlinger.  scribe;  X.  Caple.  treasurer.  In  1878  the  lodge  had  a  membership 
of  thirty,  which  has  been  increased  to  forty-five  in  191 1.  The  chief  patriarch 
is  W.  T.  Woolcott. 

Eureka  Rel^ekah  Degree  Lodge  X'o.  32  was  established  January  17, 
1874.  T.  C.  Burchinal  was  the  first  noble  grand.  It  now  has  a  membership 
of  eighty.     The  present  noble  grand  is  Mrs.  Mary  Holland. 


200  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

KELLOGG   ODD   FELLOWSHIP. 

Tecumseh  Lodge  No.  i8i,  at  Kellogg',  was  organized  December  15, 
1869.  J.  H.  F.  Balderson  was  made  noble  grand:  Daniel  Boatright.  vice- 
grand  ;  William  Bonser.  secretary ;  S.  Condon,  treasurer.  The  other  charter 
members  were  Cyrns  Sinnard,  Robert  AIcK'ittrick  and  Jasper  N.  Stewart. 

The  following-  have  filled  the  office  of  noble  grand  :  J-  H.  F.  Belderson, 
D.  Boatman.  S.  Condon,  William  Bonser,  B.  B.  Boatright,  \\'illiam  ^Marshall, 
William  \^aughan,  George  Condon,  Le\i  ^^^  Davis,  Charles  B,  Duncan.  The 
present  officers  are:  A.  B.  Craven,  noble  grand;  ^^^  J.  Robinson,  vice-grand; 
F.  L.  Phipps,  secretary :  Harry  Attwood,  treasurer. 

The  lodge  now  has  a  membership  of  fifty  in  good  standing  and  is  in  a 
flourishing  condition.  The  order  meets  over  the  Dr.  Smith  business  house, 
on  Main  street,  which  it  has  called  its  home  for  a  rpiarter  of  a  century.  The 
encampment  degree  is  well  represented  at  this  point,  also. 

'  LYNNVILLE    ODD    FELLOWSHIP. 

Lynnville  Lodge  No.  322  was  constituted  October  21,  1875.  The  first 
officers  were :  R.  H.  Cook,  noble  grand ;  O.  C.  Meridith,  vice-grand ;  J.  W. 
Moody,  secretary;  A.  R.  Matthews,  treasurer.  The  other  members  were 
William  Hamilton,  Thomas  McGlasson  and  S.  Condon. 

In  1877  the  lodge  had  a  membership  of  about  fifty. 

Lynnx'ille  Fncampment  No.  83,  at  Lynn\-ille,  was  established  in  October. 
1876.  The  first  officers  were:  O.  C.  Meridith,  chief  patriarch;  J.  W.  Moody, 
high  priest;  A.  R.  Matthews,  senior  warden;  J.  S.  Kitch,  junior  warden;  W. 
H.  H.  Nelson,  scribe;  S.  M.  Robertson,  treasurer.  V.  A.  Roberts  was  also  a 
charter  member. 

In  1878  this  encampment  had  a  membership  of  thirty. 

PRAIRIE    CITY    ODD    FELLOWSHIP. 

Prairie  City  Lodge  No.  144  dates  its  history  from  1867.  George  Fugard 
was  the  first  noble  grand ;  C.  Conrad,  vice-grand,  and  the  other  charter  mem- 
l)ers  were  Isaac  Cooms,  Caleb  Bundy,  S.  F.  Miller,  B.  J.  Head.  R.  B.  Smith, 
A.  J.  Wilkinson. 

The  records  show  a  membership  in  1878  of  thirty:  its  present  member- 
ship is  one  hundred  and  four.  Its  present  officers  are:  J.  A.  ^^^^ddell.  noble 
grand ;  Charles  French,  vice-grand ;  Fred  Daily,  secretary ;  ].  R.  Buckley, 
treasurer. 


JASPER    COUNT V,    IOWA.  201 

This  lodge  owns  its  own  hall,  a  building  forty  by  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
feet,  with  a  hardware  store  below  the  hall.  The  Rebekahs.  Woman's  Relief 
Corps  and  the  Yieomen  meet  in  the  same  hall. 

KNIGHTS  OF   PYTHIAS. 

This  fraternity  has  grown  rapidly  since  its  organi/catir)n.  which  seems 
but  a  few  }ears,  in  comparison  to  the  Masonic  history  which  runs  awav  back 
into  truly  ancient  times.  The  Knights  of  Pythias  lodges  are  found  in  the 
following  places  in  Jasper  county : 

Delta  Lodge  No.  53  was  organized  February  19.  1880,  by  the  following 
charter  membership:  F.  S.  Clark.  ]\F  A.  McKinley.  Frank  Fisk,  C.  W.  Stahl, 
Jay  Clark.  J.  W.  McLaughlin,  George  W.  Ledyard,  A.  J.  McGregor,  W.  Mc- 
Colloms,  Grant  Townsend,  Ralph  Parmenter,  Frank  Hunter.  S.  R.  Oldaker, 
S.  N.  Russell,  J.  G.  Cotton.  H.  K.  Stahl.  E.  E.  Hughes  and  R.  C.  Wilson. 

The  first  officers  were:  Past  chancellor.  S.  R.  Oldaker;  chancellor  com- 
mander. IT.  Iv.  Stahl:  vice-chancellor.  AL  A.  McKinlev :  propliet.  J.  \\\  Mc- 
Laughlin: master  of  exchequer.  Jay  Clark;  master  of  finance.  Frank  Fisk: 
keeper  of  records  and  seal,  C.  W.  Stahl:  master  at  arms.  E.  E.  Hughes; 
inner  guard.  Grant  Townsend :  outer  guard.  A.  J.  McGregor. 

The  present  officers  are:  H.  P.  Engle,  chancellor  commander:  J.  R. 
Bowen,  vice-chancellor:  R.  B.  Gibford.  prophet:  R.  D.  Guessford.  master  of 
work;  Oscar  A.  Coon,  keeper  of  records  and  seal  and  master  of  finance; 
Charles  Griebeling.  master  of  exchequer;  Arthur  Nelson,  master  at  arms; 
Mert  Lewis,    inner  guard ;  M.  R.  Souder.  outer  guard. 

The  lodge  was  instituted  in  the  Hiatt  building  on  the  north  side  of  the 
public  square  and  now  meets  in  Castle  Hall  in  the  Clark  Ijuilding  on  the  east 
side  of  the  square. 

The  past  chancellors  have  been  A.  H.  Bergman.  Jay  Clark.  John  L. 
Conn,  W.  E.  Carpenter.  John  H.  Coon.  J.  R.  Gorrell.  Charles  Ciriebeling,  M. 
B.  Huckins.  J.  H.  Harvey,  W.  F.  Harvey,  A.  K.  Lufkin.  E.  N.  Lawrence. 
R.  R.  Alowry,  B.  A.  Miller,  J.  W.  McLaughlin.  David  McAllister.  John 
OT^eary,  J.  F.  Rouze.  Alton  Reynolds,  C.  A.  Snow  and  G.  W.  Simpson. 

Russell's  Division  No.  26,  of  the  Uniform  Rank  of  this  order,  was  or- 
ganized June  T.  1893,  but  has  never  been  as  prosperous  as  some  of  the  other 
L'niform  Rank  divisions  of  Iowa. 

There  are  Knights  of  Pythias  lodges  in  Jasper  county  at  Newton.  Kel- 
logg. Prairie  City.  Newburg.  Baxter.  IMonroe.  Colfax. 


202  JASI'KK    COrXTV,    IOWA. 

The  Kini'o-hts  of  TVthias  are  represented  at  Prairie  City  l)y  Jasper  Lodge 
No.  63.  organized  August   14.    1890.  by  charter  members,   inckiding  these: 

B.  E.  Aloore.  J.  H.  Little.  M.  Feathers,  j.  Prouty.  B.  C.  \\"ard.  I.  \V.  Shriver. 
D.  L.  Lower,  Ellis  AlcConnaughey.  V.  A.  Heaton.  Ed.  Winchell.  C.  Tool.  B. 
F.  Milleson,  Henry  Blatmer,  W.  M.  Davis,  Bailey  Burns,  Edgar  Draper. 

Among  the  chancellor  commanders  have  been  B.  C.  Ward,  D.  M.  Kelly, 
Alden  (lilbert,  Bailey  lUirns,  George  1\'.  Scott,  D.  F.  Brown,  R.  E.  Yowell, 
F.  Al.  Moore.  1.  W.  Shriver.  R.  I).  Lower,  J.  W.  Jeffries.  B.  E.  Moore,  D. 
yi.  Hemminger.  A.  j.  Hixson.  J  ]\1.  Keating,  I'rank  L.  \\'oodard,  W.  M. 
Davis,  present  incumbent  of  the  office. 

The  191  I  officers  are:  W.  M.  Davis,  chancellor  commander;  T.  J.  Yow- 
ell, vice-chancellor;  R.  E.  Yowell,  master  of  work;  Hugh  G.  Little,  keeper  of 
records  and  seal  and  master  of  finance ;  B.  F.  Moore,  master  of  exchequer ;  J. 
W.  .Hayes,  master  at  arms;  F.  M.  Moore,  prelate;  D.  i\L  Hemminger,  inner 
guard:  Ivan  Moore,  outer  guard. 

A  leased  hall  is  occupied  now.  1die  present  membershii)  of  lodge  is 
seventy-fi\e. 

In  1909  the  I'ythian  Sisters  were  instituted,  and  the  191 1  officers  are  as 
folhnvs :  Past  chief.  May  Hemminger;  most  excellent  chief,  Ollie  Little;  ex- 
cellent senior  chief,  Fannie  Wiggins;  excellent  junior  chief,  Hazel  Hayes; 
manager.  Delia  Kindred;  mistress  of  records  and  correspondence.  Jess  M. 
Gill:  mistress  of  finance.  Floy  McKleveen ;  protector.  Dora  Brown;  guard, 
Carrie  Patrie. 

At  Kellogg  a  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  was  formed  in  1893  ^"^^  "^w  has 
a  working  membership  of  thirty.  It  is  known  as  Kellogg  Lodge  No.  376. 
They  meet  in  a  leased  hall  over  the  Jones  business  house  on  Main  street. 

The  officers  (elective)  in  1911  were:  T.  L.  Simpson,  chancellor  com- 
mander; F.  L.  Rhodes,  vice-chancellor;  (i.  F.  Galusha.  keeper  (jf  records  and 
seal;  A.  E.  Adams,  prelate:  S.  A.  Owings.  master  of  finance;  R.  C.  Birchard, 
master  of  exchecpier ;  S.  H.  Schultx.  master  of  work;  A.  F.  Schultz.  master 
at  arms;  M.  D.  Baum,  inner  guard;  Pi.  N.  Smith,  outer  guard. 

Baxter  Lodge  No.  168.  Knights  of  Pythias,  was  organized  .\ugust  13, 
1896,  with  sixteen  charter  meml>ers.  The  ])resent  total  membership  is  seventy. 
The  present  electi\e  officers  of  the  lodge  are:  G.  T.  Haeger,  chancellor  com- 
mander; George  E.  Kline,  vice-chancellor;  J.  E.  Thorp,  prelate;  \V.  T.  Thorp, 
keeper  of  records  and  seal;  H.  S.  Downs,  master  of  exchequer. 

The  lodge  meets  in  Haeger  Brothers'  hall.  The  past  chancellors  are: 
H.  S.  Downs,  Homer  Rairdon,  A.  C.  Rose,  W.  T.  Thorp,  H.  .\.  Trus.sel,  Carl 

C.  ^^'el)b,  J.  A.  Workman,  \\.  ].  (ioodwin. 


JASPER    COUXTY,    IOWA.  2O3 

Colfax  Lodge  No.  4  was  organized  August  14.  1885,  and  now  has  a 
membership  of  one  hundred  eighty-six.  The  first  officers  were :  (j.  C.  O'Neal, 
past  chancellor;  H.  Crawford,  chancellor  commander;  F.  .\.  Smith,  prelate; 

0.  Bryan,  master  of  exchequer;  A.  S.  Mar(|uis,  master  of  finance;  A.  W. 
Hall,  keeper  of  records  and  seal;  J.  N.  Reynolds,  master  at  arms;  PI.  Young, 
inner  guard ;  John  Roup,  outer  guard. 

The  present  (1911)  officers  are  as  follows:  N.  Rinker,  chancellor  com- 
mander; M.  Pollard,  vice-chancellor;  Robert  Dawson,  prelate;  M.  McKeever, 
master  at  work;  John  Pearson,  keeper  of  records  and  seal;  A.  Rol>erts.  master 
of  finance;  I^.  J.  Drois,  master  of  exchequer;  Charles  Gregg,  master  at  arms; 

1.  Hunter,  inner  guard;  A.  E.  Wheeler,  outer  guard. 

There  have  been  fifteen  chancellor  commanders  in  this  lodge  to  date.  The 
order  owns  its  own  hall. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


MILITARY   HISTORY  OF   THE    COUNTY. 


The  people  of  Iowa  have  ever  been  justly  proud  of  the  state's  military- 
record  made  duriui;-  the  great  Civil  war,  fought  from  1861  to  1866.  That 
her  pioneers  were  made  of  the  right  material,  in  a  patriotic  sense,  one  is  con- 
vinced by  a  glance  at  the  lately  published  military  volumes  of  Iowa,  which 
valuable  documents  disclose  the  fact  that  out  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  men  subject  t(i  military  duty  within  lier  borders  in  1861,  fully 
eighty  thousand  men  went  to  the  seat  of  war  in  the  Southland.  Many  never 
returned  to  home  and  friends,  Imt  were  buried  where  they  fell,  by  disease  or 
bullet,  their  graN'es  now  l)eing  marked,  if  at  all,  by  the  sad,  but  significant 
word  "unknown."  Verily  these  died  that  our  glorious  Union  might  lie  pre- 
serxed.     By  their  life-blood  the  Nation  was  saved ! 

At  first  seventy-five  thousand  men  were  called  for  ])y  the  following- 
proclamation  by  President  Lincoln,  the  document  being  dated  Monday,  April 
15,  1861,  and  read  as  follows: 

■'Whereas,  the  laws  of  the  United  States  have  for  some  time  past,  and 
are  now,  opposed,  and  the  execution  thereof  obstructed,  in  the  states  of 
South  Carolina,  Alabama.  Florida,  Mississippi,  Louisiana  and  Texas,  by  com- 
binations too  powerful  to  he  suppressed  by  the  ordinary  course  of  judicial 
proceedings,  or  by  the  powers  vested  in  the  marshals ;  now  therefore,  I,  Abra- 
ham Lincoln,  President  of  the  United  States,  by  virtue  of  the  power  in  me 
vested  by  the  Constitution  and  the  laws,  have  thought  to  call  forth,  and 
hereby  do  call  forth,  the  militia  of  the  several  states  of  the  Union,  to  the 
number  of  seventy-five  thousand,  in  order  to  suppress  said  combinations,  and 
to  cause  the  laws  to  be  duly  executed. 

''The  details  for  this  su])ject  will  ])e  immediately  communicated  to  the 
state  authorities  through  the  war  department.  I  appeal  to  all  loyal  citizens 
to  favor,  facilitate  and  to  aid  this  effort  to  maintain  the  honor,  the  integrity, 
and  existence  of  our  national  union,  and  the  perpetuity  of  popular  govern- 
ment, and  to  redress  wrongs  already  long  endured.  I  deem  it  proper  to  say 
that  the  first  services  assigned  to  the  forces  hereby  called  forth  will  probably 
be  to  repossess  the  forts,  places  and  property  which  have  been  seized  from 
the  I  nion;  and  in  everv  event  the  utmost  care  will  Ije  observed,  consistentlv 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  -^0=) 

with  the  ol)ject  aforesaid,  to  avoid  any  devastation,  any  destruction  of,  or 
interference  with  property,  or  any  disturbance  of  peaceful  citizens  in  any 
part  of  the  country;  and  I  hereby  command  the  persons  composing  the  com- 
binations aforesaid,  to  disperse  and  retire  peaceably  to  their  respective 
abodes,  within  twenty  days  from  this  date. 

"Deeming  that  the  present  condition  of  pubh'c  affairs  presents  an  extra- 
ordinary occasion,  I  do  herelDy.  in  virtue  of  the  power  in  me  vested  by  the 
Constitution,  com-ene  l)()th  liouses  <:)f  Congress.  The  senators  and  represent- 
ati^•es  are  therefore  summoned  to  assemble  at  their  respective  chambers  at 
twelve  o'clock  noon,  on  Thursday,  the  fourth  day  of  July  next,  then  and 
there  to  consider  and  determine  such  measures  as  in  their  wisdom  the  public 
safety  and  interest  may  seem  to  demand. 

"In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  caused  the  seal  of 
the  United  States  to  be  affixed. 

"Done  at  the  city  of  Washington,  the  fifteenth  day  of  April,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-one,  and  of  the  independ- 
ence of  the  United  States  the  eighty-fifth. 

"Abraham  Lincoln. 

"By  the  President. 

"W.  H.  Seward,  Secretary  of  State." 

The  last  words  of  this  proclamation  had  scarcely  fallen  from  the  wires 
before  the  call  was  filled.  Men  came  from  farm  and  shop,  from  the  East 
and  the  West,  from  mountain  and  glen — men  of  all  professions  and  all  politi- 
cal shades  of  difference  for  the  time  being  forgot  all  but  the  one  thing  of 
preserving  the  uaion  of  states  and  the  rights  of  the  people  under  the  Con- 
stitution and  the  flag  that  had  so  long  and  proudly  waved  over  a  united 
people. 

But  seventy-five  thousand  men  were  not  sufficient  to  crush  out  the  re- 
bellion. Call  after  call  was  made  and  filled  by  the  best  volunteers  the  world 
has  ever  seen  draw-  a  sword  or  take  aim  with  a  musket.  The  inscription 
written  in  1859  by  Hon.  Enoch  Eastman,  of  Eldora,  for  the  block  of  stone 
designed  for  the  Washington  monument,  at  the  national  capital,  read,  "Iowa 
— her  affections,  like  the  rivers  of  her  borders,  flow  to  an  inseparable  L^n- 
ion."  When  the  great  civil  conflict  came  on,  these  words  seemed  almost 
prophetic  in  their  character,  when  one  reflects  upon  the  unison  of  action  in 
most  e^'erv  part  of  the  commonwealth  with  wliich  troops  were  mustered  into 
service  that  the  union  of  states  might  be  preserved. 

Upon  the  receipt  of  the  news  that  the  assassination  of  the  newly- 
elected  President  had  been  attempted  while  en  route  to  Washington  to  take 


206  JASPER    COl'XTV.    IOWA. 

his  seat,  a  military  company  was  hastily  organized  at  the  old  conrt  house  at 
Xewton,  with  thirty-fi\e  members,  llie  officers  chosen  were:  j.  A.  Gar- 
rett, captain:  J.  W.  Wilson,  first  lieutenant:  J.  S.  llunter,  second  lieutenant; 
J.  L.  Matthews,  Henry  Kissell.  Samuel  Failor,  Jesse  Kennedy,  Jr.,  sergeants; 
D.  >\IcCord,  Jr.,  Samuel  Osborne,  M.  Ramsay.  J.  M.  Rogers,  corporals. 
Captain  Garrett  had  seen  service  in  the  Mexican  war. 

Application  was  immediately  made  to  the  go\'ernor  of  Iowa  for  arms, 
but  the  answer  returned  was  that  the  cjuota  was  exhausted,  and  that  there 
was  little  prospect  of  more  being  obtained  for  some  time  to  come.  On  this 
account,  the  filling  up  of  the  company's  ranks  proceeded  slowly  for  several 
weeks,  when  the  organization  was  abandoned. 

VOLUNTEERING. 

April  22,  1861,  in  response  to  the  President  calling  for  troops,  a  rousing 
meeting  was  held  at  the  court  house  in  Xewton,  and  the  nucleus  of  a  com- 
pany for  actual  service  was  formed.  The  Free  Press  says  that  intense  ex- 
citement pervaded  the  meeting,  "and  when  the  national  flag  was  brought 
into  the  densely  crowded  room,  to  the  stirring  music  of  glorious  'Yankee 
Doodle,'  such  excited  enthusiasm  was  there  as  only  comes  when  slumbering 
patriotism  is  kindled  from  off  God's  altar."  W.  H.  Silsby  presided.  Stir- 
ring and  patriotic  speeches  were  made  by  Dr.  Robinson,  of  Grinnell,  H.  J. 
Skiff,  S.  G.  Smith.  H.  S.  Winslow,  Judge  Kbllogg,  Rev.  C.  Shaffer.  Rev. 
John  Steel  and  Captain  Chapman.  The  following  citizens  then  signed  the 
roll :  S.  H.  Chapman,  J.  G.  Jones,  J.  R.  Rodgers,  Thomas  R.  Keisler.  John 
Shellady,  D.  \\\  Lester.  Robert  Bain.  W.  E.  Huling,  John  S.  Cottle,  Allen 
Alloway,  Thomas  Poor,  Martin  Rtimsey,  Simeon  Kennedy,  J.  W.  Preston, 
William  Robinson,  J.  C.  Dixon,  William  Hunter.  D.  ^^^  Critzer,  J.  S.  Adam- 
son,  S.  R.  Bicknell,  B.  Aydellotte,  John  Cockley,  William  Foutts,  Francis 
Job,  James  P.  Banks. 

Another  meeting  was  held  on  the  26th  of  the  same  month,  at  which 
time  the  roll  of  the  company  was  nearly  comj)leted.  May  2d  the  list  was 
published,  and  its  composition  may  be  seen  in  this  chapter  elsewhere. 

In  Monroe  a  great  mass  meeting  was  held  on  .\pril  24,  1861,  presided 
over  by  R.  Elwood ;  S.  A.  Holt,  secretary.  Ten  men  volunteered.  On  the 
29th,  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  thirteen  more  enrolled  their  names  and  the 
meeting  pledged  itself  to  furnish  as  many  more  if  necessary — and  certainly 
they  kept  their  word. 


JASPER    COUXTV,    IOWA.  20'J 

In  Poweshiek  a  meeting  was  held  on  April  26,  1861,  presided  over  by 
patriotic  men.  Another  was  held  three  days  later.  Eleven  men  joined  Cap- 
tain Chapman's  company,  and  the  meeting  passed  the  following  resolutions : 

"j.  That  immediate  .steps  be  taken  to  thoroughly  organize  Poweshiek 
into  a  military  organization. 

"2.  That  there  be  a  committee  of  twelve  appointed  to  act  as  regula- 
tors,  for  \arious  purposes,  not  necessary  to  mention. 

"3.  That  all  persons  not  willing  to  vindicate  and  defend  the  Union  and 
the  Constitntion,  sliall  ])e  brouglit  lie  fore  the  committee  and  be  dealt  with  as 
traitors. 

"4.  That  (tur  meetings  open  and  close  !)}•  inxoking  the  divine  aid  and 
blessing  upon  our  patriotic  and  glorious  undertaking." 

JASPER  COUNTY  FULLY  AROUSED. 

Saturday.  May  4,  1861,  was  a  big  day  in  Jasper  county.  On  that  day 
was  held  a  great  mass-meeting  at  Xewton.  at  ^\•hich  time  measures  were 
taken  to  fully  perfect  a  complete  military  organization  of  the  whole  county, 
in  which  Poweshiek  a  few  days  Ijefore  had  led  off  by  enrolling  a  home  guard 
of  fifty  men.  Captain  Chapman  was  marshal  of  the  day,  assisted  by  Colonel 
Shellady  and  William  H.  Silsby.  J.  W.  Alurphy  presided  at  the  meeting 
and  A.  K.  Campbell  was  secretary.  The  exercises  consisted  of  speeches  by 
J.  R.  Alershon  and  Rev.  C.  Shafer,  music  and  the  business  for  which  the 
assemblage  had  met. 

It  was  in  the  minds  of  the  people  in  this  and  other  southern  Iowa  coun- 
ties that  an  invasion  would  soon  take  place  by  the  guerrillas  from  Alissouri. 

Airs.  T.  G.  Springer,  then  of  Alalaka  township,  wrote  a  beautiful  poem 
on  the  going  out  of  these.  Jasper  county's  first  soldiers.  One  stanza  should 
never  be  lost  among  the  rare  gems  of  poetry  written  by  an  obscure  lady  at 
the  beginning  of  the  Civil  war.     It  runs  thus : 

"But  would  we  call  them  back  to  us?     Xo !  by  those  Stripes  and  Stars, 
That  floated  o'er  our  fathers  through  their  long  and  bloody  wars. 
We  will  cheer  them  on  to  battle  \\here  their  glorious  banner  waves, 
And  they'll  proudl}-  die  beneath  it,  rather  than  live  as  slaves; 
And  they  will  be  victorious — the  strength  of  courage  born 
Will  bear  aloft  their  gallant  flag,  though  blood-stained  and  torn; 
And  the  proud  defiant  chieftain,  from  the  land  of  bloom  and  song, 
Will  learn  in  blood  this  lesson — 'the  peaceful  are  the  strong.'  " 


2o8  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

The  original  "Jasper  drays"  could  not  be  recognized  by  Governor  Sam- 
uel J.  I\iirk\vood.  until  in  July.  ]86i,  when  they  hnally  received  marching 
orders.  They  attended  the  Congregational  church  in  a  body  in  the  morning, 
Rev.  D.  E.  Jones  preaching  the  sermon.  At  evening  they  attended  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  listened  to  Rev.  A.  H.  Shafer.  The  next 
evening,  while  assembled  at  a  sociable  at  the  Congregational  church,  a  ma- 
jority of  the  men  took  a  pledge  list,  which  included  these  items: 

"We,  the  undersigned  United  States  volunteers,  remembering  the  teach- 
ings of  our  fathers  and  mothers  and  the  sentiments  of  the  community  from 
whence  we  go,  will  abstain  entirely  from  the  use  of  ardent  spirits,  except  for 
medicinal  purposes;  to  not  use  profane  language  and  improper  language;  to 
keep  holy  the  Sabbath  day ;  to  read  the  Scriptures  and  have  prayer  in  our 
midst,  and  hope  to  be  brave  in  the  hour  of  conflict,  kind  and  compassionate 
in  the  hour  of  victory,  especially  to  women  and  children." 

On  Tuesday,  the  same  week,  the  soldiers  were  presented  with  a  flag, 
the  presentation  being  made  by  Col.  Thomas  Miller,  on  behalf  of  the  "New- 
ton Hawkeyes."  Then  came  the  parting  time — that  saddest  of  all  times  on 
earth,  when  loved  ones  and  dear  friends  part  with  but  a  faint  hope  of  again 
meeting.  Many  of  the  citizens  accompanied  the  troops  on  their  way,  as  far 
as  they  thought  best.  The  route  taken  was  via  Monroe,  Pella,  Oskaloosa  and 
Edenville  to  Burlington,  the  place  of  rendezvous.  A  kettle-drum  was  car- 
ried by  the  boys,  loaned  them  by  ]\Ir.  Bain.  The  same  had  been  carried  by  a 
Continental  drummer  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Recruiting  for  two  more  companies  at  once  commenced  ere  the  sound 
of  the  first  company  had  been  lost  to  the  ears  of  the  patriots  at  home.  One 
was  raised  at  Monroe  and  another  at  Newton.  A  company  was  also  raised 
in  August,  1 86 1,  commanded  by  gallant  Captain  Garrett. 

OFFICIAL  ACTION   IN  JASPER   COUNTY. 

The  reader  may  be  interested  to  know  something  concerning  the  official 
action  of  the  board  of  county  supervisors,  the  people's  representatives,  during 
that  never-to-be-forgotten  struggle.  The  records  show  that  at  a  special 
meeting  held  early  in  July,  1861,  the  following  resolution  was  adopted  by  the 
board : 

"Resolved,  That  each  member  of  the  board  of  supervisors  be  authorized 
to  look  after  the  families  of  the  soldiers  that  have  gone  or  may  go  to  war 
from  their  respecti\-e  townships,  and  furnisli  them  witli  such  necessaries  of 
life  as  tliey  may  need.  And  the  orders  of  said  supervisors,  respecti\eh'.  on  the 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  209 

comity  treasurer  to  pay  for  said  necessaries  shall  be  drawn  by  the  clerk  of  the 
board  of  supcrxisors,  upon  presentation,  accompanied  with  the  name  of  the 
person's  family  to  be  relieved  thereby,  and  duly  signed  by  said  member  of  the 
board  of  supervisors,  each  member  to  report  his  doings  to  the  board." 

This  was  the  only  action  necessary,  and  for  the  next  seven  years,  until 
the  claims  and  demands  of  soldiers'  families  had  come  to  an  end.  there  was 
never  a  hint  by  any  member  of  the  board  that  too  much  was  being  expended 
to  care  for  the  "war  widows"  and  the  families  of  soldiers  in  the  field.  When 
money  was  needed,  it  was  dealt  out  in  a  business-like  manner  by  the  people, 
through  the  l)oard.  Each  member  of  the  board  (one  from  each  township  in 
the  county  then)  had  charge  of  the  needs  of  his  own  township  and  was  never 
questioned  by  the  other  members,  for  they,  too,  were  all  looking  after  the 
needs  of  their  own  soldiers'  families. 

On  June  3,  1863,  the  board  passed  the  following  resolution  : 
"That  Drs.  Thornell  and  Hunter  be  and  are  hereby  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  visit  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  of  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  and 
that  the  sum  of  three  hundred  dollars  is  hereby  appropriated  for  the  purpose 
of  furnishing  such  supplies  for  them  as,  in  their  judgment,  may  be  necessary 
and  proper;  and  that  they  be  required  to  report  at  the  next  session  of  this 
board,  of  their  doings,  together  with  the  amounts  expended." 

PRESENTATION   OF   THE   ''lIAVELOCKS." 

The  following  bit  of  reminiscence  was  brought  out  by  the  pen  and  from 
the  good  memory  of  Civil  war  days,  by  J.  H.  Fugard.  of  Newton,  at  the 
dedication  of  the  new   (1911)  court  house: 

"Our  people  had  some  queer  ideas  about  the  dangers  of  a  soldier's  life, 
and  some  impracticable  schemes  were  proposed  for  their  relief.  One  source 
of  dread  was  the  fear  that  our  boys  would  not  be  able  to  endure  the  intense 
heat  that  was  supposed  to  exist  in  the  Southern  states.  Some  one  had  read 
how  General  Havelock,  the  Christian  soldier,  had  furnished  a  novel  sort  of  a 
head  covering  for  his  Highlanders  to  protect  them  from  the  sun,  in  their 
famous  march  across  the  sands  of  India  to  the  relief  of  Lucknow. 
Acting  on  the  suggestion,  the  Newton  Ladies'  Aid  Society  devised  and  made 
a  lot  of  them.  They  were  called  'Havelocks,'  and  were  made  of  some  kind 
of  light  material,  and  looked  (piite  different  from  anything  ever  seen  here 
before,  being  a  sort  of  a  cross  between  a  helmet  of  the  middle  ages  and  a 
night  cap  of  our  grandmother's  days.  And  when  Captain  Garrett's  com- 
pany were  about  to  leave,  they  were  drawn  up  in  front  of  the  north  porcli, 
'   (14) 


2IO  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

and  in  a  short  speech  by  one  of  the  ministers  were  formally  presented  with 
them. 

"The  gift  was  made  from  nol)le  moti\es.  But  the  presentation  proceed- 
ings were  badly  marred  by  the  loud  laughter  of  the  small  boys  at  the  ludi- 
crous appearance  of  the  troops.  But  the  latter  paid  no  heed  to  the  taunts 
and,  out  of  respect  to  the  donors,  they  wore  their  sunbonnets  like  heroes  until 
they  got  out  of  town.     They  afterwards  used  them  for  dish  cloths." 

For  a  complete  list  of  all  soldiers  ^^•ho  went  from  Fairview  township 
the  reader  is  referred  to  the  history  of  that  township  for  a  certified  sworn-to 
copy  of  same,  made  in  1865  for  military  purposes.   " 

VOLUNTEER    ROSTER    OF    THE    COUNTY. 

The  following  roster  of  soldiers  who  went  from  Jasper  county  has  been 
carefully  compiled  from  the  adjutant-general's  reports  which  were  issued  by 
authority  of  the  state  between  the  years  1862  and  1866,  and  are  considered 
correct,  except  in  a  few  changes,  where  some  disability,  such  as  desertion, 
has  been  removed  l)y  more  recent  acts  of  Congress  and  rulings  of  the  war 
department.  It  is  the  aim  to  give  the  name  of  all  volunteers,  and  note  also 
those  killed.     The  list  is  given  alphabetically,  by  companies  and  regiments. 

THIRD    INFANTRY. 

Company   C — William   H.    Sparks. 

Company  E — Second  Lieutenant  (when  mustered  out  in  1864)  Allen 
Alloway ;  James  F.  Guthrie,  corporal;  Benjamin  F.  Denton,  corporal;  J. 
M.  Skiff,  corporal ;  John  Blake.  Justice  Dunn.  Samuel  T.  Jones,  James  C. 
Livingston.  I.  T.  Xewhouse,  Jasper  H.  Parks.  J.  \V.  Preston,  James  H. 
Trotter. 

Coiiipaiix  G — T.  (i.  Norris.  John  A.  Butler. 

Company  H — Second  Lieutenant  David  Scott;  Sergeant  John  C.  Carr; 
H.  C.  Dearinger. 

FIFTH    INFANTRY. 

Company  A — Corporal  William  C.  Hawk.  F.  G.  Tubbs. 

Company  B — Captain  Samuel  H.  Chapman;  First  Lieutenant  Alexander 
Mateer;  First  Lieutenant  Robert  A.  McKee ;  Second  Lieutenant  O.  A.  Camp- 
bell ;  Sergeant  John  Shellady ;  Sergeant  William  W .  Dungan ;  Sergeant 
James  Vannatta;  Sergeant  Thomas  R.  Kiesler;  Sergeant  William  Adamson ; 


JASPIiR    COUNTY,    IOWA.  21  J 

Corporals  Miles  Humphrey,  E.  Edmonds,  J.  ^M.  Loudcnback.' Isaac  J.  Jones. 

D.  W.  Teter.  James  W.  McCroske) .  W.  C.  W'inslow,  James  Taylor,  William 
F.  Bodley,  David  Herron.  James  P.  Banks,  Cleorge  F.  Work,  A.  Ritter, 
John  M.  Yolk,  T.  E.  Beath;  J.  R.  Rogers,  musician;  If.  C.  Gist,  wagoner; 
A.  G.  Atha.  Daniel  Bixler.  M.  Butler.  John  D.  Bodley,  I.  T.  Borden,  L.  K. 
Carey,  S.  Capel.  I.  Cartwright,  M.  W.  Cottrell,  M.  K.  Campbell,  I.  Collier, 
Burnett  Dewitt,  John  C.  Dixon,  William  P.   Pouts,  Job  Plemming,    Joseph 

E.  Fisher,  John  Gray.  William  E.  Graham.  J.  Halgerson,  William  E.  Hun- 
ling,  William  Hill,  Hiram  C.  Hall.  W.  H.  Howard,  George  M.  Hammond, 
William  H.  Haxton,  J.  M.  Hilsinger,  F.  'M.  Johnson,  Theodore  Jones.  G.  L. 
Jones,  S.  Kennedy,  James  A.  King,  Thomas  Kerr,  PI.  I.  Lyman,  George  W. 
Lowe,  D.  R.  Loudenback,  E.  McReynolds,  ^^^illiam  ^lartino.  Jered  Mesker. 
George  B.  T^Iahan,  ^^'illiam  I^.  ]\Iaus,  Wesley  ]\Iatson.  T.  L.  McDonald. 
William  McCully,  Charles  ^I.  Alorris,  O.  B.  Piix^r.  Thomas  Poor,  John  J. 
Peyton.  Thomas  W.  Preston,  H.  Reynolds.  A.  D.  Romans,  J.  Rhynehart, 
James  H.  Smael.  L.  F.  Shell} .  William  H.  Sparks.  B.  F.  Stearns,  H.  Scott. 
J.  Stem.  William  Spnrlin,  John  H.  Sparks,  George  Watson.  W.  Warrell, 
John  H.  \\^elsh. 

Company  D — Layton  Butin.  M.  B.  Cooper.  S.  Hayes.  T.  H.  Payton. 
Company  (unknown) — Daniel  Connor.  C.  Erich.  A.  ]>klcCusker,  P.  Mc- 
Daniel,  J.  Schlusser. 

TENTH    INFANTRY. 

Colonel  William  H.  Silsby  entered  as  first  lieutenant :  Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel Aaron  \\'.  Drew  entered  as  sergeant ;  Quartermaster  George  G.  Lindlejl' ; 
Sergeant-Alajor  George  Fugard;  Hospital  Steward  Milo  Dibl)le;  Musician 
y.  W.  Skiff;  Musician  John  A.  Harris;  ^Musician  Z.  Needham ;  Musician 
Xeedham. 

Co}npa}i\  D — William  B.  McKinney. 

Company  F — Samuel  Bushong. 

Company  I — Captain  John  A.  Garrett;  Captain  Stephen  W.  Poage;  Cap- 
tain William  P.  Wilson;  Jnrst  Lieutenant  William  Manning;  Second  Lieu- 
tenant James  S.  Laughlin ;  Sergeant  ^^'illiam  F.  Rippey ;  Sergeant  Joseph 
Houston ;  Sergeant  Joseph  Powell ;  Sergeant  E.  R.  Gantt ;  Sergeant  Freder- 
ick Kinley;  Corporals  J.  T.  Kennedy.  Oscar  Evans.  H.  L.  Kroh.  Robert  C. 
Banks,  J.  H.  Jliff.  \\'ilHam  H.  Earp.  D.  W.  Church,  C.  T.  J-Jelm,  William 
Strong.  Henrv  Lockwood.  James  Smith:  Musicians  James  O.  Hammond.  W. 
R.  Perkins ;  D.  X.  Adamson.  A.  Alloway,  A.  M.  Ashley,  A.  Bevan,  I.  Black- 
wood, A.  X.  Bradfield,  J.  B.  Clark,  J.  H.  Coldren.  Thomas  J.  Colyar,  M.  Cox, 


212  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

T.  J.  B.  Crawford.  James  Ciilp.  Josiah  Dicus,  William  Doak,  Joel  Dodge,  E  J. 
Duncan,  H.  M.  Fiske,  M.  V.  George,  A.  Hammack,  James  C.  Hawk,  George 
Hews,  Isaac  Hickman.  A.  W.  Hickman,  I.  Homer,  M.  F.  Iliff,  William  F. 
Jackson.  George  Klelly,  Joseph  C.  Kennedy.  Wesley  Kerr,  O.  C.  Kinley, 
James  F.  Faiigblin,  George  G.  Findley,  B.  F.  Logsdon,  William  H.  Lowell, 
John  Mather,  R.  D.  Maus,  J.  W^  Mans,  J.  E.  Montgomery,  L.  W.  Moshier, 
Aaron  Mylin.  Thomas  J.  Nelson.  E.  D.  Patterson,  H.  H.  Phillips.  John  N. 
Replogle.  F.  .\.  Sanders,  S.  Scarbrongh.  Bennett  Scoville,  Jesse  Slavens,  H. 
E.  Smith,  Joseph  \l.  Trammel.  M.  W.  Trotter.  Benjamin  F.  Weston,  F. 
Whitted,  J.  T.  Wilsey,  \Mlliam  P.  ^^'ilson.  A.  J.  Wiggin.  John  W^ren. 

Company  K — S.  Adams,  S.  F.  Beals,  L  B.  Beals,  U.  D.  Barrett,  A. 
Cushalt,  S.  Howell.  Israel  Myrely,  S.  Morris,  E.  C.  Smith,  Richard  Stock. 

Company  (unknown) — John  H.  Dearinger.  R.  AL  Sanders. 

THIRTEENTH      INFANTRY. 

Company  B — Captain  Thomas  H.  Miller;  Captain  HarYcy  J.  Skiff; 
Captain  Levi  L.  Newcomer;  First  Lieutenant  George  E.  Martindale;  First 
Lieutenant  Josiah  B.  Eyerly ;  First  Lieutenant  Ezekiel  L  Evans ;  Second 
Lieutenant  E.  D.  Duncan;  Second  Lieutenant  William  J.  Peer;  Second  Lieu- 
tenant George  B.  Hunter ;  First  Sergeant  David  S.  Stover ;  Sergeant  N.  S. 
Johnson ;  Sergeant  John  L.  Mathews ;  Sergeant  Sylvester  Adams ;  Corporal 
John  West ;  Corporals  E.  L  Evans,  J.  C.  Taylor,  William  H.  Shipley,  H. 
L.  Kissell.  H.  H.  Lockwood,  William  L  Peer,  William  P.  Stier;  privates, 
Armentrout,  D.  R. :  Armentrout.  William  H. ;  Binkerd.  Jacob;  Snodgrass, 
Robert  S. ;  Swaney.  N. ;  Barnes,  J.  R. ;  Baker.  Daniel  W. ;  Battles,  Beriah; 
Byerty,  William  H. ;  Barbee.  William  S. ;  Burroughs.  C.  R. ;  Cary,  A.  W. ; 
Carrothers.  \\^illiam ;  Cary,  John  C. ;  Dickenson,  J.  W. ;  Dodge,  Israel ; 
Davis,  M.  R. ;  Dennis,  T. ;  Dawson,  J. ;  Easterday,  A.  P. ;  Eyerly, 
AA'illiam  R. ;  French,  Angus;  Fislier.  F.  H. :  Fowler,  Snyder;  Fisher,  Wil- 
liam IT.;  Foy,  William;  Flaugli.  William;  Frantz.  William;  Flaugh.  Aaron; 
Guthrie,  1).  L. ;  Giles,  Samuel  S. ;  Guthrie.  R.  N. ;  Guthrie.  F.  A.;  Guthrie, 
A.  W. ;  Hunter,  William  A.;  Hall.  John  R. ;  Hart.  William;  Hanks,  George; 
Hughes,  S.  R. ;  Jordan,  John  ;  Jordan,  \\'illiam  B. ;  Kenyon,  John  N. ;  Kenyon. 
George  W. ;  Kellogg.  Frederick;  Knapp,  William  H. ;  Langcor.  William; 
Lamphicr.  1).;  Little.  James  V.\  Logsdon,  \\Mlliam;  Logsdon.  George  \Y.\ 
Lickins.  Thomas  N. ;  McKeever,  George ;  Murphy,  Hugh  M. ;  Muri)liy. 
William  T. ;  Myers.  M.  P.;  Mendenhall.  B.  W. ;  Monger,  John  \^  ;  Moler, 
Lewis;  McWilliams.  H. ;  Poling.  Martin;  Patterson,  G.  F. ;  Rogers,  J.  M. ; 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  2I3 

Parker,  F. ;  Rieman,  F. ;  Rieman,  Clay;  Rowe,  G.  R. ;  Reynolds,  James; 
Richardson,  William;  Rowe,  Willis;  Skiff,  E.  P.;  Street,  W.  W. ;  Shipp, 
Thomas;  Snyder,  M.  P.;  Seaton,  J.  A.;  Shutt,  John;  Stahl,  Henry;  Swaney, 
Joseph;  Sams,  D.  E. ;  Shill,  G.  W. ;  Wolf,  C.  j\I. ;  Watt,  James;  Weston, 
G.  W. ;  Wedkins,  William;  Westfall,  L.  C.;  Wheeler,  J.  R. ;  Wright,  Henry; 
Young,  Wesley. 

Company  E — Marquette,  J.  F. ;  Neil,  H.  H. ;  Priest,  Joseph;  Stock, 
William;  Shook,  J.  R. ;  Walker.  Enos;  Oswald,  B.  P.;  Parker,  J.  W.  (com- 
pany not  known). 

FOURTEENTH     INFANTRY. 

Company  E — Captain  ^^'illiam  B.  Davidson;  First  Lieutenant  John  W. 
Horine;  Second  Lieutenant  Neill  Murray;  Second  Lieutenant  William  H. 
McMillen;  Sergeant  William  T.  Ingle;  Sergeant  W.  W.  Stanfield;  Sergeant 
J.  K.  Cavatt ;  Corporals  Samuel  Ritchie,  D.  W.  Shearer,  J.  Gravatt,  D.  W. 
Lybe,  Benj.  F.  Prunty,  Augustus  Wagner,  Isaac  L.  Rerick,  James  S.  Seller,  F. 
T.  Jeffries,  Daniel  Bailey;  Musicians  Charles  W'allace,  B.  F.  Shawhan;  privates 
— Broen,  P.  W. ;  Crockett,  B.  F. ;  Collins,  William ;  Collins,  Andrew ;  Court- 
ney, James;  Cowman.  C.  R. ;  Davidson,  W.  S. ;  Deakin,  \A'illiam;  Deakin, 
J.  E. ;  Drake.  M. ;  Draper,  J.  \\\ ;  Frazier,  George ;  Frost.  Joel ;  Frost, 
Samuel;  Flemry.  A.;  Goodacre.  Robert;  George,  D.  C. ;  Groomes,  S.  C. ; 
Gravatt,  T.  H. ;  Hilton,  William;  Hayes,  William  A.;  Hodson,  William; 
Horn,  George  H. ;  Holland,  Thomas ;  Johnson,  Robert  H. ;  James,  ISPathan ; 
James,  George  W. ;  Lybe,  William;  Linton,  H.  B. ;  Lindsey,  Robert;  Morris, 
John  W. ;  McMillen,  J.  C. ;  Means,  Adam,  Pruner.  Isaac;  Pope,  Carey;  Rose, 
George  D. ;  Rutherford,  D.  E. ;  Silvers,  Isaac ;  Van  Grundy.  L. ;  Wallace, 
A\'illiam  W. ;  Webb,  George  M. 

RESIDUARY  BATTALION,  FOURTEENTH  INFANTRY. 

Company  A — Sergeant  William  T.  Ingle;  Sergeant  William  S.  David- 
son ;  Corporals.  George  M.  Webb,  F.  M.  Anderson,  Isaac  Walters. 

TWENTY-SECOND     INFANTRY. 

Company  C — Captains  T.  M.  Ault  and  Lafayette  F.  ^Mullens;  First 
Lieutenants  Neill  Murray  and  Robert  W.  Davis;  Second  Lieutenants 
Samuel  C.  Fugard  and  Nathaniel  Townsend ;  Sergeants  Taylor  Pierce. 
George  W^   Cooney,  O.   B.   Sawdy,  John  N.   Wykoft";  Corporals   David   H. 


214  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Nlorris,  Benjamin  West.  Levi  V^ersaw,  George  \V.  McCall,  Thomas  Allnm 
George  S.  Post.  James  T.  Dailey.  George  C.  Nicholl,  N.  Townsend.  J.  W 
Dinsmore.  I.  W.  Low.  J.  \\\  Xewcll,  George  T.  Bennett,  George  McQueen 
Musicians  F.  H.  Peabody  and  Thomas  M.  Rogers ;  \\'agoner  David  Slozad 
privates.  Adams.  Jeremiah;  Atha.  C.  H. :  Alkim,  Leroy;  Brown,  H.  C. 
Brown.  S.  B. ;  Bean.  Robert  I. ;  Brown.  W'ilHam  H. :  Baker,  Charles  P. 
Burtch.  A.  E. ;  Bair,  Emanuel ;  Bair,  David ;  Bennett,  Adam ;  Campbell 
George  W. ;  Carper.  Monroe:  Cushatt,  James  T. ;  Chiles,  H.  W. ;  Cole 
James  A. ;  Clippinger.  John ;  Dixon.  A. ;  Falkner,  ]\I.  H. ;  Green.  John  L. 
Guthrie.  J.:  Hart.  E.  C. ;  Hickman.  E.  M. :  Hall.  Levi  M. ;  Irwin.  William 
Jack.  John  W. ;  Jack.  H.  B. ;  Kester,  J.  E. ;  Kester.  Samuel;  Kene- 
day,  J.    R. ;  Kester.   Lewis   \\'. :    Kawapot,   C. ;    Linn,   A.   J. ;     Longfellow. 

E.  E. ;  Linn,  John,  ]\IcIntosh,  James  K'. ;  Myers,  John ;  McPherson.  J.  B. ; 
McCollough,  James  P. ;  ]\Iyers,  T.  ^^^ ;  McKeever.  \\^illiam ;  INIcKeever, 
Thomas;  McDonald,  C.  L. ;  McKeever,  A.;  Miles,  R.  W. ;  Mann,  William 
M.;  McQueen,  George;  Xewhouse,  J..  Oiler.  C.  C. ;  Roustin.  A.;  Roustin, 
E. ;  Story,  Samuel;  Smithart.  L.  W. ;  Stanfield,  P.  N. ;  Swaggert.  John; 
Shawhan.  George  W. ;  Story,  Thomas ;  Shipp,  E. ;  Scott.  David ;  Spurling, 
J.  T. ;  Strater.  William;  Thatcher.  Joseph  M.;  Trager,  William;  Van  Horn, 
D.  M. ;  Xan  Horn,  O.  E. ;  ^^'interhalter,  I.  \\'. ;  Worrell.  Barney. 

TWENTY-THIRD     INFANTRY. 

Company  A — Hilton,  E.  B. 

Company  E — Fudge.  James  \\'. ;  AIcLaughlln.  E.  R. ;  Wood,  E.  F. 

Companx  G — Captain  J.  P.  Roach ;  Captain  Richard  L.  McCary ;  Cap- 
tain Thomas  H.  Miller;  Second  Lieutenants  George  F.  Ingle.  Charles  Hanes; 
Sergeants  A\'illiam  H.  Minnick,  S.  Hammel.  A.  F.  McConnell,  William  A. 
Webber.  D.  J.  Sturgeon.  H.  Swain.  Jacob  R.  Moore;  Corporals,  R.  S. 
Rutherford.  Charles  Hanes.  J.  ^\^  Deweese.  E.  Frazier,  R.  S.  McConnell. 
A.  J.  Porter.  Thomas  G.  Stewart.  J.  B.  Rumbaugh.  D.  West;  Musicians.  J. 

F.  Hunnel,  D.  Hunnel ;  wagoners.  John  H.  Hill.  R.  S.  Rutherford;  privates, 
Asher,  A.;  Asher,  L. ;  Anderson,  Robert;  Ash.  Thornton;  Royer.  Jacob; 
Berry,  B.  C. ;  Brubaker,  J.  W. ;  Bailey,  William  B. ;  Carter,  Harrison;  Car- 
risck,  C. ;  Draper,  J.  J. ;  Eli,  S.  J. ;  Erickson,  J. ;  Meming.  John  \. ;  Flinn. 
Robert;  b^jrbes.  F.  H. ;  Fox.  (icorge  W. ;  Gift.  John  A.;  Halpin.  James; 
Hanes.  William  A.;  Harvey,  William;  Harlan.  E. ;  Hampton.  William;  Hill, 
J.  M.;  Hill,  William  F. ;  Hayes,  J.;  Howard.  \\'illiani  A.;  Ingle.  Thomas  J.: 
Ingle.   John    L. ;   Jones.    A.   \\'.  ;   K.oder.    Sloan;    Loman,   John    H. ;    Morris, 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  215 

Solomon;  ]\liller.  Thomas  H.;  Marsh,  Robert  H.;  Montgomery,  T.  G. ; 
]\Ieans.  EHas ;  North,  John;  O'Kee,  Joseph  L. ;  Porter,  William  E. ;  Porter. 
Robert;  Person.  C.  D. ;  Powers,  J.  W. ;  Powers,  J.  P.;  Phifer,  William; 
Phifer.  John;  Powers.  John  G. ;  Riley.  H.;  Rees,  James  F. ;  Sprunce,  Levi; 
Smith.  A.  L. ;  Sturgeon,  A.;  Stout.  William  H.;  Strain,  John  A.;  Sanford, 
I.  \V. ;  Trout.  S.  PL;  Van  Gundy.  William  W. ;  Willock.  John;  West.  S. ; 
Worley,  John  W. 

Company  H — Nicholas.  A.  J.;  Sims.  John  E. 

Company  K — Perin.  H.  J.;  Smith.  Alvey ;  Thompson.  William  M.; 
Thompson,  Joseph  A. 

TWEXTY-EIGIITH     IXFAXTRY. 

Company  K — Captain  Merritt  W.  .Xtwcjod;  First  Lieutenant  Malcom 
C.  Dean:  Second  Lieutenant  J.  R.  Zollinger;  First  Sergeant  C.  W.  Mvlin; 
Sergeant  J.  Wright  Wilson;  Sergeants  De  \Vitt  C.  Smoke.  John 
Hammack.  John  H.  Smith,  Nelson  Adams, ;  Corporals  T.  T.  Mc- 
Cord,  C.  L.  Roberts,  J.  M.  Blanchard.  James  Hawes,  Daniel  E.  Connor, 
Charles  Bodley.  Abel  L.  Cure.  John  F.  W.  Andreas,  G.  ]M.  Walker.  William 
Patterson.  A.  T.  Pope,  John  R.  Elliott,  John  C.  \\'ilson,  A.  ]\L  Hinsdale; 
]^Iusicians.  Thomas  H.  Housel.  Jabez  Green;  Wagoner  S.  H.  Durbin;  privates, 
William  J.  Adams.  John  Aikens,  \\'illiam  H.  Ashley,  John  H.  Butters,  W. 
H.  Butters.  Lucian  Blanchard,  William  A\'.  Brothers,  John  Bergstrom.  A. 

F.  Beals.  Joseph  Bodley.  James  M.  Brown,  E.  E.  W.  Briggs.  George  W. 
Conrad.  Samuel  M.  Caldwell,  S.  B.  Cox.  C.  Callison.  A.  P.  Callison.  Nim- 
rod  Dickey,  James  M.  Dimn,  Robert  Doak,  C.  T.  Davis.  W.  Elliott,  Edward 
Early.  Henry  Effner.  David  Flover.  Leander  French.  Robert  D.  Fregna, 
Samuel  Friend.  J.  Graves.  George  ^^^  Garner.  Daniel  Gifford,  Elisha  Ham- 
mer, H.  T.  Hawk.  James  N.  Hamilton.  E.  A.  Head.  Jonas  P.  Haskett. 
E.  Harris.  George  Hutchinson,  John  Hews.  John  B.  Harris.  David  Harris. 
S.  \A'.  Helphrey,  J.  ^^^  Hendricks,  H.  C.  Houck,  William  J.  Iliff,  L.  D. 
Jones.  Thomas  H.  Jay,  Charles  Jones.  E.  H.  Keyes.  Hugh  L.  Moffit.  J. 
Lloyd.  H.  McFarland.  M.  A.  :\IcCord.  Elias  B.  Moffitt.  William  J.  ^L'lrtin. 

G.  :McConkey.  \\'illiam  Northcut,  \\'illiam  Oblenis,  E.  A.  Perkins,  S.  Old- 
field,  G.  B.  Powell,  William  Roots,  G.  D.  Patton,  D.  A.  Post.  A.  J.  Post,  T. 
V.  Saunders.  John  Sinder,  Amos  Sinder.  Benson  Starr.  D.  C.  \\'ork,  G.  M. 
J.  Parks.  J.  B.  Peer.  C.  P.  Riose.  Josiah  Rose.  G.  Skinner,  A.  S.  Saum.  M. 
Wilson.  T-  S.  Wilson,  Austin  Whitehead,  Solomon  \\'est. 


2l6  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA, 

THIRTY-SEVENTH      INFANTRY. 

Covipanx  C — First  Lieutenant  Stephen  B.  Shellady. 

Company  I — Captain  Caleb  Lamb ;  Sergeant  \\'illiam  Blasdell ;  Corporal 
Alex.  Pattison;  Musician  Isaiah  Gardner;  ^Musician  C.  L.  Gardner;  Wag- 
oner R.  R.  Louderbach;  Privates  T.  H.  Cavett.  Robert  Denny,  Elijah  Davis, 
Jacob  Guthry,  William  Gardner,  N.  S.  Heard,  Lewis  Herring,  David  Harris, 
A.  Y.  Hampton.  John  K]eating.  S.  R.  Lee,  Alex  AIcGarrah,  C.  D.  Moffitt, 
William  Meek,  Jacob  Oswalt,  Alex.  Peer,  George  Purrington,  Andrew  Pease, 
W.  J.  Robertson,  T.  Slater.  William  Stewart.  D.  C.  Thatcher.  William  Wil- 
son, R.  B.  Wilkinson. 

FORTIETH     INFANTRY. 

Company  A — Joseph  L.  Hutchins. 

Company  B — Y.  E.  Hestwood. 

Company  D — Captain  Felix  W.  Cozard  ;  Captain  D.  Cox;  First  Lieuten- 
ant David  Edmundson ;  First  Lieutenant  James  D.  Taylor ;  Second  Lieu- 
tenant John  W.  Smith;  Sergeants  C.  C.  Turner.  J.  W.  Preston.  Robert 
Williams,  David  Beams ;  Corporals  Y'illiam  Barbee,  Jacob  C.  Cozad,  T.  J. 
Davis,  William  P.  Jordan,  Hugh  A.  Peas,  Y^illiam  Ring,  Alfred  Alloway; 
Musician  Eli  Boarts;  Musician  W.  B.  Manners;  privates,  Joseph  H.  Ander- 
son, Abisha  Alloway,  B.  Aydelotte,  John  W.  Alloway,  Curtis  Burnham, 
Abraham  Burnham.  John  C.  Baker.  C.  F.  Brock.  James  E.  Bailey,  A.  Con- 
over,  John  B.  Cole,  H.  M.  Cole,  Hiram  B.  Chase,  P.  M.  Cline,  A.  B.  Con- 
way, John  Coe,  Robert  Dawson,  Joseph  A.  Dooley,  Thomas  English,  S.  H. 
Fisher,  AL  Flock,  David  Y'.  Flock.  Elias  E.  Friend,  William  Foy.  James 
Gettys.  Peter  Gettys,  Jacob  Gearhart,  Burton  Hurst.  John  Hopping,  Abel 
Herring,  John  Y\  Haines.  A.  E.  Jeffries,  E.  R.  Jones,  J.  F.  Knostman, 
Flenry  Long,  M.  Lee,  James  Miller,  Robert  W.  Mitchell,  John  Manning,  H. 
iMcK'enna,  James  A.  Meredith,  T.  J.  McGlothlin,  John  R.  Meighan.  M. 
Miller,  E.  G.  Neighbors.  S.  F.  X^wcomer.  Simeon  Phillips.  Robert  Philson. 
John  Rafferty.  Adam  Robinson,  X.  A.  Rawlings,  B.  C.  Sparks.  M.  F.  Swan. 
John  Swan,  Robert  Swan,  George  Sims,  Solomon  Sego,  James  Stewart,  L. 
D.  Smith,  Patrick  Sheridan,  William  LL  Trease,  James  J.  Tramel,  George 
W.  Y^olf,  Eli  Wolf,  Joseph  Wetzel,  John  \\'allace,  John  R.  Y-'illiams,  Jacob 
West,  John  T.  Wyat,  George  W.  A\'eems. 

Company  E — Captain  W.  Sennet ;  Captain  Joseph  Hewitt ;  First  Lieu- 
tenant James  L.  Hunter ;  Second  Lieutenant  Aaron  Adams ;  Sergeants  V.  Y^. 
Heller.  N.  G.  Xelson,  John  Mateer,  H.  G.  Nielson ;  Corporals  C.  P.  Kintz,  S. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  2\J 

O.  Munger,  Charles  E.  Dodd.  William  R.  Hampton.  William  Dye,  Joshua 
Chapman,  William  A.  Thompson.  J.  W.  Taylor,  L.  J.  Connelly,  William  A. 
Kline.  L.  S.  Thurston:  Musicians  T.  C.  Bain.  John  R.  Bain;  Privates  A. 
Butin.  A.  C.  Butin,  William  F.  Baker.  E.  M.  Bateman,  B.  Y.  Blackwood,  J. 
Bargenhaultz.  Joseph  Cox,  I.  B.  Carnes.  M.  Connelly,  H.  A.  Cowles,  C.  M. 
Cating.  A.  Carnham,  Solomon  Clemens.  George  W^  Carnahan,  C.  X.  Dani- 
ger.  John  Dunaway,  H.  C.  Fowler,  G.  Edwards.  George  W\  Eyler,  Joseph 
E.  Fisher.  J.  C.  Fudge,  F.  P.  George,  Samuel  P.  Grey,  J.  A.  Humphreys. 
David  Hays.  F.  Hendricks.  E.  Humphreys,  Jacob  Hunter.  N.  Kitchen,  Charles 
Kestler,  Peter  Kline,  Isaac  Koon.  Howard  Koon.  John  H.  Lapella.  Levi 
Lower.  Olfrey  Matthew.  E.  ]\Iather.  John  Minor.  Phillip  ]\Iudgett,  Daniel 
Mather,  N.  Moon.  F.  Alortimore.  Peter  Matthews.  X.  H.  X'orthrup.  Joseph 
Xeal.  John  Oberlies.  Joshua  Parker.  Henry  Quick,  William  H.  Runyon, 
Joseph  Runyon.  Francis  Rice.  William  S.  Reagan,  George  W.  Randall.  James 
Schooley.  J.  K.  Schreck,  Joseph  F.  Shutts.  David  Shutts,  C.  O.  Sellman, 
E.  AL  Streeter.  T.  A.  Streeter,  Thomas  Stock,  George  W.  Thorne.  James 
'M.  Trotter.  E.  J.  Talbott.  C.  Taylor.  S.  Thompson.  H.  \'an  Fossen,  J.  F. 
Wheatcraft.  John  F.  Wheeler.  John  X'.  Wilson,  Isaac  X'.  Waldrip.  Eli 
Walker.  Joseph  M.  West. 

Company  H — First  Lieutenant  Henry  F.  O'X'eal ;  Wagoner  John  D. 
Cradlebaugh ;  Privates  James  Acklin.  C.  Buckhalter,  James  Buckhalter,  Davis 
Branham,  William  B.  Bass,  John  W.  Brodess,  Jesse  W.  Barton,  Cary  Brown. 
William  A.  Ballard.  J.  Barrett.  John  Catlin,  M.  R.  Carroll.  Ashley  Codey, 
John  V.  Cole.  Isaac  X'.  Core,  F.  M.  Dickey.  George  R.  Dawson.  James  P. 
Dawson.  Joshua  Doty.  Closes  Doty.  Isaac  Doty,  Phillip  Etherington,  A. 
Everhart,  James  A.   Enos.  Austin  Fosdick.   Franklin  Ford,   Oliver  Ferrell. 

E.  Haining,  John  Huff,  H.  Horsman.  William  H.  Hammer,  S.  J.  Humphrey. 
M.  Hollingsworth.  P.  Hockstra.  F.  Jennings,  Charles  Johnson.  James  M. 
Johnson.  Samuel  Kinart,  Peter  Kesler.  George  M.  Kferr,  William  Melroy, 
William  ^lullins,  John  A.  ]\Iark.  Robert  M.  X'audain,  John  A.  X'oasman,  H. 

F.  O'X'eal.  James  ^I.  Pendroy.  S.  Rickenbaugh.  Jackson  Reno.  A.  L.  Rees, 
Peter  Rickenbaugh,  Samuel  P.  Rees,  John  P.  Scott. 

Company  A'— C.  M.  Cating.  Samuel  G.  Grey.  D.  W.  Hiatt.  C.  W.  Har- 
court.  Joe  KSndle. 

FORTY-FIFTH   INFANTRY    TbATTALION)  . 

Coinpanx  B — Captain  Joseph  R.  Rodgers :  First  Lieutenant  Thomas 
Allum:  Second  Lieutenant  Joshua  J.  Anderson:  Sergeants  S.  ^^  Shellady. 
William  M.  Bovd.  Samuel  S.  Fowler,  William  Carter.  William  :^rills.  Will- 


2l8  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

iam  A.  Livingston;  Corporals  Cyrus  liill.  L.  ilanimcr,  A.  Adamson, 
Marion  Please;  Musicians  H.  L.  Stern,  John  C.  Schack;  Wagoner 
O.  W.  Burkhalter;  Privates  Thomas  Adamson,  \\'illiam  J.  Barrow,  A.  G. 
Donnell  William  H.  Estle.  W.  Eggert,  B.  Elliott.  \^^  J.  Graves,  William 
Hill.  A.  J.  Honald,  Edward  E.  Harris.  John  M.  Hiskey,  H.  J.  Iliff,  L.  Kes- 
ter,  John  C.  Kelley,  A.  S.  Livingston,  William  W.  Logsdon,  Thomas  J. 
Long,  J.  N.  Martin,  D.  U  Mans,  Benj.  F.  Meek,  O.  C.  Meredith,  C.  W. 
Post.  ]\Iarion  Pease.  Homer  Reyburn.  S.  H.  Rees.  John  W.  Sego,  S.  T. 
Sparks.  H.  L.  Stem.  James  Street,  James  M.  Schooley,  John  Trotter,  H.  M. 
Talbott,  C.  F.  W^inslow. 

FOURTH  CAVALRY  REGIMENT. 

Compaiix  ./ — James  ]McIntosh. 

Company  E — Captain  Exum  R.  Saint;  Commissary  Sergeant  William 
R.  Matthews ;  Sergeant  William  G.  Work ;  Corporal  John  Blackman ;  Far- 
rier D.  M.  Savage;  Privates  Eli  E.  Carson,  Allen  Davis,  Robert  J.  Gaza- 
way,  John  Jennings.  D.  W.  Jones,  J.  ]\I.  Kime.  E.  Mahler,  John  W.  Rafferty, 
J.  J.  Sparks,  James  Starr,  Andes  Turck. 

Compan\  F — James  L.  Hume,  W^illiam  F.  Minshall,  John  Thompson, 
B.  Volk. 

Company  K — Jonathan  \\^right,  John  Mitchell   (company  not  certain). 

FIFTH    VETERAN    CAVALRY. 

Company  A — Thomas  J.  Smith,  John  Walker. 

Company  I — Captain  Robert  A.  McKee ;  Second  Lieutenant  John  O.  A. 
Campbell;  Robert  Bain,  Samuel  Capel,  William  P.  Fonts,  William  E.  Gra- 
ham, D.  R.  Loudenback,  William  Martino,  E.  McReynolds,  B.  F.  Stearns, 
George  Gaston,  Delos  Williams. 

SEVENTH    CAVALRY. 

Company  E — John  ]T.  Stor}-,  a  saddler;  ShulMll  Hurt,  David  Ximms, 
James  E.  Storey. 

Company  G — Captain  Elias  Flammer;  Second  Lieutenant  Job  S.  Bcals; 
Commissary  Sergeant  Benjamin  R.  Jones ;  Corporals  John  M.  Baker.  James 
T.  Allen,  John  ]\1.  Hammer.  Malco  Doud  ;  Wagoner  H.  Borton.  Ferdinand 
Adamson,  Samuel  Armstrong,  James  ¥.  P)aker,  A.  J.  Chenoweth,  James  C. 


JASE'EH    COLNTY,    IOWA.  219 

Friend,  Frank  Gifford,  A.  T.  Hammer.  James  G.  Hanawalt,  Samuel  Hen- 
ning-s,  J.  F.  Haines,  Enos  Hammer,  M.  H.  Harper,  I.  R.  Jordan,  Thomas 
K^err.  F.  P.  Oldfield,  John  C.  Piper,  Charles  Parks,  George  R.  Rowe,  James 
A.  Stephens,  Edward  R.  Bell  and  A.  Minnick  (in  unknown  company  of  the 
Se\enth   Cavalry ) . 

NINTH   CAVALRY. 

Company  H — Corporal  L.  C.  Draper;  Adam  Means,  Silas  Thornburg. 

Company  L — Captain  Orlando  C.  Howe;  First  Lieutenant  William  W. 
Moore;  First  Lieutenant  Norris  Richardson;  Second  Lieutenant  Richard 
Armstrong;  Second  Lieutenant  David  Scott;  Commissary  Sergeant  H. 
Mathies ;  Sergeant  George  W.  Bronson ;  Sergeant  John  Murray ;  Sergeant 
James  C.  Painter;  Corporals  Xapoleon  P.  Church,  Julius  A.  Baldwin,  James  B. 
Scott.  C.  D.  Knapp,  O.  P.  Springer;  Trumpeter  William  W.  Allen;  Trumpe- 
ter James  Bain;  Wagoner  A.  McDonnell,  George  Anderson,  Henry  Baker. 
W.  H.  Barton.  George  Brady.  T.  Broomhall,  James  F.  Burroughs,  Baxter 
Banks.  D.  Y.  Cross.  James  Clement.  X.  B.  Collrell.  A.  J.  Collrell,  James 
Drake.  James  Early,  James  R.  Gentry,  William  Grubb,  William  A.  Hankins, 
C.  H.  Jennings.  John  W^  K^nox,  William  L.  Kimberly,  William  Loaman. 
John  T.  Leach.  Milton  Lee.  Joseph  Logsdon.  John  March.  H.  H.  Maus. 
C.  H.  Mendenhall,  D.  T.  ^Ljrtimore.  \A\  Mudgett,  George  Oldfield.  D.  H. 
Parker,  D.  M.  Priddy,  William  Reynolds,  Jacob  Reutson.  William  E. 
Schooley,  Foster  Scott.  George  Sims,  \\'illiam  J.  Stewart.  F.  Trotter,  Purdy 
Trager.  Jacob  Trevets.  S.  E.  Welch.  D.  AL  West,  James  ^^'ilson.  Theodore 
Winkler. 

Company  M — Second  Lieutenant  William  H.  Crotzer;  Corporal  C.  R. 
Squires. 

MISCELLANEOUS  COMMANDS. 

Second  J'ctcra)!  Infantry — Justus  Dunn,  J.  F.  Guthrie,  J.  C.  Living- 
ston. J.  H.  Trotter. 

Fourth  Infantry — [Musician  Samuel  Osborne;  Corporals  William.  Bill- 
ings and  L.  D.  Bloom. 

Sixth  Infantry — Sergeant  M.  Holland,  William  H.  Bolton,  John  Gard- 
ner, J.  J.  Moore.  M.  Holland. 

Seventh  Infantry — H.  C.  McGill. 

Eight  Infantry — Captain  David  Ryan;  Sergeant  Robert  Ryan.  F. 
McConnell.  S.  M.  Peck.  Lewis  Scott. 

Ninth  Infantry — Joseph  Koener. 


220  JASPER    COUXTV,    IOWA. 

Eleventh  Infantry — Charles  Rairden.  C.  C.  Cloiul,  R.  ]\I.  Davis,  John 
Dally,  H.  Fisher,  U.  M.  Gable,  William  Goodrich,  I.  Higgins,  L.  P.  Hazen, 
Elias  Humphries,  H.  Kandwig,  Lewis  Lobeer,  O.  K.  Landrne,  A.  Lansing, 

A.  McCaiiley,  R.  Xeese.  F.  Xeese,  Peter  Peterson,  R.  R.  Rovster,  L.  J.  Roy- 
ley. 

fifteenth  Infantry  (Mustered  out  July  24,  1895) — Patrick  Cotter,  An- 
drew Crouch,  Alexander  Corbin,  J.  ]\I.  Dilton,  Frank  Emmerson,  J.  M.  Hort- 
man,  W.  T.  Hiler,  William  Peterson.  David  Phillips,  San  Pierie,  W.  A. 
Spencer,  A.  A.  Woodard,  William  W^addell.  David  Webster. 

Seventeenth  Infantry — D.  S.  Reagan.  T.  S.  Smith;  Captain  George  W. 
Deal;  First  Lieutenant  Theodore  Thompson.  ]\I.  H.  Davis,  Joseph  A.  Louden- 
back;  Corporal  Elijah  Carnahan.  James  George,  C.  Klaiser,  F.  Kinton,  F. 
McBride. 

Eighteejith  hifantry — S.  A'.  Shellady,  Edward  Rogers,  John  R.  Scutt, 
Adam  Whiteman ;  First  Lieutenant  John  H.  Harvey ;  Sergeant  John  H.  Har- 
vey ;  Corporal  John  W.  Cattrell ;  Corporal  M.  W.  Settle,  jNIayville  Drake.  H. 
C.  Farnsworth,  William  P.  Holmes,  John  P.  Johnson. 

Twenty- fourth  Infantry— Isaac  Anderson. 

Thirty-second  Infantry — John  McFarland,  C.  A.  Stone. 

Thirty-third  Infantry — James  H.  Bates,  Holland  Myers.  Thomas  Dun- 
naway,  Delano  [Myers.  D.  A^anXoss. 

Thirty-sixth  Infantry — Theodore  Brown,  John  Herring,  H.  T.  Dimmitt, 
Joseph  M.  Scott. 

Thirty-ninth  Infantry — Samuel  E.  Thornton. 

Forty-sixth  Infantry — Sergeants  Milo  Cowan,  George  Baxter,  Albert 
Harrah.  Seth  W.  Macy,  Joseph  Shorer. 

Forty-seventh  Infantry — Chaplain  James  P.  Roach;  Corporal  James  W. 
Davidson,  C.  Means,  D.  M.  Pruny. 

First  Ccevalry — Quartermaster  Samuel  C.  Dickerson ;  Sergeant  James 
G.  Rutter;  Captain  Charles  Dustin ;  Sergeant  James  H.  McCord ;  Corporal 
Peter  B.  Greaves;  D.  M.  McCord,  James  E.  Arnold,  John  S.  Davis,  James 
J.  Gray,  W.  P.  Kimberly.  David  Rutter,  L  H.  Wildman. 

Second  Cavalry — Corporal  Elias  Thatcher ;  A.  T.  Sims,  George  W.  Poore. 
John  R.  Seelev,  William  H.  Shoewalter,  James  S.  Smith,  H.  C.  Smith,  John 

B.  Kuhns,  H.  B.  Seeley. 

Third  Cavalry — John  F.  Offil,  Alexander  Snodgrass,  Cororal  Ransom 
Sumney;  Wagoner  Daniel  A.  Buckhalter;  T.  S.  Donnell,  James  H.  Harvey, 
H.  C.  Vaughn,  Joseph  X^.  Box,  E.  B.  Carr,  Orris  Carter,  William  C.  Goodman, 
David  Hankins,  M.  T.  Xorris,  Robert  Sterritty,  Robert  Stallcop,  Henry  Smith, 
James  H.  Morgan,  M.  S.  Morris,  T.  J.  Sinclair. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA, 


22  I 


Sixth  Cavalry — E.  C.  Stephens. 

Eighth  Cavalry — William  Rundy,  John  Friend.  Jasper  Robinson,  Finley 
Sterrett. 

First  Infantry,  A.  D.,  Co.  E.  (Sixth  United  States  Volunteers  A.  D.)  — 
Captain  George  F,  Work;  Sergeant  John  Green:  Corporals  H.  Hayes,  D. 
Siegel.  H.  Jones;  Captain  Alexander  Nichols;  A.  E.  Fine.  S.  F.  Gordon.  C. 
Graves.  A.  Hays.  Lewis  Castleton.  T.  E.  Marshall.  Austin  Samuels,  John 
Shearer,  William  Tait.  W.  Wolden.  Jerry  Wilson. 

Dodge's  Brigade  Band — George  A.  Bluem.  \^ernon  A\\  Skiff.  James  F. 
Needham.  John  F.  Lister,  John  P.  Strator.  James  Smith.  Samuel  Failor, 
Charles  Gilman. 

Sixty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry — John  Briggs. 

Third  Missouri  Cavalry — ^^'illiam  Jordan. 

THE   county's  death   ROLL. 

If  it  can  truthfully  be  said  that.  ''It  is  good  for  one  to  die  for  his  coun- 
try,'' Jasper  county  certain!}'  acted  well  her  part  from  1861  to  1866.  Out  of 
the  almost  fourteen  hundred  men  who  went  forth  to  the  field,  about  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy  fell  on  the  battle  field,  or  died  from  other  army  causes,  and 
never  reached  home  alive.  The  following  may.  and  possibly  may  not.  be  a 
complete  list  of  the  honored  dead.  This  list  is  one  compiled  from  the  adjutant- 
general's  reports  published  from  1863  to  1866,  inclusive,  and  there  may  be 
errors  and  omissions.  The  latest  military  work  on  Iowa  soldiers  is  not  yet 
out  of  press,  hence  the  following  will  be  given : 


Adamson,   D.   N. 
Armentrout.   D.   R. 
Atha.  C.  H. 
Andreas.  F.  W. 
Alloway.  Abisha 
Beath.  T.  E. 
Bodley.  J.  D. 
Be  van.  A. 
Blackwood.  L 
Byerley.  \\'illiam  H. 
Boyer,  Jacob 
Brown,  S.  B. 
Baker.  Charles  P. 
Bair.  Emanuel 
Bennett.  Adam 
Butters.  W.  H. 


Baxter,  William  W. 
Beals.  A.  F. 
Blasdell.  William 
Bargenhaulz,  J. 
Brodess,  John  W. 
Brady,  George 
Bolten.  William  H. 
Cure.  Abel  L. 
Cottrell.  M.  W. 
Cushatt,  Jas.  T. 
Connor,  Daniel  E. 
Callison.  A.  P. 
Cozad.  Jacob  C. 
Cline,  P.  ^L 
Connelly,  L.  J. 
Connellv,  ^L 


Clements.  James 
Dibble,  Milo 
Derringer.  H.  C. 
Duncan.  E.  D. 
Dickerson,  Samuel  C. 
Easterday,  A.  P. 
Edmonds,  E. 
Erickson.  J. 
English.  Thomas 
Etherington,  Phillip 
Flemming.  Job 
Fisher.  William  H. 
Flemry,  A. 
Frazier.  E. 
Plover,  David 
Fowler,  H.  C. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 


Green,  John  L. 
Goodacre.  Robert 
Grooms.  S.  C. 
Gravatt.  T.  H. 
Gould.  F.  W. 
Hunter.  Jacob 
Huff.  John 
Hammack,  John 
H ousel,  Thomas  H. 
Hawk.  H.  T. 
Hamilton.  James  'M. 
flackett.  Jonas  P. 
Helphrey.  S.  W. 
Hendricks.  H.  W. 
Hopping-.  John 
Herring".  Abel 
Haines.  John  \V. 
Hammel.   S. 
Hunnel.  J.  F. 
Hart.  William 
Hammack.    A. 
Haxton.  William  H. 
Hil singer.  J.  ^^T. 
7  laves.   S. 
Ja\-.  Thomas  H. 
Jordan.  William  P. 
Jeffries.  F.  T. 
Jordan.  John 
Jones,  G.  T. 
Knapp.  C.  D. 
Kenady,  J.  R. 
Kuhus.  John  B. 
Kawapot.  C. 
Kerr.  \\''esley 
Faudenback.   D.   R. 
Fongfellow.  E.  E. 
T-inton.  H.  B. 
Ij'kins.  Thomas  N. 
Lowe,  George  W. 
McConnell.  F. 


McCollough.  Jas.  P. 
McLaughlin.  E.  R. 
McKeever.  George 
McCary.   Rich 
^[cWilliams.  H. 
McDonald.  T.  F. 
Mudgett.    Fliillip 
>ranning,    John 
Moore.  Jacob  B. 
^Toss.  J.  W. 
Mateer.  Alex  C. 
Xelson.  N.  G. 
Xewcomer.  S.  F. 
Xewhouse.  J. 
Xorris.  David  H. 
Oblenis.  William 
Powell,  G.  B. 
Foots.  William 
Parks.  T.  J. 
Pease.   Andrew 
Powers.  J.  W. 
Parker.  F. 
Poage.  S.  W. 
Parks.  Jasper  H. 
Filler.  O.  B. 
Pevton.  John  L. 
Pope.  A.  T. 
Rippey.  William  F, 
Rees.  A.  L. 
Rees.  Samuel  P. 
Runyon,  William  H. 
Rice.  Francis 
Reno.  Jackson 
Samei.  James  H. 
Shelley.  L.  F. 
Stem.  J. 
Streett,  James 
Sln-eck.  J.  K. 
Shutts,  Joseph  F. 
Stott.  Thomas 


Scott.  Foster 
Skiff'.  J.  M. 
Smith,  James 
Scarbrough,   S. 
Scoville,  Bennett 
Street.  \V.  W. 
Shipp.  Thomas 
Shill.  G    W. 
Shook.  J.  R. 
Swaggert.  John 
Spurling.  J.  T. 
Sturgeon.  D.  T. 
Sprunce.  Levi 
Sturgeon.  A. 
Smith,  Alvoy 
Swan.  M.  F. 
Sego.    Solomon 
Smith.  L.  D. 
Taylor.  James 
Taylor.  James  C. 
Trotter.  James  N. 
Thornton.  Samuel  E. 
A^anGrundy.   L. 
A'anGrundy.  William  W. 
A^anHorn.  D.  AF. 
WanHorn.  O.  F. 
WanFossen,  H. 
Weston,  Benjamin  F. 
A\'ren,  John 
Watt.  James 
Weston.  G.  W. 
\\'alker.  Enos 
Winterhalter.  L  W. 
Williams.  Robert 
Wolf.  Geo.  W. 
Wetzel.  Joseph 
^^'allace.  John 
West.  Jacob 
Willock.  Tohn 


JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA.  223 

THE  JASPER  GRAYS. 

This  military  company  was  organized  in  January,  1876.  with  the  follow- 
ing- officers:  Than  Townsend,  captain;  J.  L.  Mathers',  first  lieutenant;  Al  J- 
Richards.  second  lieutenant;  Al  W'vkoff,  J.  R.  K;.  Lamb.  Newton  Smith, 
Henry  M.  Rose,  sergeants ;  Zach  Stokes.  William  S.  Ferguson.  Herbert  Rose, 
George  Failor,  corporals.  The  uniform  selected  was  navy  blue,  trimmed  in 
fine  style.  The  company  was  immediately  armed  with  S])ringfiel(l  breech- 
loading  ritles.  In  1S78  there  were  forty-five  names  on  the  roll.  The  company 
was  sworn  into  state  ser\ice  April  30.  iS/H,  and  was  under  orders  in  the  riots 
of  1877,  and  were  also  a  part  of  the  escort  of  the  lamented  Cien.  X.  V.  Baker. 
^^•hose  remains  they  followed  to  the  grave. 

SPANISH-AMERICAN   WAR. 

President  William  AIcKinley's  proclamation  ordering  war  between  the 
United  States  and  Spain  was  issued  April  23.  1898.  and  read  as  follows : 

"Whereas,  a  joint  resolution  of  Congress  was  approved  on  the  20th  dav 
of  April.  1898.  entitled  'Joint  Resolution  for  the  recognition  of  the  indepen- 
dence of  the  people  of  Cuba,  demanding  that  the  government  of  Spain  relin- 
quish its  authority  and  government  in  the  island  of  Cuba,  and  to  withdraw 
its  land  and  na\-al  forces  from  Cul)a  and  Cuban  waters,  and  directing  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  to  use  the  land  and  naval  forces  of  the  United  States 
to  carry  these  resolutions  into  effect.'  and 

'AVhereas  by  an  act  of  Congress  entitled  'An  act  to  ])ro\  ide  for  temporar- 
ily increasing  the  militar\-  establishment  of  the  United  States  in  time  of  war 
and  for  other  purposes,'  approved  April  22,  1898.  the  President  is  authorized, 
in  order  to  raise  a  volunteer  army,  to  issue  his  proclamation  calling  for  volun- 
teers to  serve  in  the  army  of  the  United  States : 

''Nbw,  therefore.  T,  A\'illiam  McKinley,  President  of  the  I'nited  States. 
by  virtue  of  the  power  vested  in  me  by  the  constituticMi  and  the  laws,  and 
deeming  sufficient  occasion  to  exist,  have  thought  fit  to  call  forth,  and  hereby 
do  call  forth,  volunteers  to  the  aggregate  number  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  thousand,  in  order  to  carrv  into  effect  the  purpose  of  said  resolution;  the 
same  to  be  apportioned,  as  far  as  practicable,  among  the  several  states  and 
territories  and  the  District  of  Columbia,  according  to  the  population,  and  to 
serve  two  vears.  unless  sooner  discharged.  The  details  for  this  object  will  be 
immediatelv  communicated  to  the  proper  authorities  tlu-ough  the  war  depart- 
ment. 


224  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

"In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  caused  the  seal  of 
the  United  States  to  be  affixed. 

"Done  at  the  city  of  Washington,  this  23d  day  of  April,  A.  D.  1898,  and 
in  the  independence  of  the  United  States  the  one  hundred  and  twenty-second. 

"William  McKinley. 
[Seal] 
"By  the  President : 
John  Sherman, 

"Secretary  of  State." 

On  April  i,  1898.  the  following  was  the  roster  of  the  Iowa  National 
Guard  at  Newton,  as  comprising  Company  L,  Second  Regiment : 

Henry  T.  Kennedy,  first  lieutenant ;  William  E.  McMurray,  second  lieu- 
tenant:  Alva  Baker,  Hemy  ]\I.  Burnett.  Harry  Barber.  Albert  B.  Bryant, 
Walter  H.  Boyd,  Frank  Besack.  Frank  H.  Boat.  Roland  E.  Benjamin,  Frank 
H.  Clements.  Eugene  M.  Errett,  Charles  H.  Fox,  Pearl  G.  Gibford,  John  W. 
Hendryx.  Marion  R.  Flammer,  John  Hayes,  Harry  T.  Lewis,  Thomas  B.  Law, 
William  H.  Montgomery,  Will  L.  Maus,  Hany  C.  A.  Miller,  Harry  J.  Mc- 
Murray, Thomas  F.  Alorrissey,  George  W.  Ohler,  A.  L.  Parish,  James  M. 
Richmond.  Charles  H.  Ruberg,  Arthur  Reynolds,  Guy  H.  Smith,  George  Selb- 
her,  Harry  A.  Stallings,  George  W.  Turner,  Fred  E.  Wilson,  I.  O.  Wilson, 
William  S.  Westbrook,  Arthur  P.  Woods,  William  H.  Wert,  John  C.  Wert, 
R.  A.  K.  ^^llson,  Albert  F.  Williams,  Fred  H.  Wells,  William  M.  \^^^-ick, 
Lewis  E.  Young. 

When  the  troops  made  up  from  the  National  Guards  were  finally  mustered 
into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  those  from  Iowa  took  the  regimental 
numbers  of  the  state,  commencing  where  the  last  number  left  off  in  Civil  war 
times.  Those  from  Newton  and  Jasper  county  were  in  the  regiments  named 
below  : 

THE  forty-ninth  REGIMENT. 

This  regiment  was  organized  from  the  Il'rst  Regiment  of  Iowa  National 
Guards;  was  ordered  into  Camp  McKinley.  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  by  the  Gov- 
ernor on  the  25th  day  of  April,  1898,  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States  by  Capt.  J.  A.  Olmstead.  United  States  Army,  at  Des  Moines,  June 
2,  1898;  left  Des  Moines,  June  11,  1898,  by  rail  for  Jacksonville.  Florida; 
assigned  to  the  Third  Brigade,  Second  Division.  Seventh  Army  Corps;  moved 
to  Savannah.  Georgia,  October  25,  1898,  and  to  Havana,  Cuba.  December  19, 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  225 

1898.  Companies  V,  C,  H,  K,  A  and  I  returned  to  the  United  States,  April  5, 

1899,  for  mnster-oiit.  Headquarters  band  and  companies  L.,  M,  K,  1),  G,  and  B 
returned  to  the  United  States,  April  9,  1899.  for  muster-out.  The  whole 
regiment,  January  1.  1899.  particii)ated  in  the  ceremonies  attending  the  evac- 
uation of  Havana  by  the  Spaniards.  Hie  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  the 
United  States  service  at  Savannah,  Georgia,  on  the  13th  day  of  May,  1899. 

Those  serving  from  Jasper  county  in  Company  L  were :  Amos  J.  Under- 
wood, Elliott  E.  Lambert  (colonel).  John  C.  Trease,  Howard  T.  Gibford, 
Swain  Dennis,  Ezra  G,  Baird.  Frank  E.  Besack,  John  Wert,  Thomas  F.  Mor- 
risey,  Burrell  Owens.  Fletcher  H.  Helm,  Andrew  J.  Streeter,  James  W. 
Vaughn,  Thomas  B.  Law,  Hennan:  E.  Dahlgren,  Ike  O.  Wilson,  Clarence  G. 
Errett,  John  McFarlane,  John  W.  Callahan,  Alexander  S.  Crawford,  Fred  H. 
Coleman.  Thomas  W.  Corrigan,  Homer  Vasco  Clutter,  Frank  Leroy  Harsha. 
John  A.  Hayes,  Horatio  S.  Howard,  Albert  L.  Kennedy,  Carl  D.  iCiser,  Henry 
A.  McKinney,  Bertram  Mendenhall,  William  J.  O'Neill,  Fred  L.  Shrader. 
Arthur  E.  Small,  Charles  P.  Smith,  Perry  E.  Spencer,  Jesse  R.  Stallings,  Ed 
C.  Stevenson,  Andrew  J.  Streeter,  James  \Y.  Vaughn,  Bazil  W^ells,  Leonard 
A.  Wells. 

FIFTY-FIRST  REGIMENT. 

This  regiment  was  organized  from  the  Third  Regiment  of  Iowa  National 
Guards ;  was  ordered  into  quarters  at  Camp  McKinley,  Des  Moines.  Iowa,  by 
the  Governor,  on  the  25th  day  of  April,  1898;  mustered  into  sen-ice  of  the 
United  States  by  Capt.  J.  A.  Olmstcad,  United  States  Army,  at  Des  Moines 
May  30,  1898;  left  Des  Moines  June  5,  1898,  by  rail  for  San  Francisco,  Cali- 
fornia, per  telegram  from  war  department ;  arrived  in  Camp  Merritt.  San 
Francisco.  June  10.  1898;  removed  to  Camp  Merriman,  Presidio,  July  29, 
1898;  eml)arked  on  board  transport  ''Pennsylvania,"  at  San  Francisco.  No- 
vember 3.  1898;  arrived  at  Honolulu  Novem1)er  12.  1898.  arriving  at  Manila 
Bay,  Philippine  Island.  December  7.  1898;  remained  on  transport  in  Manila 
Bav  until  December  26.  1898.  upon  which  date  the  regiment  sailed  for  Iloilo, 
arriving  at  the  latter  i)]acc  Decem1)er  28.  1898;  remained  on  board  the  trans- 
port in  Iloilo  Bay  until  January  29.  1899.  upon  which  date  they  sailed  for 
Cavite,  arriving  January  31.  1899:  disembarked  from  transport  February  3. 
1899.  and  went  into  quarters  at  Cavite.  The  regiment  participated  in  the  oc- 
cupation of  San  Roque.  February  9.  1899.  and  the  various  companies  were  in 
the  following  engagements  of  the  Philippine  expedition:  Gaudalupe  church. 
Ouingua.  East  and  ^^'est  Pulilan.  Calumpit.  Santo  Tomas.  San  Fernando, 
Calulut,  Angeles. 
(15) 


226  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

September  0.  1899,  the  regiment  was  moved  to  Manila  preparatory  to 
returning  to  the  United  States;  sailed  on  transport  "Senator,'"  September  22, 
1899.  arriving  at  San  Francisco,  California,  October  22,  1899;  mustered  out 
of  service  of  the  United  States  jMovember  2,  1899.  ^^  San  Francicso,  Cal- 
ifornia. 

In  this  regiment  there  were  soldiers  from  Jasper  county  as  follows  :  Fred 
S.  Carpenter,  Joseph  \'.  House,  Herbert  W.  Marshall. 

FIFTY-SECOND  REGIMENT. 

This  regiment  was  organized  from  the  Fourth  Regiment  of  Iowa  Na- 
tional Guards,  and  was  designed  to  go  to  Porto  Rico,  but  never  left  this  coun- 
try, being  stationed  at  Chickamauga  Park,  Georgia,  and  were  mustered  out 
at  Des  Moines  in  October,  1898.  Only  two  from  Jasper  county  served  in 
this  regiment,  Qiarles  A.  Leonard,  of  Mingo,  and  Robert  H.  Rose,  of  Van- 
dalia. 

GRAND    ARMY'    OF   THE    REPUBLIC. 

The  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  is  composed  of  men  who  placed  their 
lives  at  the  disposal  of  their  government  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union 
during  the  years  of  1861  to  1865.  They  are  organized  to  continue  the  frater- 
nal comradeship  which  grew  out  of  their  associations  in  a  common  cause,  and 
the  seeking  of  a  common  end — "The  perpetuity  of  the  Union.''  To  teach 
coming  generations  by  precept,  as  well  as  by  example,  a  reverence  for  our 
flag,  a  love  for  our  country,  and  the  continuance  of  a  "government  of  the 
people,  by  the  people  and  for  the  people."  Also  to  care  for  the  needy  soldiers, 
widows  and  orphans.  Its  motto  and  its  practice  is,  "Fraternity,  charity  and 
loyalty." 

Garrett  Post  No.  16.  Department  of  Iowa,  located  at  Newton,  Iowa,  was 
organized  and  mustered  in  on  the  20th  day  of  August,  1879,  ^"*^  ^^^^  named 
in  honor  of  Col.  John  A.  Garrett,  who  entered  the  military  service  in  the  war 
of  the  Rebellion  August.  1861,  as  captain  of  Company  I,  Tenth  Iowa  Infantry, 
and  was  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war  as  colonel  of  the  Fortieth  Iowa 
Infantry.  Colonel  Garrett  died  at  his  home  in  Newton,  Iowa,  January  23, 
1877.  This  post  now  has  a  membership  of  aljout  seventy-five  Civil  war 
soldiers  and  two  Spanish-American  soldiers. 

The  191 1  officers  are:  J.  W.  Donavan,  commander;  J.  W.  Longley, 
senior  vice-commander;  T.  M.  Rodgers,  junior  vice-commander;  A.  Dennison, 
quartermaster;  J.  R.  Sitler,  adjutant;  J.  D.  Edge,  officer  of  the  day;  John 
Potter,  chaplain. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  22/ 

With  the  return  of  each  Memorial  day  the  old  \eterans  take  charge  of 
the  services  and  decorate  the  graves  of  the  one  hundred  and  sixty  soldiers 
now  buried  in  the  City  ceinetery.  in  a  \ery  befitting  and  truly  touching  manner. 

OTHER   POSTS   IX    JASPER   COUNTY, 

The  Grand  Army  is  also  represented  at  the  following  points  within  Jas- 
per county:  E.  H.  Keyes  Post  No.  511,  at  jMingo;  Shellady  Post  Xo.  84, 
at  Monroe;  McGray  Post  Xo.  27,  at  Prairie  City;  Alloway  Po.st  Xo.  106.  at 
Lynnville;  E.  D.  Duncan  Post  No.  253,  at  Colfax;  General  Wilson  Post  No. 
432,  at  Kellogg;  Garrett  Post  No.  16,  at  Newton.  There  was  a  post  at 
Baxter,  but  on  account  of  the  death  and  removal  of  many  of  the  members  their 
charter  has  probably  been  surrendered. 

Nearly  if  not  all  of  the  posts  have  had  connected  with  them  manv  years 
the  helpful  auxiliary  of  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps. 

THE  PASSING  OF  THE  "gRAND  ARMY." 

As  the  years  speed  by  the  ranks  of  the  Grand  Army  posts  are  fast  dis- 
banding through  the  inroads  of  death.  Perhaps  no  more  eloquent  passage 
along  this  theme  can  be  here  narrated  than  that  recently  delivered  by  Sant 
Kirkpatrick  to  his  comrades  of  the  Hornet's  X>st  Brigade,  at  Oskaloosa. 
Iowa,  in  April,  1911,  when,  in  closing  his  well-timed  address  to  the  boys 
who  once  wore  the  loyal  blue,  he  remarked  : 

"To  me.  an  occasion  like  this,  in  a  great  measure,  is  an  hour  of  sorrow, 
a  never  ending  day  of  mourning.  The  length  and  breadth  and  depth  of  the 
wounds  and  scars  occasioned  by  that  cruel  war  are  as  a  poisoned  arrow,  the 
shaft  of  which  has  deeply  pierced  the  heart  of  every  true  American  citizen. 

"Comrades,  you  and  I  have  passed  the  meridian  of  life ;  we  are  now  going 
down  the  decline  on  the  other  side,  and  I  feel  sometimes  as  if  all  creation  was 
greased  for  the  occasion. 

"W^ith  you  and  T.  the  morning  of  life  has  gone,  somber  shades  of  even- 
ing are  gathering  closely  around  about  us,  we  have  heard  the  reveille  at  sun 
rise  and  listened  to  the  tattoo  of  night,  and  taps,  yes,  taps,  that  once  betokened 
the  extinguishment  of  lights,  now  come  reverljerating  back  as  the  heralds  of 
death. 

"Another  decade  and  many  of  us  will  have  crossed  the  bar,  another  score 
of  years  and  nearly,  or  quite  all  of  us.  will  have  answered  the  roll  call  of 


228  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

eternity,  and  not  only  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  but  the  grandest 
army  of  the  world,  will  haye  passed  into  history. 

'  "Already  the  great  majority  of  those  with  whom  we  once  touched 
elbows  have  crossed  the  riyer.  Would  you  behold  them  today  ?^  If  so,  then 
come  with  me  and  draw  aside  as  it  were  the  veil  of  immortality." 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE  BENCH  AND  BAR  OF  JASPER  COUNTY. 

Wherever  laws  are  enacted,  there  will  always  be  need  for  capable  and 
honorable  lawyers  to  interpret  and  help  put  into  execution  the  enforcement 
of  legal  enactments.  The  day  has  long  since  passed  when  the  honorable 
attorney  at  law  is  looked  upon  as  any  but  a  member  of  one  of  earth's  most 
useful  professions,  one  needed  in  every  intelligent  community.  He  it  is  who 
helps  us  apply  law  to  daily  life.  Changes  comes  in  law.  and  hence  the  more 
need  of  a  lawyer  to  point  out  such  changes  to  his  client,  that  he  may  not  err 
in  transacting  his  business.  The  discoveries  of  the  arts  and  sciences,  the  in- 
ventions of  new  contrivances  for  lalx)r.  and  the  increase  of  development 
in  commerce  are  all  new  unexplored  fields  into  which  law  must  delve  and  it 
must  needs  be  handled  by  competent  lawyers  who  ha\e  been  schooled  in  the 
science  of  their  own  i)eculiar  ]M-ofession.  Hence  the  lawyer  is  a  man  of  the 
day — a  needful  factor  in  ad\anced  civilization. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  no  more  complete  record  has  l)een  kept  of  the 
Jasper  county  bar  than  has  1>een  made,  for  it  would  be  read  with  no  little  inter- 
est today,  to  note  the  many  trials,  and  who  were  the  combating  attorneys  who 
took  part  in  the  same,  during  all  the  years  of  the  county's  history.  All  that 
can  be  learned  for  the  reader  of  this  chapter  of  the  county's  history  is  found 
in  the  following",  a  carefully  compiled  statement  of  facts  as  they  ha\e  been 
picked  up,  here  and  there,  from  memory  and  record,  bringing  the  list  of  at- 
torneys down  to  the  present,  and  trying  to  give  a  fairly  comprehensive 
glimpse  into  the  earlier  lawyers  and  judges  of  this  county  and  district.  The 
publishers  are  indebted  to  Hon.  \V.  G.  Clements,  who  has  compiled  the  follow- 
ing excellent  account  of  the  bench  and  bar: 

There  is  no  record  of  any  court  ha^•ing  l)een  held  in  Jasper  county  ])rior 
to  November  23.  1848.  However,  according  to  tradition  and  information 
gained  from  the  old  settlers,  the  first  term  of  court  was  held  in  the  spring  of 
1846,  at  the  house  of  Matthew  D.  Springer,  in  what  is  now  Buena  Arista 
township,  and  was  presided  o\  er  by  Judge  Williams,  of  ^luscatine. 

Judge  Williams  was  elected  supreme  judge  in  1846  or  1847.  ^^^^^^  ^^'^s 
succeeded  on  the  bench  by  Judge  William  McKay.  The  court  record  indi- 
cates that  Judge  ^IcKay  held  a  term  of  court  in  Newton  in  June,  1849.  ^^ 


230  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

which  term  Hon.  William  H.  Seevers  was  appointed  prosecuting  attorney. 
Judge  McKay  lived  at  Des  Moines  and  continued  to  preside  as  judge  of  the 
district  court  of  Jasper  county  until  about  July.  1854,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  Judge  C.  J.  McFarland.  who  resided  at  Boonesboro. 

Judge  McFarland  held  the  different  terms  of  the  district  court  of  Jasper 
county  until  1857.  Judge  McFarland  was  quite  austere  and  abrupt  in  his 
manners,  and  if  any  person  incurred  his  displeasure,  such  person  was  very 
sure  to  be  reminded  of  the  same  in  a  very  severe  manner.  At  the  first  term 
of  court  held  by  Judge  McFarland  in  Xewton  in  1854.  the  Hon.  H.  J.  Skiff 
incurred  the  displeasure  of  the  Judge,  for  the  reason  that  Skiff  opposed  the 
election  of  ^^IcFarland  (both  being  Democrats).  Skiff  claiming  that  McFar- 
land  was  not  a  proper  person  to  be  judge  on  account  of  his  inebriacy.  There- 
fore. McFarland  sought  to  get  revenge  by  ordering  Skiff  to  sit  down  when 
he  arose  to  address  the  court  in  reference  to  some  case.  Skiff  refused  to 
complv  with  the  order  of  the  Judge,  and  told  the  Judge  that  he  had  a  right  to 
talk  in  that  court.  Thereupon,  the  Judge  fined  him  ten  dollars  for  contempt. 
Skiff'  told  him  to  "pile  it  on."  and  the  Judge  doubled  the  fine.  The  quarrel  con- 
tinued until  Skiff  stood  indebted  to  the  school  fund  in  the  sum  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars.  The  Judge  ordered  the  clerk  to  make  out  a  commit- 
ment, who  suggested  to  his  honor  that  he  could  not  get  it  served.  The  com- 
mitment was  delivered  to  the  sheriff',  but  it  was  not  served.  In  the  evening, 
the  attorneys  all  met  for  consultation  at  Skiff's  residence.  The  next  morning 
when  court  opened,  the  attorneys  by  agreement  continued  all  their  cases, 
whereupon  the  Judge  ordered  the  sheriff  to  adjourn  the  court.  The  contempt 
cases  against  Skiff  were  appealed  by  him  to  the  supreme  court,  and  McFar- 
land's  judgments  were  set  aside.  (  See  State  vs.  Skiff.  2d  Iowa  Supreme  Court 
Report,  page  550.)  Judge  McFarland  died  in  Boonesboro  when  only  alxjut 
forty  years  of  age. 

Judge  McFarland  was  succeeded  as  district  judge  by  Hon.  William  AT. 
Stone,  of  Knoxville.  Judge  Stone  resigned  in  March.  1861.  and  enlisted  in 
the  Union  army.  He  afterwards  became  colonel  of  the  Twenty-second 
Regiment  of  Iowa  \'olunteer  Infantry,  and  in  the  fall  of  1863  was  elected 
governor  of  the  state  of  Iowa,  which  position  he  held  for  a  term  of  four  vears. 
and  was  one  of  the  war  governors  of  Iowa  during  the  Rebellion.  Judge  Stone 
was  afterwards  commissioner  of  the  general  land  office  at  Washington.  D.  C, 
having  Ijeen  appointed  by  President  Harrison.  Afterwards  he  removed  to 
the  Territory  of  Oklahoma,  where  he  died  Jul}'  t8.  1893,  and  his  l)(")dv  was 
brought  to  Knoxville  for  burial.  Upon  the  resignation  of  Judge  Stone  in 
March.    1861.    William    Loughridge.    of   Oskaloosa.    was   appointed    district 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  23 1 

] 

judge,  and  continued  to  hold  court  in  the  sixth  judicial  district  and  in  Jasper 
county  until  January  i,  1867.  Afterwards  Judge  Loughridge  became  a  mem- 
ber of  Congress  from  the  sixth  congressional  district  of  Iowa,  serving  in  that 
capacity  several  terms.  Judge  Loughridge  died  several  years  ago,  and  is  buried 
at  Oskaloosa.  Iowa. 

On  Januar}'  i,  1867,  Judge  Loughridge  was  succeeded  by  lUm.  K.  S. 
Sampson.  Judge  Sampson  was  an  ideal  judge,  very  reserved  in  his'  man- 
ner, cool  and  deliberate,  and  was  highly  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  was  lieutenant-colonel  ot  the  Fifth  hnva  Regiment 
of  Volunteer  Infantry.  After  his  retirement  from  the  l)ench.  he  was  elected 
to  Congress  and  served  one  term.  Afterwards  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
law  at  Sigourney,  Iowa,  where  he  died  October  7,   1892. 

Judge  Sampson  was  succeeded  on  the  district  bench  by  Hon.  H.  S. 
Winslow.  of  Newton.  January  i.  1873.  ^"^^^  served  until  January  i,  1879. 
Judge  Winslow  was  a  good  lawyer  and  a  competent,  painstaking  judge. 

On  January  i.  1870.  he  was  succeeded  by  Hon.  J.  C.  Cook,  of  Xewton. 
now  residing  at  Cedar  Rapids.  Judge  Cook  continued  to  occupv  the  dis- 
trict bench  until  January  i,  1883.  at  which  time  Judge  J.  K.  Johnson  of 
Oskaloo,sa.  was  elected  district  judge,  and  lield  the  different  terms  of 
district  court  in  Xewton,  until  January  i.  1887. 

Under  the  law  enacted  in  1868.  from  1868  to  1887.  in  addition  to  the 
district  court,  there  was  what  was  denominated  the  circuit  court,  having 
jurisdiction  of  all  ci\il  cases  and  probate  matters.  When  the  circuit  court 
was  instituted  in  1868,  Hon.  H.  S.  Winslow.  of  X^ewton.  was  elected  judge 
of  the  second  circuit  of  the  sixth  judicial  district,  and  entered  i\\K)n  his  duties 
Januar\-  i.  1869,  and  held  the  ofifice  of  circuit  judge  for  one  year,  resigning 
to  engage  in  the  practice  of  law.  He  was  succeeded  l)y  Hon.  S.  X.  Lindley. 
of  X^ewton.  to  that  position  and  Judge  Lindley  continued  to  ser\  e  in  that  ca- 
pacity as  circuit  judge  until  January  i.  1873,  after  which  Hon.  L.  C.  Blanch- 
ard.  of  Oskaloosa.  served  as  circuit  judge  until  1880.  and  was  succeeded  by 
Hon.  W.  R.  Lewis,  of  Montezuma,  who  served  until  the  circuit  court  was 
abolished.  January  i.  1887.  at  which  time  it  was  provided  by  law  that  the 
sixth  judicial  district  would  be  entitled  to  three  district  judges,  and  in  the 
fall  of  1886  Hon.  David  Ryan,  of  Xewton.  was  elected  as  one  of  the  judges 
of  the  district,  together  with  Hon.  J.  K.  Johnson,  of  Oskaloosa.  and  Hon. 
W.  R.  Lewis,  of  ^lontezuma.  Judge  Lewis  served  until  January  i.  1891, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Hon.  A.  R.  Dewey,  of  Washington,  who  served  un- 
til Tanuarv  i.  1903-  J^idge  Johnson  served  until  lie  died  in  1894.  and  was 
succeeded  bv   Hon.   Ben   McCoy,   of  Oskaloosa.  \\ho  was  appointed  by   the 


2^2  lASPER    COUN'IV,     IOWA. 

governor  to  fill  the  vacancy  and  ser\e  the  l)alance  of  Jncl,o-e  Johnson's  term; 
he  was  elected  in  the  fall  of  1894  to  tlie  office  of  indge  for  the  term  com- 
mencing- jannary  i,  1895,  ^^"^^  served  nntil  Jannary  1.  1899.  Jndge  Ryan 
served  as  district  judge  until  January  i.  1899,  and  was  succeeded  by  W.  G. 
Clements,  of  Newton,  who  served  until  January  1.  191  1.  Judge  McCoy 
was  succeeded  by  Hon.  John  T.  Scott,  of  Brooklyn,  who  served  two  terms 
until  Januarv  t.  1908,  and  was  then  succeeded  l>y  Hon.  K.  E.  Willcockson, 
of  Sigournev,  who  is  now  one  of  the  judges,  serving  his  second  term.  On 
January  i.  1903.  Judge  Dewey  was  succeeded  by  B.  W.  Preston,  of  O.ska- 
loosa,  who  is  now  one  of  the  judges,  and  ser\'ing  his  third  term.  Judge 
Clements  serxed  three  terms  and  was  succeeded  by  Hon.  John  F.  Talbot,  of 
Brooklyn,  who  is  now  one  of  the  judges  of  the  district.  l'"oin-  terms  of 
court  are  held  during  the  year  in  Jasper  county,  and  each  of  the  district 
judges  have  alternatel}'  held  the  terms  of  court  in  the  county  as  provided 
by  law. 

JASPER     COUNTY     ATTORNEYS. 

From  the  time  of  the  institution  of  the  district  court  in  Jasper  county, 
many  noted  cases  were  tried.  From  1868  to  1884  there  were  two  terms  of 
the  district  court  and  four  terms  of  the  circuit  court  held  in  Jasper  countv 
each  year,  and  from  1870  to  1880  the  dockets  of  the  different  courts  were 
crowded  with  cases  and  kept  the  court  busy  each  term  for  four  weeks,  but 
of  late  years,  litigation  has  ceased  at  least  one  half  as  compared  with  the 
period  above  mentioned. 

The  names  of  some  of  the  pioneer  lawyers  who  took  an  active  ])art  in 
the  court  proceedings  are  as  follows:  H.  J.  Skiff,  Thomas  H.  Miller.  S.  d. 
Smith,  O.  C.  Howe,  H.  S.  Winslow,  S.  N.  Lindley.  G.  R.  Shays,  J.  W.  Wil- 
son,  J.  W.  Sennett,  D.  L.  Clark,  David  Ryan,  Robert  Ryan  J.  C.  Cook,  Hugh 
Newell,  George  E.  Spencer,  J.  G.  Meek,  H.  W.  Gleason,  J.  W.  Deweese. 
D.  O.  Stuart.  R.  A.  Sankey.  A.  K.  Campbell.  S.  J.  ^^loyer,  S.  S.  Patterson, 
Sidney  Williams,  W'illiam  Howard,  Don  Carlos,  Jonathan  X.  Edgar,  of 
whom  mention  will  be  made. 

Hon.  H.  J.  Skiff  came  to  Newton  from  New  ^'ork  in  1850,  and  actively 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  law.  Mr.  Skiff*  was  a  graduate  of  Amherst  Col- 
lege, and  was  a  leading  member  of  the  bar  shortly  after  coming  to  Newton. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  third  constitutional  convention  of  Towa.  which  was 
held  at  Iowa  City  in  1857.  representing  the  counties  of  Poweshiek.  Marsliall. 
Tama  and  Jasper.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  con\-ention.  and  was  greatly 
instrumental  in   formulating  the  present  constitution  of  Towa.      .\fterwards 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  233 

he  retired  from  the  practice  and  en.^as^ed  in  the  banking-  lousiness  in  New- 
ton, nntil  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  when  lie  enlisted  in  Companv  B, 
Thirteenth  Iowa  Regiment  of  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  as  captain  of 
the  company  from  1862  to  1864.  After  the  war  he  engaged  in  commercial 
pursuits,   and  died   in   Newton  in   November.    1904. 

Thomas  H.  Miller  came  to  Newton  from  Cumberland  countv.  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  December.  1856.  and  immediately  formed  a  partnership  with  if.  S. 
Winslow.  under  the  style  and  firm  name  of  Miller  &  Winslow.  This  firm 
continued  in  the  practice  of  law  until  July.  1861.  at  which  time  Mr.  Miller 
enlisted  in  Company  B  of  the  Thirteenth  Ivegiment  of  Iowa  Volunteer  In- 
fantry and  was  captain  of  the  company,  serving  with  distinction  and  bravery 
in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  while  leading  his  company  into  the  battle  he  fell, 
mortally  wounded,  on  April  6.  1862,  and  died  of  his  wounds  on  Mav  13,  1862. 
His  body  was  brought  to  Newton  for  burial.  Mr.  ATiller  was  a  good  lawyer 
and  a  thorough  gentleman. 

Hon.  S.  G.  Smith  was  born  in  Greene  county,  New  York,  May  22.  183 1. 
He  attended  college  at  Oberlin,  Ohio.  Was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  March, 
1857.  at  Columbus,  Ohio.  In  XoxTUiber  of  that  year  he  removed  to  New- 
ton, Iowa,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  law.  In  August,  1862,  he  was 
commissioned  major  of  the  Fortieth  Iowa  X^olunteer  Infantry,  and  held 
this  position  until  1864,  when  he  resigned.  He  then  returned  to  Newton  and 
resumed  the  practice  of  law.  Was  mayor  of  Newton,  state  senator  in  the 
ninth  General  Assembly  and  the  extra  session  of  the  ninth  General  Assem- 
bly, and  was  district  attorney  of  the  sixth  judicial  district  for  four  years. 
Was  president  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  State  Normal  School.  .\t 
one  time  he  was  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Smith  &  Wilson,  attorneys.  He 
continued  the  practice  of  his  profession  until  about  four  years  before  his 
death,  and  on  account  of  failing  health  retired  from  the  practice.  He  died 
in  Newton  November  5,  1890. 

Hon.  O.  C.  Howe  was  born  December  19,  1824,  at  Williamstown,  \'er- 
mont.  He  finished  his  education  at  Aurora  Academy.  Studied  law  at  Buf- 
falo. New  York.  In  the  fall  of  1855  he  came  to  Jasper  county  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  law  for  a  short  time.  In  the  summer  of  1856  he 
went  to  Spirit  Lake.  Iowa,  and  (Organized  Dickerson  county  and  located 
the  countv  seat.  Afterward  he  returned  to  Newton  preparatory  to  moving 
his  goods  and  chattels  to  Spirit  Lake.  On  his  return  to  Spirit  Lake,  he 
found  the  Indians  had  massacred  all  of  the  white  people  in  and  around  that 
section.  He  was  elected  count\'  judge  of  Dickinson  county.  In  1858  he 
was  elected  district  attorncv  for  tliat  district.     .\t  that  time  the  district  em- 


234  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

braced  nearly  one-fourth  of  the  area  of  the  entire  state.  In  1862  he  returned 
to  Newton,  and  soon  thereafter  he  enUsted  and  was  made  captain  of  Com- 
pany L,  Ninth  Iowa  Cavalry,  and  remained  with  the  organization  until  the 
time  of  his  discharge,  in  November,  1864.  after  which  he  returned  to  New- 
ton and  formed  a  partnership  for  the  practice  of  law  with  A.  K.  Campbell, 
until  1875.  when  he  was  appointed  resident  professor  in  the  law  depart- 
ment of  the  State  University  at  Iowa  City,  and  remained  at  Iowa  City  until 
1 88 1,  when  he  removed  to  Anthony,  Kansas,  going  into  partnership  there 
with  James  McPhee.  where  he  remained  in  the  practice  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  August,  1899. 

Hon.  H.  S.  Winslow  was  born  at  Pittsford.  \^ermont.  July  18,  1837. 
and  came  to  Jasper  county  with  his  parents  in  1856.  He  formed  a  partner- 
ship in  December.  1856,  with  Thomas  H.  Miller,  said  firm  practicing  under 
the  style  and  firm  name  of  Miller  &  Winslow,  until  Mr.  Miller  enlisted  in 
the  Thirteenth  Regiment  of  Iowa  \^olunteers.  In  1862  Mr.  Winslow  was 
elected  district  attorney  of  the  sixth  judicial  district  of  Iowa,  and  served  in 
that  capacity  for  four  years.  In  1868  he  was  elected  judge  of  the  second 
circuit  of  the  sixth  judicial  district  for  a  term  of  four  years.  At  the  end 
of  one  year  he  resigned  this  office  and  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession 
until  1874,  when  he  was  elected  judge  of  the  sixth  judicial  district,  and  con- 
tinued to  hold  that  position  until  January  i,  1879.  Afterward  he  resumed 
the  practice  of  law  and  continued  in  the  practice  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred December  11,  1899.  In  1894  the  supreme  court  of  the  state  appointed 
Judge  Winslow  one  of  the  commissioners  to  revise  and  codify  the  laws  of 
Iowa.  To  this  work  he  brought  not  only  his  rare  and  ripe  experience  and 
knowledge  of  the  law  s,  but  the  same  indefatigable  energy  that  characterized 
his  whole  life.  Few  men  were  more  diligent,  industrious  or  faithfully  de- 
voted to  the  profession  than  Judge  Winslow.  By  his  death  there  went 
down  one  of  the  strongest  towers  of  the  profession,  one  distinguished  in  the 
state,  both  as  an    advocate  at  the  bar  and  a  jurist  on  the  1)ench. 

G.  R.  Shays  came  to  Newton  from  the  state  of  New  York  about  the 
year  1858.  and  commenced  the  practice  of  law,  and  devoted  himself  actively 
to  the  practice  until  1868,  when  he  formed  a  |)artnership  with  Robert  Ryan, 
under  the  firm  name  and  style  of  Shays  &-  Ryan.  The  firm  continued  in  the 
practice  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Shays,  which  occurred  May  18,  1870.  Little 
is  known  of  the  previous  history  of  ^Ir.  Shays,  but  he  was  a  tower  of  strength 
in  the  trial  of  a  case.  He  was  over  six  feet  in  height  and  a  great  athlete. 
The  writer  remembers  of  his  delivering  an  address  at  the  court  house  to 
the  first  company  of  \olunteers  that  left  Jasper  county  in  the  Civil  war  and 
his  speech  was  an  elocjuent  effort  and  inspired  enthusiasm  and  patriotism. 


JASPER    COUXTV,    IOWA.  235 

Hon.  J.  W.  Wilson  was  born  August  8,  1837.  in  Lawrence  county. 
Pennsylvania.  He  received  his  education  at  Mt.  Union  College,  in  the  same 
state.  Was  admitted  to  the  practice  of  law  at  Medina.  Ohio,  Septeml>er  21, 
1855.  The  following  year  he  removed  to  Xewton.  Iowa.  Tn  October.  1861. 
he  was  elected  county  judge,  which  office  he  held  until  the  following  Aug- 
ust, when  he  resigned  to  enter  the  United  States  militar}-  ser\ice,  which  he 
did  as  a  private  in  Company  K.  Twenty-eighth  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry.  In 
1864  he  was  promoted  to  be  adjutant  of  his  regiment,  which  position  he  held 
until  the  close  of  the  \\ar.  He  then  returned  to  Xewton  and  resumed  the 
practice  of  his  profession.  He  formed  a  partnership  with  Hon.  H.  S.  Wins- 
low,  which  partnership  continued  until  Mr.  Winslow  was  elected  to  the 
district  Ijench.  Mr.  Wils()n  then  formed  a  partnership  with  Hon.  S.  G. 
Smith,  which  continued  until  atout  1879,  then  again  formed  a  partnership 
with  Mr.  \\"inslow  and  remained  a  member  of  said  firm  and  engaged  ac- 
tively in  the  practice  until  a  short  time  before  his  death,  which  occurred 
May  6,  1887.  During  his  lifetime  he  took  a  great  interest  in  ^Masonry.  Was 
a  Knight  Templar,  and  was  elected  grand  master  of  the  grand  lodge  of  Iowa 
Masons  and  continued  to  hold  that  exalted  position  for  two  terms.  He  was 
a  true  friends,  and  many  a  young  member  of  the  profession  recollects  him 
with  gratitude  for  his  kindly  advice. 

J.  \V.  Sennett  was  one  of  the  pioneer  members  of  the  profession,  and 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in  X'ewton,  commencing  about  the  year  1854 
or  1855,  until  November  15,  1862.  when  he  enlisted  in  the  militar\'  service 
of  the  United  States,  and  was  captain  of  Company  E.  Fortieth  Regiment  of 
Iowa  \^olunteer  Infantry,  serving  in  that  capacity  with  distinction  until 
August,  1864,  after  which  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in  Xewton  for  a 
time,  and  then  removed  to  Jasper  county.  Missouri,  and  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  law  until  alx)ut  the  year  of  1907.  at  which  time  his  death  occurred. 

D.  L.  Clark  came  to  Xewton  alx)ut  the  year  1854  or  1855  and  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  law  successfully  until  he  entered  the  banking  business  in 
Newton  and  continued  in  that  business  until  his  death,  which  (xcurred  Sep- 
tember 20.  1904.  He  was  a  successful  lawyer  and  a  man  of  excellent  judg- 
ment and  a  good  financier.  For  a  short  time  he  was  in  the  practice  of  law 
he  was  in  partnership  with  Robert  Ryan. 

Hon.  David  Ryan  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Xew  ^'ork.  March 
15,  1840,  and  came  to  Jasi)er  county  with  his  parents  in  1857,  settling  on  a 
farm  about  two  miles  south  of  Prairie  City.  He  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Xew  York  and  Iowa,  and  at  Central  University  at  Pella. 
He  left  college  in    1861    and  enlisted  as  a   private   in  Company  E.   Eighth 


2^()  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

Iowa  Infantry.  He  finally  became  captain  of  his  company.  He  participated 
in  the  Battle  of  Shiloh  where  he  was  captured  and  spent  six  months  in  Rebel 
prisons  W'hen  the  Civil  war  ended,  he  had  attained  the  rank  of  colonel.  Re- 
turning to  college,  he  graduated  in  1867.  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  he  began 
the  practice,  which  he  continued  a  part  of  the  time  alone  and  a  i)art  of  the  time 
in  partnership,  first  with  Judge  Lindlev  and  then  with  his  brother,  Robert 
Ryan,  and  later  with  W .  O.  McElroy.  He  was  elected  to  the  Legislature 
of  the  state,  and  was  an  efficient  memlier  of  the  ele\'enth  (leneral  Assembly. 
In  1886  he  was  elected  to  the  district  l)ench,  which  position  he  filled  with 
credit  for  tweh'e  years.  At  the  exi)iration  of  his  third  term  on  the  bench,  he 
removed  to  Des  Moines  where,  with  ^^^illiam  Phillips  and  his  two  sons.  J. 
W.  Ryan  and  \\'.  L.  Ryan,  he  formed  the  firm  of  Phillips,  Ryan  &  Ryan,  and 
on  the  subsequent  death  of  Mr.  Phillips,  continued  as  Ryan,  Ryan  &  Ryan 
up  to  the  death  of  Judge  Ryan,  which  occurred  June  19,  1905.  He  was  suc- 
cessful at  every  point  of  his  useful  career  and.  personally,  was  an  excellent 
g'entleman.  He  had  many  friends  wherever  he  was  known.  At  the  time 
of  his  death  he  was  ])resident  of  the  Des  Moines  Bar  Association,  and  his 
funeral  was  largely  attended  bv  many  friends  and  members  of  the  bar.  com- 
ing from  distant  parts  of  the  state. 

Hugh  Xewell  was  one  of  the  pioneer  memljers  of  the  bar  of  Jasper 
county,  having  emigrated  to  Xewton  in  1855,  and  a  short  time  thereafter 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  on  September  12.  1855.  He  engaged  actively  in  the 
practice  of  law  for  several  years,  after  which  he  retired  and  engaged  in 
other  pursuits  in  Jasper  county,  where  he  died  February  26,   1895. 

Hon.  J.  C.  Cook  was  born  at  Tiffin,  Ohio,  December  2f),  1846,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  at  Heidelberg  College.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1867  and  the  same  year  came  to  N'ewton  and  actively  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  the  law.  At  one  time  he  was  in  jiartnership  with  R.  C.  Clark,  who 
emigrated  to  Kansas.  In  1876  he  was  nominated  for  attorne}-  general  by 
the  Democratic  party  of  Iowa.  In  1878  he  was  elected  district  judge  of  the 
sixth  judicial  district  of  Iowa,  and  served  a  term  of  four  vears.  After- 
wards he  was  elected  to  Congress  from  the  sixth  congressional  district. 
Thereafter  he  became  attorney  for  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railway 
Company,  with  headcpiarters  at  Eagle  (irove.  Iowa.  He  is  now  attorney 
for  the  Chicago.  Milwaukee  «S:  St.  Paul  Railway  Com])any  for  Iowa,  and  is 
located  at  Cedar  Rai)ids.  Judge  Cook  was  a  successful  practitioner,  seldom 
losing  a  case  in  which  he  was  engaged. 

S.  S.  Patterson  was  born  near  Rochester,  Xew  ^'ork.  .\])ril  17.  1835, 
and  read  law  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,   for  one  year.     At  the  first  call   for  troops 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  2  ^7 

in  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  l\  Twelfth  Ohio  Infantry,  as  a  private  and 
after  five  months  service  returned  to  Ohio,  resumed  the  study  of  law  at 
Tifiin.  Ohio,  and  in  June,  1862,  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  Afterwards,  in 
the  early  part  of  1863,  Mr.  Patterson  once  more  entered  the  army,  being 
appointed  as  captain  of  the  comj>any.  He  was  present  at  the  surrender  of 
General  Lee  at  Appomattox.  After  his  service  in  the  army,  which  closed 
in  the  fall  of  1865.  he  received  a  governmental  appointment  in  southwestern 
Virginia  as  inspector  of  internal  re\enue.  In  1868  he  came  to  Iowa  and  lo- 
cated in  Kellogg.  After  practicing  his  profession  at  that  place  for  eight 
years,  he  came  to  Newton  and  engaged  in  active  practice  of  the  law  with  the 
exception  of  the  time  of  President  Cleveland's  first  administration,  when 
he  held  a  position  under  the  general  government  of  Indian  agent  in  New 
Mexico.  After  occupying  that  position  for  four  years,  he  returned  to  N^ew- 
ton  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  February,  1899.  Major  Patterson  was  a  man  of  high  honor  and 
integrity  and  commanded  the  respect  of  all  who  knew  him. 

Hon.  J.  W.  Deweese  commenced  the  practice  of  law  at  Prairie  City  in 
1869  and  remained  at  that  place  for  ten  years,  during  which  time  he  was 
elected  to  represent  Jasper  county  in  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  General 
Assemblies,  which  he  did  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  his  constituency,  being 
elected  speaker  pro  tem.  of  the  House  of  Representatives  at  its  seventeenth 
session.  In  1862  Mr.  Deweese  answered  the  call  of  his  country  and  en- 
listed in  Company  G,  Twenty-third  Regiment  Iowa  Volimteer  Infantry,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  after  which  he  attended  the  Central  Uiii- 
versity  at  Pella,  Iowa,  and  then  law  school,  previous  to  locating  in  Prairie 
City.  In  1879  Mr.  Deweese  removed  to  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  and  became  at- 
torney for  the  Chicago.  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railway  in  Nebraska,  which 
position  he  occupied  until  his  death,  which  occurred  September  3.  1907.  Mr. 
Deweese  was  an  able  lawyer. 

Hon.  E.  C.  Roach  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  at  Prairie  City, 
commencing  about  the  year  1875  O''  1876,  and  remained  at  that  place  ac- 
tively engaged  in  his  profession  until  about  1883,  at  which  time  he  removed 
to  Rock- Rapids.  Lyon  county.  Iowa,  where  he  is  still  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  law  with  success.  He  has  represented  Lyon  county  twice  in  tlie  Legis- 
lature, the  twentv-first  and  twenty-second  sessions  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  Iowa. 

L.  A.  Williams  came  to  Prairie  City  from  the  state  of  Kentucky  in 
about  the  vear  1874  and  continued  the  practice  of  law  at  that  place  until 
about  the  vear  1903.  when  he  returned  to  the  state  of  Kentucky,  liis  old  home, 
and  a  short  time  thereafter  died. 


238  JASl'KR    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Sidney  Williams  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  Prairie  City  about 
the  year  1868  and  remained  at  Prairie  City  until  1873  and  then  removed 
to  Colfax,  Iowa.  In  1874  he,  with  John  Dixon,  discovered  the  noted  min- 
eral waters  at  Colfax.  About  the  year  1885  he  removed  to  Colorado,  where 
he  is  now  engaged  in  mining  enterprises. 

Hon.  B.  C.  Ward,  a  native  of  Vermont,  came  to  Prairie  City  in  1869 
and  was  principal  of  the  schools  at  that  place  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  fall  of  1876,  and  formed  a 
partnership  with  W.  G.  Clements,  under  the  firm  name  of  Clements  &  Ward, 
which  partnership  continued  for  the  practice  of  law  until  1893.  The  firm 
maintained  offices  at  Prairie  City  and  Newton,  Mr.  Clements  having  re- 
moved to  Newton  in  October,  1887.  The  partnership  was  dissolved  in  1893. 
Mr.  \\'ard  moved  to  Des  Moines,  where  he  has  been  engaged  in  philan- 
thropic interests,  being  president  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
in  Des  Moines  for  a  number  of  years.  While  at  Prairie  City,  Mr.  Ward  rep- 
resented Jasper  county  in  the  Iowa  Legislature,  the  twentieth  session  of  the 
same,  and  served  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  his  constituency.  Mr.  Ward, 
during  the  Civil  war,  enlisted  in  the  Second  Vermont  Infantry  and  served 
his  country  faithfully  and  was  in  many  battles,  including  Gettysburg,  the 
Wilderness  and  other  hard-fought  engagements.  Mr.  Ward  still  lives  in 
Des  Moines  and  is  now  senior  vice-commander  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public of  Iowa. 

William  Howard  came  to  Monroe  in  the  year  1856.  Was  justice  of 
the  peace  at  that  place  for  a  number  of  years.  Afterwards  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  about  the  year  i860,  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  about   1875. 

Jacob  Kipp  was  a  pioneer  lawyer  of  Monroe,  coming  to  that  town  in 
the  year  of  1854.  W^as  elected  justice  of  the  peace  for  a  number  of  years 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  engaged  in  the  general  practice  of  law 
until  1899,  when  he  retired  from  the  practice  and  engaged  in  other  pursuits. 
He  is  still  living  in  Monroe  and  is  over  eighty-five  years  of  ag"e. 

Sloan  Koder  practiced  law  in  Monroe  for  a  number  of  years  with  suc- 
cess. In  1895  he  removed  to  Siloam  Springs,  Arkansas,  where  he  resumed 
the  law  business  and  is  still  living    at  that  [)lace. 

R.  A.  McKee  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  Monroe  about  the  year 
1870,  and  remained  in  the  practice  at  that  place  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
removed  to  the  state  of  Nebraska.  During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  McKee  was 
captain  of  Company  I,  Fifth  Veteran  Cavalry,  and  served  with  credit  to 
himself  and  his  country. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  239 

A.  O.  Hayes,  once  a  member  of  the  bar  of  Jasper  county,  and  engaged 
in  the  law  business  in  Alonroe  for  a  number  of  years,  removed  to  the  state 
of  K'ansas  about  the  year  1880.  At  last  accounts,  he  was  still  living  in  the 
state  of  Kansas. 

Hon.  H.  W.  Gleason.  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  came  to  Monroe 
about  January  i.  1869,  and  remained  there  two  years  and  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  law  successfully,  afterwards  removed  to  Oskaloosa,  Iowa,  and 
formed  a  partnership  with  Judge  Crookham.  Mr.  Gleason  represented  Ma- 
haska county  in  tlie  se\enteenth  General  Assembh-  of  Iowa.  After  dissolv- 
ing partnership  with  Judge  Crookham,  he  removed  to  the  state  of  Kansas 
and  there  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  for  some  time,  and  then  returned 
to  Oskaloosa  where  he  continued  the  practice  of  law  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  May  i,  191 1. 

Alanson  Clark,  son  of  D.  L.  Clark,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College 
and  the  Iowa  Law  School,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1875.  and  in  1876  com- 
menced the  ])ractice  of  law  at  Xewton  with  success  and  remained  in  the  prac- 
tice until  his  death,  which  occurred  March  28,  1894.  Mr.  Clark  was  very 
energetic  in  the  cause  of  his  numerous  clients,  and  won  distinction  at  the  bar 
by  his  prosecution  of  rebate  cases  against  the  different  railway  companies. 
At  the  time  of  his  death,  he  was  county  attorney  of  Jasper  county. 

S.  J.  ]\Ioyer  came  to  Jasper  county  in  the  year  1864  and  was  engaged  in 
teaching  school  until  about  the  year  1872,  when  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  and  practiced  law  in  Newton  for  a  period  of  about  twelve  years,  then 
remoxed  to  Chaml)erlain,  South  Dakota,  and  engaged  in  the  same  business 
at  that  place  until  his  death,  which  occurred  about  the  year  1896. 

A.  S.  Stuver  was  justice  of  peace  for  a  number  of  years  in  Xewton,  and 
a  member  of  the  bar  and  practiced  law  until  he  removed  to  Kimball,  South 
Dakota,  in  1882.  He  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in  that  state  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1904. 

H.  K.  Stahl  and  C.  \\\  Stahl  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  Xew- 
ton in  the  vear  1874.  under  the  firm  name  and  style  of  Stahl  Bros.  They 
engaged  in  the  ])ractice  in  Xewton  for  a  period  of  about  twelve  years,  and 
then  removed  to  the  state  of  California,  where  they  each  now  reside. 

R.  B.  Kiddoo  came  to  Jasper  county  in  the  year  1869  and  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  law  in  Newton  for  about  ten  years.  He  then  removed  to 
the  state  of  Nebraska,  where  he  resumed  the  same  business  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  the  year  1894. 

J.  G,  Meek,  one  of  the  pioneer  lawyers,  came  to  X^ewton  in  the  year 
1854  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  during  that  year.     He  practiced  law  in 


240  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Newton  for  about  ten  years  and  then  remo\ed  to  Ottuniwa,  Iowa,  where 
he  still  lives. 

J.  M.  Clements  came  to  Jasper  county  with  his  parents  in  1855  ^"^  ^"" 
gaged  in  work  on  the  farm  for  his  father  near  Newton  until  about  the  year 
1868,  when  he  attended  college  at  W'ittemberg  and  Hazel  Dell  Academy  in 
Newton,  studied  law.  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1873.  On  January 
I,  1879,  he  was  appointed  official  sliort-hand  reporter  for  the  sixth  judicial 
district  by  Judge  Cook  and  served  in  that  capacity  for  four  years,  after  w  hich 
he  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in  Newton.  In  a  short  time  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  S.  C.  Cook,  under  the  firm  name  of  Cook  &  Clements,  the 
partnership  being  dissolved  in  1886,  at  which  time  Mr.  Clements  went  to 
Helena,  Montana,  where  he  was  elected  county  judge  of  the  county  for  a 
term  of  two  years.  Afterwards  he  commenced  the  practice  of  law  at  that 
place  with  success.  In  1903  he  was  elected  judge  of  the  district  court  at 
Helena,  Montana.     In  1907  he  was  re-elected,  and  now  holds  that  position. 

S.  C.  Cook  was  raised  on  a  farm  near  Newton,  studied  law  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  Jasper  county  about  the  year  1874  and  entered  into  part- 
nership with  R.  A.  Sankey,  which  partnership  existed  for  about  four  years, 
after  which  he  formed  a  partnership  with  J.  M.  Clements.  Mr.  Cook  was 
president  of  the  railroad  company  which  constructed  what  is  now  the  Iowa 
Central  Railway  from  Newton  to  Keithsburg,  Iowa.  Mr.  Cook  was  a 
successful  financier,  very  energetic  and  painstaking  in  whatever  he  under- 
took. He  continued  in  the  practice  of  law  until  September,  1887,  when  he 
met  his  death  on  a  railway  crossing  between  Mitchellville  and  Colfax  by  be- 
ing struck  by  a  railway  train  while  driving  in  his  buggy.  His  tragic  death 
was  mourned  by  all  his  friends  and  acquaintances. 

Hon.  Stephen  N.  Lindley  was  born  in  Merrittstown,  Pennsylvania,  May 
7,  18 1 7.  He  removed  to  Athens  county,  Ohio,  in  1835,  ^^^^  there  studied 
law  in  the  office  of  A.  J.  Brown  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  In  April, 
1848,  he  came  to  Iowa,  and  in  1861  came  to  Newton,  where  he  resided  nine- 
teen years,  following  his  profession,  and  served  two  terms  as  circuit  judge. 
He  then  moved  to  Fairbury.  Nebraska,  in  1880,  and  was  elected  and  served 
several  terms  as  probate  judge.  In  1894  his  health  failed  and  he  gave  up 
his  practice  and  moved  to  Blanchester,  Ohio,  where  he  died  January  22, 
1896.  Judge  Lindley,  prior  to  the  Civil  war,  was  an  ardent  abolitionist. 
While  he  resided  in  Monroe,  he  and  John  R.  Clements  (the  father  of  the 
writer)  conducted  an  "underground  railroad''  and  helped  many  a  poor  black 
person  to  regain  his  liberty. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  24 1 

A.  K.  Campbell  emigrated  from  the  state  of  Ohio  to  Newton  about 
the  year  1855.  Previous  to  coming  to  Iowa  he  studied  law  with  his  father 
in  the  state  of  Oliio.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Jasper  county  in  1868, 
and  formed  a  partnership  with  Judge  O.  C.  Howe;  the  partnership  continued 
until  Judge  Howe  was  appointed  one  of  the  resident  law  professors  in  the 
State  University,  which  occurred  in  1876.  Mr.  Campbell  continued  the 
practice  of  his  profession  until  he  removed  from  Newton  to  Des  Moines,  in 
1887,  where  he  now  resides. 

W.  E.  Evans  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  J.  C.  Cook  in  Newton, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  about  the  year  1876.  He  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice in  Newton  for  three  or  four  years,  and  then  removed  to  the  state  of 
Kansas,  where  he  now  resides  and  is  still  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law. 

Clark  Varnum  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Poweshiek  county  about  1873, 
and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  at  Malcom,  Iowa,  until  1885,  when  he 
removed  to  Newton  and  formed  a  partnership  with  Hon.  H.  S.  Winslow, 
which  partnership  continued  until  Mr.  Varnum  removed  to  Chicago,  which 
occurred  about  the  year  1893.  Mr.  Varnum  still  resides  in  Chicago  and  is 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

A.  F.  Brown  was  raised  on  a  farm  in  Jasper  county,  studied  law  and  w  as 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  June,  1882.  and  immediately  thereafter  formed  a 
partnership  with  J.  H.  Fugard,  which  partnership  was  dissolved  in  Sep- 
tember, 1901.  Afterward  Mr.  Brown  continued  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession as  a  lawyer  in  Newton  until  September,  1907,  when  he  removed  to 
the  city  of  Des  ]\Ioines  where  he  is  now  general  attorney  for  the  Corn  Belt 
Land  &  Loan  Company. 

R.  F.  Graham  engaged  in  the  ])ractice  of  law  in  Newton  for  a  number 
of  years,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  about  the  year  1898,  and  followed  the 
practice  of  law  in  Newton  until  about  1903.  He  then  removed  to  W'hittier, 
California,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  the  law-  business. 

D.  O.  Stuart  practiced  law  in  Monroe.  Iowa,  for  about  six  years,  then, 
in  1878,  removed  to  Harlan.  Iowa,  where  he  is  still  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession. 

A.  I.  Craven  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1882.  and  practiced  law  in  New- 
ton for  about  four  years,  and  then  removed  to  Helena,  Montana.  While 
there  he  became  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  and  also  a  member  of  the 
constitutional  convention  which  framed  the  constitution  of  the  state.  He 
is  now  located  in  Bellingham.  Washington,  and  is  there  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  law. 
(16) 


242  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

James  A.  Kerr  was  admitted  to  the  l)ar  in  about  the  year  1882  and 
immediately  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  N^ewton.  He  con- 
tinned  in  the  practice  with  success  until  1890,  when  he  removed  to  Seattle, 
Washington,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law.  Previous  to 
his  leaving  Newton  he  was  in  partnership  with  \V.  O.  McElroy  for  about 
four  years.  Mr.  Kerr  was  a  tprceful  speaker  and  advocate,  and  has  achieved 
great  success  in  his  new  field  where  he  now  resides. 

A.  AI.  Harrah  came  to  Jasper  county  with  his  parents  about  the  year 
1855,  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1875,  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Newton  which  he  continued  with  success  until 
1907.  when  he  removed  to  Pasadena.  Qlilifornia.  where  he  is  still  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  In  1886.  Mr.  Harrah  was  elected  county 
attorney  and  served  in  that  capacity  for  a  period  of  two  years.  Mr.  Harrah 
A\as  an  able  lawyer. 

John  G.  Harrah,  son  of  A.  M-.  Harrah,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1905,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  Newton  and  continued  until 
191 1,  when  he  removed  to  Pasadena,  California,  where  he  now  resides. 

Preston  Chambers  was  born  in  the  state  of  Indiana  and  emigrated  to 
Iowa  in  1855,  settling  near  Galesburg.  Iowa.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1877,  and  practiced  law  until  June  19,  1907,  when  he  died  near  Gales- 
burg. at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years. 

Hon.  W.  H.  Redman  was  born  in  Geneseo.  Illinois.  March  15,  1840. 
He  lived  and  worked  on  a  farm  during  the  early  years  of  his  life.  He 
served  as  private  in  Company  C.  Twelfth  Illinois  Cavalry,  during  the  Civil 
war,  and  was  advanced  to  the  position  of  captain  of  his  company.  He  was 
in  several  battles  during  the  war.  After  the  war,  he  came  to  Poweshiek 
county  and  located  on  a  farm.  He  entered  the  law  department  of  the  State 
University  from  which  he  graduated  in  December,  1869.  The  following 
year  he  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  Montezuma.  Mr.  Redman  served 
in  the  twentv-first  and  twenty-second  General  Assemblies  of  Iowa,  being 
made  speaker  of  the  House  in  the  last  named  session.  In  1898  he  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  attorney  general,  whicli  office  he  held  until  A])ril  t,  1899. 
In  1900  he  located  in  Newton,  Iowa,  and  continued  the  practice  of  law  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  about  December.  1901. 

H.  L,  Stem  came  to  Jasper  county  with  his  parents  in  1855  '^"^^l  settled 
on  a  farm  near  Monroe.  Mr.  Stem  worked  on  the  farm  until  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1871.  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in  Monroe.  Iowa,  for 
a  period  of  six  vears,  after  which  he  removed  to  the  state  of  Nebraska. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  243 

E.  M.  Ives  practiced  law  at  Lynnville  for  a  number  of.  years.  From 
thence  he  removed  to  Kellogg.  Iowa,  and  resumed  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  that  place  until  1907,  when  he    removed  to  the  state  of  Indiana. 

L.  J.  Labour  practiced  law  in  Colfax  for  a  number  of  years,  and  about 
the  year  1880  removed  to  the  city  of  Des  Moines. 

J.  A.  Metcalf  came  to  Xewton  about  the  year  1888  and  i)racticed 
law' in  Xewton  until  1895,  when  he  removed  to  Sac  City,  Sac  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  is  now  engaged  in  his  chosen  profession. 

Fred  Oilman  came  to  Newton  from  the  northeastern  part  of  Iowa  about 
the  year  1882,  and  practiced  law  in  Xewton  until  about  the  year  1887.  When 
he  was  appointed  professor  in  the  law  department  of  the  State  University  of 
Iowa,  he  removed  to  Iowa  City. 

S.  I,  Miskimmons  commenced  the  practice  of  law  at  Baxter,  in  Jasper 
county,  in  1899  and  continued  in  the  practice  at  that  place  until  the  time  of 
his  death,  April  15,  1904. 

S.  Kent  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  Xewton  about  the  year  1873, 
and  remained  in  Xewton  until  about  1878,  when  he  removed  to  the  state  of 
Xebraska,  where  he  now  lives. 

Bryant  E.  Corwin  was  ]x)rn  in  Morrow  county,  Ohio.  October  21. 
1850.  attended  the  common  schools  of  that  county  until  1872,  when  he 
came  to  Monroe.  Iowa.  He  had  previously  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Dickey  at  Mt.  Gilead.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Jasper  county  Xovem- 
ber  10,  1876.  Previous  to  that  time  he  had  l)een  principal  for  four  years 
of  the  Monroe  schools.  He  practiced  law  in  Monroe  with  success  until  the 
time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  October  30,  1893. 

W.  H.  Williams  practiced  law  in  the  town  of  Monroe  from  1877  to 
1879.     He  then  moxed  to  the  state  of  Kansas  where  he  now  resides. 

Joseph  Arnold  was  born  at  Richmond.  Indiana,  April  i.  1832.  In 
1843  li^  came  with  his  parents  to  Lynnville.  Iowa,  and  aided  iiis  parents  in 
operating  a  grist  mill  at  said  place,  and  also  in  conducting  a  farm.  In  1864 
^[r.  Arnold  was  ordained  a  minister  of  the  gospel  in  the  Friends  church 
and  preached  more  or  less.  Alnnit  the  year  1873  he  commenced  the 
study  of  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Jasper  county  in  1877  and  con- 
tinued the  practice  of  law  in  Lynnville  with  success  until  the  time  of  his 
death.  Avhich  occurred  September  7.  1904.  in  the  seventy-third  year  of  his 
age. 

John  C.  Meredith  was  reared  on  a  farm  near  Lynnville  and  about  the 
vear  1880  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  entered  in  the  practice  of  law  at  Lynn- 
ville. which  he  carried  on  with  success  until  about  the  year  1883.  when  he 
removed  to  Angus.  Iowa. 


244  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

James  B.  Nay  lor,  a  resident  of  Lynnville,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1874,  and  continued  the  practice  of  law  at  that  place  until  about  1880, 
when  he  removed  to  Simeron,  Kansas,  where  he  is  still  engaged  in  the  law 
business. 

C.  A.  Tracy  practiced  law  in  Monroe  for  about  two  years,  commencing 
in  1890.     He  then  removed  to  the  state  of  Nebraska. 

R.  A.  Sankey,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  came  to  Newton  in  1866  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  law  with  success.  He  afterwards  formed  a 
partnership  with  AI.  Howard,  which  continued  for  about  two  or  three  years. 
Afterwards  he  formed  a  partnership  with  S.  C.  Cook,  which  was  dissolved 
in  about  two  years  thereafter.  In  1882  Mr.  Sankey  went  to  Wichita,  Kansas, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  until  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  March,  1909.  He  was  about  sixty-two  years  of 
age  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

M.  Howard  came  to  Newton  about  the  year  1870  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  in  partnership  with  R.  A.  Sankey,  and  after  the  dissolution 
of  the  partnership,  which  continued  about  three  years,  Mr.  Howard  removed 
to  the  city  of  Chicago  where  he  now  resides. 

Hon.  Robert  Ryan  was  born  in  Washington  county,  New  York,  and 
emigrated  to  Jasper  county  with  his  parents  in  1857,  and  settled  on  a  farm 
two  miles  south  of  Prairie  City.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
of  New  York  and  Iowa,  and  at  the  Central  University  at  Pella.  During  the 
war  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  Eighth  Iowa  Infantry  and  upon  his  re- 
turn home  finished  his  education  and  studied  law,  attending  the  law  depart- 
ment of  the  Iowa  State  University.  In  about  the  year  1868  he  commenced 
the  practice  of  law  in  Newton,  forming  a  partnership  with  G.  R.  Shays, 
which  continued  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Shays.  He  then  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  his  brother,  David  Ryan,  which  continued  until  his  removal  to 
Lincoln,  Nebraska,  where  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law.  In  a  short  time 
after  removing  to  Lincoln,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  supreme  court 
of  that  state,  on  which  he  serxed  with  alMJity  for  a  term  of  six  years.  Af- 
terwards he  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  and  in  about  the  year  1900  he 
came  to  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  and  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother,  David 
Ryan,  and  J.  B.  Ryan  and  W.  L.  Ryan,  sons  of  David  Ryan.  Hon.  Robert 
Ryan  is  now  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in  Des  Moines. 

Evert  M.  Allen  was  born  in  Jasper  county,  and  lived  with  his  parents 
on  a  farm  near  Colfax.  He  attended  the  State  University  at  Iowa  City, 
and  graduated  from  the  law  department  thereof  in  1897,  after  which  he 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in  Colfax  until  about  1906.  when  he  removed 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  245 

to  Spokane,  state  of  Washington,  where  he  is  still  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession. 

E.  H.  Hurd  came  to  Newton  about  the  year  1900  and  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  law  until  about  1906,  when  he  removed  to  the  state  of  Nebraska. 

Clifford  V.  Cox  was  born  in  Jasper  county,  February  14.  1880.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  the  county  and  then  entered 
the  State  University  in  1897.  from  which  he  graduated  from  the  law  de- 
partment in  June.  1903.  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  commenced  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Newton,  forming  a  partnership  with  W.  O. 
McElroy,  under  the  firm  name  and  style  of  McElroy  &  Cox,  which  partner- 
ship continued  until  1909,  when  Mr.  Cox  removed  to  the  city  of  Des  Moines 
and  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Bannister,  where  he  is  actively  engaged 
in  the  practice. 

J.  A.  Mattern  came  to  Colfax  about  the  year  1878.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  about  that  time  and  commenced  the  practice  of  law,  which  he  con- 
tinued until  about  1898.  when  he  was  elected  clerk  of  the  district  court  of 
Jasper  county,  which  position  he  occupied  until  1906.  He  then  removed 
from  Jasper  county  to  Creston,  Iowa,  where  he  now  resides. 

George  F.  Rinehart  practiced  law  in  Newton  for  about  two  years, 
then  engaged  in  publishing  a  newspaper  in  Des  ]\Ioines.  From  there  he  re- 
moved to  the  state  of  Oklahoma,  where  he  is  now  successfully  engaged  in 
editing  a  newspaper. 

Jonathan  N.  Edgar  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Newton  in  1855.  A  short 
time  thereafter  he  was  elected  county  attorney  and  served  in  that  capacity 
for  about  two  years,  when  he  removed  to  Oskaloosa,   Iowa. 

William  B.  Sloan  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Newton,  September  8, 
1854,  and  practiced  law  in  Newton  for  about  four  years.  He  then  re- 
moved to  the  state  of  Ohio  and  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

B.  F.  Parmenter  came  to  Newton  in  the  fall  of  1855  and  commenced 
the  practice  of  law.  In  the  summer  of  1856  he,  in  company  with  Judge 
O.  C.  Howe,  went  to  Spirit  Lake,  where  Mr.  Parmenter  remained  until  the 
time  of  his  death. 

Charles  Smentzer  came  to  Newton  in  1855  and  commenced  the  practice 
of  law.  In  1857  he  removed  to  Ft.  Dodge,  Iowa,  where  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  his  profession  and  occupied  many  positions  of  trust  at  his  new 
home. 

Hon.  John  C.  Pollock,  a  native  of  Belmont  county.  Ohio,  came  to  New- 
ton after  the  Civil  war  and  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  H.  S.  Winslow. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Jasper  county,  and  from  there  he  moved  to 


246  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Montezuma,  Poweshiek  county,  and  remained  there  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  for  about  three  years.  He  then  removed  to  the  state  of  Missouri 
and  still  continued  the  practice  of  law.  From  Missouri  he  went  to  Kansas 
where  he  gained  distinction  as  a  trial  lawyer  and  was  elected  as  district 
judge  of  that  state,  and  while  serving  in  that  capacity  was  appointed  judge 
of  the  United  States  district  court  for  the  state  of  Kansas,  which  position 
he  now  occupies. 

Hon.  George  E.  Spencer  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Newton  April  16, 
1856,  and  thereafter  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in  Newton  with  success. 
In  1858  he  served  as  secretary  of  the  state  Senate  of  Iowa.  Thereafter,  in 
1859.  he  removed  to  the  northwestern  part  of  the  state  in  Cla\-  county  and 
took  up  a  government  claim  and  thereon  laid  out  a  town,  giving  it  his  own 
name,  which  is  now  the  county  seat  of  Clay  county.  He  was  the  first  set- 
tler in  Clay  county.  During  the  Civil  war  he  was  colonel  of  a  regiment  of 
loyal  Alabamians  and  served  with  distinction  until  the  close  of  the  war.  After- 
wards, he  settled  in  the  state  of  Alabama,  and  was  elected  from  that  state  to 
the  United  States  Senate  for  a  term  of  six  years. 

Hon.  James  B.  Weaver  was  born  in  Dayton.  Ohio,  June  12,  1833.  He 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Iowa.  He  commenced  the  study  of 
law  in  the  ofifice  of  S.  G.  McAchran.  at  Bloomfield,  Iowa,  in  1854.  After- 
wards he  attended  the  law  school  of  Cincinnati  College  and  graduated  in 
1855.  Rutherford  B.  Hayes,  afterwards  President  of  the  United  States, 
was  one  of  the  board  of  examiners  of  said  school.  Afterwards  General 
Weaver  came  to  Bloomfield  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession 
until  the  spring  ofi86i.  when  he  entered  the  Union  army  as  a  private 
soldier  and  was  elected  first  lieutenant  of  Company  G,  Second  Iowa  InfantiT. 
Afterwards  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major  of  his  regiment  and  then  to 
colonel  and  after\\ards  was  l)re\'eted  Ijrigadier-general  by  President  Lincoln. 
General  Weaver  was  engaged  in  many  hard-fought  battles  along  with  his 
regiment.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Bloomfield  and  again  en- 
tered upon  the  practice  of  law  and  in  1866  was  elected  district  attorney  of 
the  second  judicial  district,  ^^•hich  was  composed  of  seven  counties,  in  which 
capacity  he  served  for  a  term  of  four  years.  He  was  afterwards  appointed 
United  States  assessor  of  internal  revenue.  Afterwards  he  entered  the  gen- 
eral practice  and  took  an  active  part  in  politics.  In  1878  he  was  elected  to 
Congress  from  the  sixth  Iowa  district  and  in  1886  was  again  elected  to  Con- 
gress. In  1880  he  was  nominated  by  the  national  Greenback  party  for  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  and  polled  over  three  hundred  thousand  votes.  In 
1892  he  was  nominated  for  President  of  the  United  States  by  the  Populist 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  247 

party  and  polled  over  one  million  votes,  and  received  twenty-two  electoral 
votes,  (ieneral  Weaver  was  a  resident  of  Colfax,  in  jasper  countv.  for 
the  past  fifteen  years  and,  while  not  in  the  active  practice  of  the  law,  was 
engaged  in  literary  work.  General  Weaver  had  a  keen  sense  of  justice  and 
right  and  espoused  the  cause  of  the  weak  and  oppressed  and  therefore  was 
highly  respected  and  esteemed  l)v  ever}-  person  with  whom  he  came  in  c«jn- 
tact.     He  died  on  February  6,  1912. 

THE  PRESENT  BAR. 

The  following  are  the  present  members  of  the  Jasper  county  bar:  A.  A. 
Arnold,  George  T.  Anderson,  A.  H.  Brous,  J.  W.  Burke,  M.  J.  Carey,  W.  G. 
Clements,  F.  H.  Clements,  W.  R.  Cooper,  P.  H.  Cragan,  C.  E.  Cragan,  J.  E. 
Cross,  Tim  J.  Campbell,  C.  O.  Edge,  J.  H.  Fugard,  A,  R.  Gorrell,  A.  C. 
Gates,  M.  R.  Hammer,  Jr.,  J.  C.  Hawkins,  P.  H.  Healy,  P.  E.  Johannsen, 
F.  L.  Kennedy,  L.  S.  Kennington,  H.  C.  Horf,  Jacob  Kipp,  George  C.  Kipp, 
J.  Koder,  L.  E.  Hall,  A.  K.  Lufkin,  E.  P.  Malmberg,  W.  O.  McElroy,  C.  O. 
McLain,  E.  M.  S.  McLaughlin,  O.  C.  Meredith,  Ross  R.  Mowry,  V.  H.  Mor- 
gan, H.  L.  Morgan,  G.  L.  Morgan,  O.  P.  Myers,  E.  C.  Ogg.  M.  E.  Penquite, 
J.  B.  Ryan,  E.  J.  Salmon,  Henry  Silwold,  F.  W.  Swearingen,  G.  M.  Tripp, 
D.  M.  Tripp,  L.  A.  Wells. 


CHAPTER  XVL 

THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION  AND  MEDICAL  SOCIETIES. 

From  the  earliest  history-  of  mankind,  in  all  countries,  civilized  and  un- 
civilized, the  medical  man  has  always  been  held  in  high  esteem  by  those  in 
need  of  his  services.  Whether  it  be  the  learned  professor,  who  has  had  the 
advantages  of  many  colleges  and  thoroughly  understands  the  latest  discov- 
eries in  his  science,  or  the  "great  medicine  man''  of  the  semi-civilized  and 
half-tutored  savage,  who  from  actual  experience  has  made  discoveries  of  the 
healing  properties  of  various  roots  and  herbs,  honor  awaits  him  on  almost 
every  hand,  while  the  life  and  death  of  a  human  being  is  virtually  placed  in 
his  keeping.  The  weary  patient,  streached  out  on  his  bed  of  pain,  and  the 
no  less  w^orthy  watcher  by  his  side,  wait  anxiously  for  the  coming  of  the 
"good  doctor,''  and,  on  his  arrival,  note  his  every  movement.  In  health  and 
strength  we  often  speak  lightly  of  the  medical  profession,  but  when  the  face 
is  flushed  with  fever  and  the  frame  is  full  of  pain  and  disorder,  then  it  is  that 
the  doctor  is  most  appreciated,  for  we  know^  full  w'ell  that  nature  can  best  be 
aided  by  medicines  administered  by  one  who  has  made  materia  medica  his  life 
study. 

The  early  physicians  in  Jasper  and  adjoining  counties  were  men  of  stand- 
ing and  endured  great  hardships,  as  they  faced  the  storms  of  an  Iowa  winter 
or  the  burning  suns  of  summer,  traveling  on  foot  and  on  horseback,  many 
times  over  roads  almost  impassable,  with  bridgeless  streams,  by  day  and  by 
night.  The  "saddle-bag  doctor"  was  here  in  evidence  and  the  trained  nurse 
was  wanting,  but  was  quite  well  substituted  by  the  dear  old  grandmothers  who 
seemed  to  have  brought  down  from  their  homes  in  the  eastern  country  many 
simple  remedies  and  knew  just  how  to  care  for  the  sick  member  of  the  family 
until  the  case  needed  a  physician. 

The  early  day  doctors  practiced  for  money,  same  as  today,  but  then,  as 
now,  the  honorable  physician  did  not  turn  a  poor  person  away  without  treat- 
ment, but  administered  the  best  he  could  and  trusted  to  luck  to  be  repaid. 
This  trait  has  caused  many  a  doctor  to  have  thousands  of  dollars  charged  on 
his  books  which  might  as  well  never  have  been  entered,  for  when  the  patient 
has  been  healed  he  too  frequently  forgets  his  family  physician  and  pays  others 
less  worthy. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  249 

The  science  of  medicine  has  materially  advanced  in  the  last  fifty  years 
and  surgery  has  within  twenty-five  years  made  wonderful  strides.  What  once 
seemed  impossible  to  perfonn.  is  today  counted  but  the  work  of  a  few  minutes 
and  a  great  operation  is  performed  and  life  saved  thereby.  New  countries 
always  have  their  own  peculiar  diseases  and  Jasper  county  had  her  full  share 
of  pioneer  ailments  to  be  cared  for  by  the  early  physicians,  who  were  not  al- 
ways of  the  brightest,  highest  type  of  medical  men,  but  they  carried  out  what 
they  believed  to  be  the  best  for  those  whom  they  treated.  The  later  physi- 
cians were  of  a  better  educated  type  and  met  with  good  success — especiallv  is 
this  true  of  those  who  cam€  to  Jasper  county  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  war. 
That  conflict  was  of  itself  a  great  surgeon  maker  and  the  result  of  the  ex- 
perience is  still  felt  in  the  hospitals  and  general  practice  of  today,  from  ocean 
to  ocean. 

Early  in  the  eighties  the  state  laws  were  so  changed  that  a  "quack"  was 
prohibited  from  practicing  medicine,  and  this  rule  of  law  has  made  higher 
and  better  the  standard  of  doctors  throughout  the  commonwealth.  The  bitter 
fights  between  "old  school"  and  other  medical  schools,  including  homeo- 
pathic, osteopathic,  and  even  Christian  Science  treatment,  has  about  been 
abandoned :  the  rank  and  file  of  physicians  now  see  some  good  in  the  eclectic 
school  as  well  as  in  the  "regular."  and  if  patients  care  to  take  treatment  with 
any  new  school  the  reputable  doctor  is  not  offended,  and  indeed  if  he  himself 
thinks  anything  is  to  be  gained  by  using  some  of  the  remedies  of  other 
schools  he  feels  at  liberty  to  do  so,  and  calls  it  perfectly  professional.  Tn 
short,  the  men  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  have  been  trained  at  in- 
stitutions of  learning  controlled  by  broad-gauged  men.  who  see  some  good  in 
all  rational  methods  and  have  come  to  seek  a  cure,  rather  than  carr}'  into 
practice  a  pet  theory  of  any  school  of  medicine. 

PHYSICIANS    OF    JASPER    COUNTY. 
(By  Dr.   Perry   E3ngle.) 

The  first  physician  in  this  count\'  to  estal>lish  a  medical  practice  was  Dr. 
Henry  Rodgers.  who  came  from  Pendleton,  Indiana,  and  settled  in  Newton 
in  1847.  He  was  the  father  of  John  F.  Rodgers.  of  Newton,  and  an  uncle 
of  T.  M.  Rodgers,  of  the  Neivton  Record.  Once  while  riding  through  the 
woods  he  was  chased  by  a  wild  cat  that  tried  to  jump  on  his  horse.  He  had 
a  verv  severe  spell  of  sickness  and  was  just  convalescent  when  some  of  his 
patients  near  Grinnell  came  after  him  to  see  someone  very  sick:  no  buggies 
were  in  the  countv  then  and  the  Doctor  was  unable  to  ride  a  horse,  so  a  bed 


250  JASPER    COUXTV,    IOWA. 

was  rigged  up  in  a  wagon  in  which  the  devoted  Doctor  made  his  trip.  He 
came  home,  took  a  relapse  and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven  years.  He  saved 
his  patient.  He  died  that  others  might  Hve.  When  the  anxious  John  in- 
quired from  the  seaside  prison,  "Art  thou  He  that  shall  come?"  Christ  sent 
replv:  "The  lame  walk,  the  blind  see."  Is  not  the  saving  of  the  lives  of  others 
divine?    Doctor  Rodgers  was  buried  in  the  Newton  cemetery  in  1855. 

William  Patton  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  in  1818;  graduated 
in  medicine  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  practiced  medicine  in  Rock  Creek  town- 
ship. Jasper  county,  from  1855  to  1862,  when  he  died  from  cerebro  spinal 
meningitis,  contracted  while  attending  patients  in  Grinnell  afflicted  with  that 
fatal  malady.  He  was  the  father  of  I.  L.  Patton,  ex-sheriff  of  Jasper  county. 
He  died  May  6,  1862,  in  Rock  Creek  township. 

Andrew  Patton  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  in  1808,  and  practiced 
in  Newton  three  years  before  enlisting  in  the  army;  he  was  a  surgeon  in  a 
colored  regiment.  His  residence  was  where  the  Methodist  parsonage  now 
stands;  he  left  Newton  in  1865  for  Nevada,  Iowa,  where  he  died  in  1888. 

M.  W.  Richey  practiced  at  Colfax,  but  for  many  years  has  been  located 
in  LeMars,  Plymouth  county,  Iowa,  where  he  has  built  up  a  large  practice. 

N.  W.  Gearhart,  another  Colfax  doctor,  is  now  in  Pierre,  South  Dakota. 

Lindley  S.  Blackledge,  who  was  in  Newton  in  1883,  is  now  in  Orosi, 
California. 

A.  T.  Ault  came  to  Newton  in  1855,  and  later  was  elected  county  treas- 
urer, served  in  the  Union  army  as  captain  in  Company  C,  of  an  Iowa  regi- 
ment.    After  the  war  he  moved  to  Missouri,  where  he  died. 

Drs.  Neeley  and  A.  L.  Gray  were  active  practitioners  in  Newton  in  1854. 

B.  M.  Failor  was  born  February  21,  1831,  in  Bucyrus,  Ohio.  In  1853  he 
married  Sarah  Picking.  To  them  one  child  was  born,  Anna,  now  Mrs. 
Grandstaff,  of  Burlington,  Iowa.  He  was  a  surgeon  of  the  Nineteenth  Regi- 
ment Ohio  Volunteers  and  had  a  horse  shot  from  under  him  at  the  battle  of 
Stone  River.  He  located  in  Newton  in  1865.  He  was  secretary  of  the  Jasper 
County  Medical  Society  for  twenty  years.  He  had  charge  of  a  field  coi*ps 
hospital  in  Mississippi.  Garrett  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  Woman's 
Relief  Corps  and  the  Jasper  Society  attended  his  funeral.  In  his  professional 
business  he  was  generous  to  a  fault,  never  refusing  a  call  on  the  score  of  pov- 
erty. He  was,  while  returning  from  a  sick  call,  waylaid  and  robbed.  He  died 
September  12,  1901. 

James  M.  Brown  was  born  in  Newton  and  was  a  son  of  Rev.  T.  F. 
Brown;  was  one  of  the  editors  of  the  lozva  National;  was  a  man  of  ability  and 
a  successful  practitioner.  He  is  now  practicing  in  western  Nebraska,  having 
left  Newton  in  1878. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  25  I 

A.  H.  Buchanan  died  in  Baxter,  Iowa,  April  3.  191 1.  He  was  horn  at 
sea  January  i.  1830.  For  three  years  he  Hved  at  Delma.  Alabama.  At  the 
age  of  three  years  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Richland  county,  Ohio,  and 
lived  on  a  farm  near  Hayesville.  After  preparatory  study  he  was  graduated 
from  Jefferson  Aledical  College,  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  He  practiced 
medicine  in  Bellville,  Ohio,  for  twenty-five  years.  In  1862  he  married  Irene 
Wade,  who  died  in  1876.  To  them  two  children  were  born,  one  of  whom  died 
in  infancy,  the  other  being  Astella  V.  Hunter.  In  1876  he  came  to  Xewton, 
Iowa,  where  he  lived  two  years,  then  moved  to  I)axter,  Iowa.  July  9th  he 
married  Isal^elle  Donaldson,  and  to  this  marriage  one  child  was  1x)rn.  His 
wife  and  two  daughters  survive  him.  His  life  was  a  success,  and  he  left  the 
world  the  better  for  his  having  lived  in  it. 

Eugene  Augustus  Goodwin  was  born  April  10,  1 831,  at  Hallowell,  Maine, 
He  spent  much  time  teaching.  He  graduated  from  the  U^iiversity  of  Michi- 
gan in  1871.  and  from  there  he  entered  the  Long  Island  Medical  College, 
from  which  he  also  graduated.  He  first  practiced  medicine  in  New  Jersey, 
from  where  he  moved  to  Newton,  Iowa,  in  1873.  He  practiced  two  years, 
then  located  in  Baxter,  this  county,  and  finally  engaged  in  farming.  June  14, 
1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Ninety-ninth  New  York  Volunteers;  he  was  a 
valiant  soldier  of  the  Potomac  and  witnessed  the  memorable  battle  between 
the  "Merrimac"  and  "Monitor."  He  was  discharged  July  2,  1864;  died 
October  18,  1910,  and  was  buried  at  Baxter. 

John  S.  Hunter  came  from  Carrollton,  Ohio,  to  Newton,  Iowa,  in  1857. 
at  which  time  his  competitors  were  Drs.  Ault,  Neeley,  Rodgers,  Hammer. 
Dinwiddle,  Gray  and  others.  The  Doctor  was  the  father  of  five  children. 
Dr.  Henry  E.  Hunter  being  one  of  them.  He  was  a  successful  practitioner 
for  years,  and  died  and  was  buried  in  Newton. 

Henry  E.  Hunter  was  born  in  Carrolltown,  Ohio,  September  18,  1830. 
He  came  to  Newton  in  1854.  He  returned  to  his  old  home  and  was  married 
to  Sarah  A.  Wilson  February  27,  1855.  To  this  union  two  children  were 
bom,  George  M.  Hunter,  and  Carrie  Hunter,  who  married  C.  E.  Stubbs:  she 
died  in  confinement  in  Chicago  in  1885.  Doctor  Hunter  first  kept  house  in  a 
frame  building  standing  where  the  "Churchill"  now  stands.  He  was  sent  by 
the  people  of  this  county  to  care  for  our  soldiers  at  \^icksburg.  Mississippi.  He 
came  in  a  stage  from  Davenport,  Iowa,  to  Newton  and  began  practice  with  Dr. 
A.  T.  Ault,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  the  oldest  practicing  physician 
in  the  county.  In  medical  ethics.  Doctor  Hunter  was  the  soul  of  honor,  brave, 
manly  and  just;  his  religious  environment  was  the  strictest  cut  of  Presbyter- 
ianism,  but  at  his  death  he  was  a  liberal,  a  seeker  of  truth,  and  an  example  of 


252  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

equity.  He  died  of  brain  trouble  June  20,  1902;  his  pall  bearers  were  Dr.  S. 
Druett.  of  Anamosa.  Perry  Engle,  L.  E.  S,  Turner,  C.  Boyd.  E.  F.  Besser, 
C.  C.  Smead  and  J.  T.  Hendershot. 

William  Bailey  was  born  in  Boston,  Lincolnshire,  England,  on  the  14th 
of  r^larch,  1819,  and  died  in  Newton,  Iowa,  on  the  25th  of  July,  1907,  aged 
eighty-eight  years.  He  was  a  son  of  Rev.  William  Bailey,  who  was  one  of 
John  Wesley's  preachers,  \\hen  a  lad  of  ten  years  of  age  he  came  with  his 
father  to  America  and  settled  in  New  York  state,  and  later  moved  to  Ohio, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood.  He  earned  his  money  for  an  education  and  grad- 
uated from  the  Lake  Erie  LTniversity  in  Columbus,  as  Doctor  of  Medicine 
at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years.  He  practiced  medicine  for  twenty-five  years 
in  Ohio  and  two  years  in  Newton,  Iowa.  When  he  left  his  parental  home  to 
fight  life's  battles,  he  had  but  two  dollars,  one  of  which  he  gave  to  his  loving 
mother,  the  other  dollar  was  his  only  cash  capital,  which,  with  his  honesty, 
energy  and  industry,  made  him  rich.  He  bought  a  horse  on  credit;  the  horse 
died  and  he  was  compelled  to  make  his  rounds  to  visit  his  patients  on  foot.  His 
patients  many  of  them  were  poor  and  his  practice  large.  His  big  generous 
heart  took  in  his  patients  as  well  as  his  mother.  He  gave  thousands  of  dollars 
in  services  and  medicines  gladly  to  the  poor  and  unfortunate.  In  giving  his 
life  for  others,  the  kind  hearted  Doctor  often  suffered  from  want  and  hunger. 
He  instructed  his  family  to  never  turn  a  tramp  away  hungry.  His  sympathies 
took  in  animals  and  birds  as  well  as  humanity.  He  was  engaged  in  general 
merchandise  in  Newton  for  two  years  and  then  owned  and  successfully  man- 
aged a  large  farm  near  Baxter.  He  was  twice  married  and  had  seven  children 
born.  In  1893  he  and  his  faithful  daughter.  Margaret,  made  their  home  in 
Newton.     He  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  of  Baxter. 

I.  A.  Hammer  was  born  in  Tennessee,  and  came  to  Newton  in  1864.  He 
was  a  man  of  marked  ability  and  seiwed  as  mayor  of  Newton  two  terms.  In 
1872  he  moved  to  Des  Moines  and  was  elected  city  clerk.  In  1892  he  moved 
to  Chicago,  where  he  practiced  medicine  until  his  death,  that  occurred  January 
I,  1900.  He  was  a  Methodist  preacher,  as  well  as  a  doctor,  and  he  could 
marry  a  couple,  officiate  at  the  birth,  and  preach  the  funeral  sermon,  and  do  all 
the  work  well.  He  was  an  uncle  of  Dr.  Marion  Hammer. 

James  Cooper  was  raised  in  Jasper  county,  read  medicine  with  Perry 
Engle,  and  is  now  a  prominent  practitioner  in  Rockwell  City,  Iowa. 

J.  Ridhout  located  in  Jasper  county  in  the  early  fifties,  practiced  a  few 
years  in  Newton  and  for  many  years  near  Baxter.  He  died  in  Newton  when 
nearly  ninety  years  of  age. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  253 

Max  Miller  read  medicine  with  J.  R.  Gorrell  and  is  now  in  Newton.  Kan- 
sas. 

George  Clark  was  J-  R-  Gorrell's  student,  also  Charles  Erichson,  who 
located  in  Des  Moines,  where  he  died. 

A.  B.  Thornell  was  located  in  Newton  in  the  sixties,  but  moved  to  Knox- 
ville,  where  he  died. 

Drs.  Wolf  and  Willey  practiced  in  Newton  about  fiftv  years  ago. 

J.  Lindley  read  medicine  with  J.  R.  Gorrell,  located  and  died  while  a 
young  man  at  Maringo,  Iowa. 

The  following  is  a  miscellaneous  list  of  doctors  who  have  practiced  in 
Jasper  county,  and  who  have  removed  to  other  lands  or  are  dead.  The  pres- 
ent whereabouts  are  given  when  known  to  the  writer : 

C.  C.  Graham,  of  Baxter,  now  located  at  Des  Moines,  traveling  salesman 
for  antitoxin. 

H.  C.  Potter,  formerly  of  Prairie  City,  is  now  located  in  Des  Moines. 

J.  W.  Beck,  of  Kellogg,  moved  to  Des  Moines,  where  he  served  several 
terms  as  coroner,  and  where  he  died. 

S.  F.  Miller,  once  located  at  Colfax,  Prairie  City  and  Baxter,  died  at 
Baxter. 

H.  C.  Eschbaugh  was  located  in  Monroe  and  moved  to  Albia,  where  he 
has  a  lucrative  practice. 

J.  L.  Pifer  left  Newton  for  Chicago. 

W.  R.  Trotter,  once  of  Newton,  is  now  in  Des  Moines. 

J.  T.  Robbins  left  Newton  in  1897  for  Des  Moines,  where  he  is  still 
located. 

A.  C.  Simonton  was  in  partnership  with  Henry  E.  Hunter,  but  is  now 
located  in  the  far  West. 

C.  J.  Lukins  read  medicine  w'ith  Perry  Engle.  moved  to  Oskaloosa,  and 
from  there  to  Oklahoma. 

J.  T.  Hendershot  practiced  in  Monroe,  where  he  died  of  phthisis. 
H.  C.  Finch  left  Lynnville  and  is  now  in  Oklahoma. 
E.  H.  Robb,  of  Newton,  is  now  in  Meenah,  Wisconsin. 

D.  W.  Smouse  left  ^Monroe  for  Des  ]Moines. 

Theodore  Engle  left  Newton  for  State  Center,  where  he  is  running  a 
large  sanitarium. 

J.  C.  McNutt  left  Reasoner  and  his  residence  is  unknown. 

W.  W.  Goodrich,  once  in  Ira.  this  county,  is  now  on  the  Pacific  coast, 
engaged  in  other  business. 


254  JASPKR    COL'XTV,    IOWA. 

A.  Moxley.  of  Kellogg,  removed  to  parts  unknown. 

W.  H.  E.  Booth,  of  Newton,  is  now  practicing  in  Lebanon,  Oregon. 

E.  M.  French  died  in  Newton. 

A.  W.  Adair,  who  practiced  in  Kellogg  for  more  than  forty  years,  moved 
to  Des  Moines,  where  he  died. 

E.  H.  Mershon  practiced  in  Newton  and  vicinity  for  forty  years  and 
died  in  Newton. 

J.  R.  Smith  was  a  successful  practitioner  of  Kellogg,  where  he  died. 

J.  B.  Coor,  of  Monroe,  removed  and  residence  is  not  known. 

E.  M.  Holland,  of  Colfax,  died  in  that  city. 

E.  D.  Allen,  of  JNIonroe.  died  there. 

J.  R.  Ryan,  of  Colfax,  served  humanity  there  more  than  forty  years  and 
moved  to  Des  Moines,  where  he  followed  his  profession  ten  years  and  died  of 
cancer  of  the  stomach. 

George  Franzee.  of  Greencastle,  this  county,  moved  to  Shelby  county, 
where  he  died. 

J.  G.  Bidwell  and  \\'.  T.  Geary,  of  Prairie  City,  removed  to  parts  un- 
known to  the  writer. 

Joseph  Cowgill  read  medicine  with  Perry  Engle  and  practiced  medicine 
in  Newton  and  is  now  located  in  Colorado  Springs,  Colorado. 

Bailev  Thomas  was  a  son  of  Prof.  Thomas,  founder  of  Hazel  Dell 
Academy.  Newton,  and  read  medicine  with  Perry  Engle,  and  is  now  a  leading 
physician  at  Carthage,  Missouri. 

Frank  Hunter  also  read  with  Perry  Engle.  located  and  died  at  Newton. 

Howard  Gray  left  Newton,  and  is  now  located  in  Des  IMoines. 

E.  E.  Lusk  left  Newton,  but  his  residence  is  unknown. 

O.  N.  Jones  left  Colfax  and.  we  believe,  is  decea.sed. 

J.  W.  Martain.  of  Colfax,  left,  but  we  know  not  of  his  residence. 

Harlan  Wells  was  as.sociated  with  ].  R.  Gorrell  for  a  year  and  then  moved 
to  Wisconsin. 

John  Thomas  Hendershot  was  Iwrn  in  Greene  county,  Pennsylvania, 
December  2,  1842;  he  died  in  Monroe.  April  5,  1903.  of  consumption.  He 
came  to  Monroe  from  Otley  in  1883;  in  1877  he  married  Lucy  A.  Dunn, 
who.  with  one  son.  survives  him. 

W.  F.  Stouder  was  born  in  Ohio  July  12,  1850;  came  to  Newton  from 
Des  jNToines  and  died  November  9,  1908.  He  was  the  Socialist  candidate  for 
Congress  from  Des  Moines,  and  polled  a  large  vote. 

T'Vank  Carpenter  has  moved  from  Sully  to  Pella.  Towa,  recently. 


JASPER    COUXTV.    IOWA.  25  ^ 


PRESENT   PRACTICIXG   PHYSICIANS. 

At  Newton— J.  R.  Gorrell,  Perry  Engle.  Harry  P.  Engle.  E.  F.  Besser, 
Charles  E.  Boyd.  M.  R.  Hammer.  C.  C.  Smead.  H.  Y.  Bvers.  T.  C.  Hill,  L.  O. 
Rodgers.  \L  R.  Harding.  H.  F.  Landis. 

At  Colfax — A.  B.  S.  Turner,  L.  E.  C.  Turner,  Florence  lirown  Sherbon. 
John  Bayard  Sherl)on.  F.  E.  Boyd.  J.  C.  Corselius,  William  W.  Hawk.  Nunia 
T.  ^^'eston.  Royal  Anspach.  Frank  AW  Stewart. 

At  Lynnville — C.  E.  Quire.  Austin  R.  Quire. 

At  Baxter— Paul  Keoper,  C.  C.  Graham.  Herl)ert  W.  Canfield. 

At  Prairie  City — J.  F.  Harp.  AW  D.  McCannaughey,  J.  X.  Porter.  W. 
B.  Chase. 

At  Monroe — W.  H.  Shaw.  J.  L.  Taylor.  G.  W.  Loar.  C.  J.  Aplin.  James 
A.  Shrader.  G.  L.  Smith.  J.  L.  Taylor.  Daniel  W.  Wheelwright. 

At  Sully— O.  O.  Carpenter,  j.  C.  Smith. 

At    Mingo — DL  C.  Gamer. 

At  Kellogg— B.  Eiesman.  J.  F.  Hackett.  Dr.  Woods. 

At  Vandalia — A.  M.  Xorris. 

At  Reasoner — Frank  Carpenter 

COUNTY    MEDICAL   SOCIETIES. 

Jasper  covmty's  first  medical  society  was  organized  in  May.  1858. 
Doctor  Hunter  was  elected  chairman  and  Doctor  Hunter.  Jr..  secretary. 
Drs.  Harris  and  Gray  were  selected  to  frame  a  constitution  and  by-laws.  Drs. 
Dinwiddie  and  Hunter.  Jr..  were  to  draw  up  a  fee  bill.  The  society  com- 
pleted its  organization  May  24.  1858,  and  it  had  five  members.  Dr.  E.  H. 
Mershon  was  called  the  ''odd  man."  This  society  was  short-lived,  and  Jasper 
county  had  no  medical  society  until  June.  1874.  when  another  was  organized 
with  the  following  officers:  J.  W.  Shooley.  of  Monroe,  president:  J.  W. 
Adams,  of  Prairie  City,  vice-president:  B.  M.  Failor.  of  Xewton,  secretary; 
J.  R.  Gorrell.  of  X'^ewton.  as  treasurer:  H.  E.  Hunter,  of  X>wton.  I.  A. 
Hammer,  of    Colfax.  W.  H.  Shaw,  of  Monroe,  censors. 

The  present  society  is  composed  of  twenty-five  members  and  the  follow- 
ing are  its  officers:  Harry  Perry  Engle.  president;  L.  E.  C.  Turner,  vice- 
president:  Frank  E.  Boyd,  secretary:  Perr>'  Engle.  C.  C.  Boyd  and  John 
Sherbon.  censors. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 


BANKS  AND  BANKING  OF  THE  COUNTY. 


Banking,  while  not  the  first  business  demanded  in  any  given  community, 
is,  after  the  settlement  has  advanced  a  few  years,  a  very  important  adjunct 
to  civilization  and  commerce.  The  pioneer  had  but  little  if  indeed  any  money 
to  deposit,  and  he  had.  as  a  general  rule,  but  little  property  to  put  up  as  se- 
curity for  money  should  he  want  to  borrow,  hence  the  bankers  did  not  appear 
on  the  scenes  of  pioneer  life  very  early,  and  then  only  in  a  very  small  way 
did  they  profess  to  carry  on  banking  business,  as  it  is  now  understood. 
Today,  the  farmer  is  as  much  of  a  bank  depositor  and  is  engaged  in  large  trans- 
actions in  stock  and  realty,  by  which  he  needs  the  assistance  of  a  bank, 
fully  as  much  as  the  business  men  of  city  and  town.  The  citizens  of 
Jasper  county,  who  came  in  early  and  remained  here,  or  their  children  and 
grandchildren  who  came  after  them,  have,  by  reason  of  decades  of  hard 
work  in  tilling  the  fertile  soil,  and  by  the  advance  in  land  values,  become 
wealthy  and  prosperous.  They  ride  in  carriages  and  automobiles ;  they 
use  the  modern  phone  and  rural  mail  service  and  have  to  do  with  the  great 
busy  world  about  them  to  a  large  degree,  hence  they  have  come  to  need  the 
banker.  Once  the  bank  only  loaned  short  time  loans  to  the  farmer,  to 
tide  him  over  a  pinched  period,  till  he  could  thresh  or  sell  his  stock,  but 
now  the  farmer  has  a  plenty  and  to  spare,  hence  deposits,  loans  to  others 
and  takes  certificates  of  deix)sits,  running  six  and  twelve  months  in  many 
cases. 

PROSPEROUS     TIMES     OF     THE     FIFTIES. 

From  1852  on  for  a  number  of  years— until  the  crash  of  1857 — the 
West  was  in  a  prosperous  condition,  financially,  at  least  for  those  days  in 
the  history  of  our  country.  Immigrants  by  the  tens  of  thousands  had 
found  their  way  across  the  ^Mississippi  river,  in  quest  of  new  homes  on 
the  rich  prairies  of  Iowa.  Times  were  flourishing  in  the  Eastern  states, 
and  many  well-to-do  farmers  there,  having  tired  of  stony,  stumpy  fields, 
sold,  and  with  the  cash  received,  ventured  out  into  this  section  of  the 
West.  Usually  they  had  sold  their  farms  in  the  East  for  one-third  down, 
and  agreed  to  wait  for  the  other  two-thirds  a  term  of  years.  Country  towns 
Indian  agent  Reach  of  Fort  Des  Moines,  who  notified  the  Indians  that  un- 
in   Indiana  and    Illinois  reaped  a  liar\est   from  the  lengthy  trains  of   teams 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  257 

Avith  covered  wagons,  known  as  "prairie  schooners."  which  crossed  the  great 
river  over  into  the  land  "beautiful."  of  which  they  had  heard  so  much. 

No  sooner  had  these  pioneers  made  a  selection  of  land  and  erected 
a  claim  cabin  on  the  same,  than  it  was  up  to  them  to  purchase  machinery, 
cattle,  swine  and  horses  with  which  to  stock  and  improve  their  newly  bought 
places.  This  took  much  mone>-.  Grain  had  to  come  from  the  farmer  al- 
ready in  advance  of  him;  plows  with  which  to  turn  over  the  virgin  soil 
had  to  come  from  the  maker  and  dealer  in  such  implements;  lumber  had 
to  be  sawed  from  native  forests,  and  this  cost  money.  But  fortunately, 
many  received  money  on  deferred  payments  on  farms  once  owned  in  some 
one  of  older  Eastern  states,  v^^hich  came  due  and  followed  on  here  to  Jasper 
county  in  1855  and  1856,  hence  everybody  seemed  for  the  time  to  be  "well 
off."  As  is  ever  the  case  when  money  is  plenty,  speculation  goes  ranijjant 
and  men  get  in  the  habit  of  indulging  in  luxuries  not  thought  of  in  more 
stringent  times.  It  was  then  towns  were  laid  out  and  schools  and  colleges 
founded.  But  with  these  times  came  the  higher  rate  of  interest,  and  finally 
it  was  no  uncommon  thing  to  ask  and  receive  twenty-five  per  cent,  per  an- 
num for  the  use  of  cash  with  which  to  go  into  some  wild-cat  scheme — a 
paper  townsite,  a  milling  project  or  a  college.  But  really,  the  more  fortu- 
nate of  all  was  the  stout  man  whose  good,  paid-for  team  would  bring  hmi 
in  three  dollars  a  day  at  breaking  prairie,  or  hauling  freight  from  the  market 
places.  Again,  another  would  pay  for  a  threshing  machine  in  one  year's 
threshing  season  and  be  ready  for  the  next  year  all  out  of  debt.  But  ten 
years  later,  the  man  who  owned  a  machine  was  the  most  unfortunate  man 
man  in  the  county,  for  sometimes  they  lost  their  all  l)y  purchasing  a  high- 
priced  machine  and  then  trying  to  thresh  in  a  season  when  grain  did  not 
yield. 

So  gav  and  glorious  did  things  look  to  the  newcomer  that  he  went 
wild  over  speculation.  Frequently,  he  could  make  a  hundred  per  cent,  in 
one  week  on  a  single  transaction,  such  as  buying  a  corner  town  lot  and 
selling  it  before  Saturday  night  came  around  at  twice  what  he  had  given. 
Labor  did  not  make  the  first  fortunes  in  Iowa  and  Jasper  county,  but  specu- 
lation was  at  the  back  of  those  early-day  fortunes. 

SPECIE   PAYMENT   IN    THE   COUNTY. 

The  first  specie  payment  in  Jasper  county  was  unquestionably  in  the 
autumn  of  1844.  when  forty  thousand  dollars  was  sent  in  silver  coin  to 
less  thev  called  for  it  immediately  he  would  ha\e  to  send  it  back,  as  he 
feared  robberv.     He  meant  to  send  this  money  due  the  tribe  back  to  Agency 

(17) 


258  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

City.  The  untutored  savages  looked  as  earnestly  for  pay  day  as  does  the 
workman  of  today  for  his  pay  day  to  come.  They  frequently  held  a  council 
for  a  month  before  time  to  be  able  to  not  make  any  errors  or  to  give  any 
chance  for  the  money  to  be  sent  back  to  Washington.  In  one  instance  a 
forty-thousand-dollar  lot  of  money  was  guarded  day  and  night  at  the  cabin 
home  of  the  first  settler,  Adam  Tool,  who,  it  will  be  remembered,  kept  a 
sort  of  an  inn  at  Tool's  Point,  near  ]\Ionroe  of  today.  The  si)ecie  arrived 
at  the  forks  of  the  river,  but  the  Indians,  as  usual,  were  not  yet  ready  to 
receive  it.  as  they  had  gotten  into  a  dispute  over  whether  it  should  be  paid 
to  the  heads  of  the  families,  to  the  chiefs  or  to  the  traders  from  whom 
goods  had  l>een  purchased.  After  a  da}-  or  two  parleying  about  the  mat- 
ter, Beach  was  as  good  as  his  word  and  started  the  silver  back  to  Agency 
City,  and  again  stopped  over  night  at  Tool's  tavern.  The  Indians  feared 
they  might  miss  the  cash  entirely  if  they  did  not  quickly  decide,  so  they 
notified  Beach  to  have  the  money  turned  over  to  the  trader  at  once,  who 
took  out  what  was  coming  to  him  and  allowed  the  balance  to  be  retained 
by  the  Indians,  so  that  in  all  this  mix  up.  the  forty  thousand  dollars  laid 
several  nights  at  Tool's  place. 

This  was  probably  the  first  large  amount  of  money  kept  at  any  one 
place  within  Jasper  county,  either  for  public  or  pri^•ate  use. 

THE   PANIC   OF    1 857. 

Nearly  every  one  is  familiar  with  the  facts,  in  general,  about  the  great 
crash  of  1857,  which  almost  wrecked  the  entire  country  financially.  But 
perhaps  not  all  know  of  some  of  the  local  happenings  in  this  county,  in 
common  with  other  points  in  Iowa. 

It  was  in  the  month  of  August,  1857.  when  the  Ohio  Life  and  Trust 
Company,  a  corporation  doing  business  as  bankers  and  life  insurance  ac- 
tivities, produced  a  panic  on  Wall  street.  New  York  City.  A  score  of  banks 
suspended  payment,  and  a  couple  of  weeks  later  bank  failures  became  com- 
mon from  Maine  to  the  South  and  West.  So  inflated  had  been  the  financial 
condition  of  the  countiy  that  speculators  had  been  allowed  to  check  on  banks 
and  give  security  only  on  lands  yet  undiscovered  beyond  the  waters  of  the 
Missouri  river,  in  what  is  now  Nebraska  and  Kansas.  When  this  crash 
came,  gold  and  silver  (as  is  ever  the  case)  hid  itself  away,  and  soon 
followed  the  choicest  of  bank  bills  of  Massachusetts,  New  York  and  Ohio, 
leaving  nothing  but  the  "wild-cat"  bills,  "red  dog"  money,  etc..  of  the  West- 
ern    states  whose  banking  systems  had  not  l>een  noted  for  their  regularity 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  259 

la  payment  at  par.  Then  came  the  tumble  of  prices  in  land,  town  property. 
Jive  stock  and  general  merchandise.  It  is  said  that  upon  an  average  these 
commodities  fell  fully  fifty  per  cent. 

The  farmer  could  not,  and  did  not,  pay  his  taxes  and  in  many  cases 
lost  his  land,  the  same  having  been  sold  for  taxes.  The  sheriff  of  Jasijer 
county  was  the  biggest  real  estate  dealer  here.  He  had  good,  but  unpleas- 
ant, deals  on  hand  every  day  in  the  week  and  every  month  in  those  never- 
to-be-forgotten  years,  remembered  best  by  the  fathers  and  grandfathers 
of  those  now  owning  and  occupying  the  lands  of  Jasper  countv.  Those 
were  the  harvest  days  for  those  who  had  kept  their  cash  well  in  hand  and 
had  the  money  at  the  right  time,  to  bid  on  tax  titles. 

The  limit  of  time  for  redemption  was  short  then  as  compared  with  the 
three  year  limit  of  today.  So  bad  was  the  case  in  Iowa,  that  the  Legisla- 
ture had  to  step  in  and  relieve  actual  settlers  from  execution,  by  extending 
the  day  of  redemption  on  taxes  unpaid  by  land  owners. 

The  granaries  of  Jasper  county  were  indeed  full  to  the  overflowing. 
The  fertile  soil  had  kept  on  producing  well  and  the  amount  of  wheat,  oats 
and  corn  in  crib  and  granary  was  something  wonderful  to  behold.  Good 
horses  stood  in  the  stables  and  sheds,  fat  steers  and  hogs  in  their  wonted 
places,  but  there  was  no  cash  to  be  seen  or  had  "for  love  or  high  interest.'' 
as  one  pioneer  put  it.  The  storekeeper  would  take  such  commodities  in 
exchange  for  his  wares — at  his  own  price,  howe\er.  For  many  weary, 
anxious  months  the  transactions  were  all  accomplished  on  this  barter  plan. 
Xotes  were  given  for  so  many  bushels  of  wheat  or  corn,  or  again  for  so 
many  pounds  of  pork.  When  a  farmer  wanted  a  sled  or  wagon,  new  or 
repaired,  he  first  had  to  consult  the  mechanic  or  dealer  as  to  what  sort  of 
"truck"  he  ^\■ould  take  and  how  much  he  would  allow  for  the  same,  for  such 
and  such  articles,  or  work  to  l>e  performed. 

Yes.  indeed,  Jasper  county  suffered  immensely  rluring  the  [)anic — more 
so  than  at  any  other  time  during  its  entire  history.  But  little  land  in  this 
county  escaped  the  sale  for  taxation.  During  the  ill-fated  winter  of  1837-8. 
it  is  related  for  a  fact,  that  a  load  of  wheat  on  the  street  in  Xewton  could 
not  be  exchanged  for  a  pound  of  coffee.  Muscatine  and  Keokuk  (too  far 
to  be  reached  by  many)  were  the  only  market  points  where  this  article 
could  be  exchanged  for  anything  of  much  real  value  to  the  producer.  This 
state  of  affairs  kept  on  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  great  civil  conflict.  1861. 
It  is  true  that  during  1858-9 — the  rush  days  to  Pike's  Peak — the  farmers 
had  a  breathing  spell  while  the  long  caravans  of  gold  seekers  were  passing 
through  this  county  en  route  to  the  far  off  west.     They  left  some  good  money 


26o  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

with  tlie  farmers  for  the  proxisions  they  needed.  Then  came  the  Mormon 
exodus,  which  left  a  Httle  more  ready  cash  on  which  to  tide  this  county 
over. 

As  late  as  1861  exchange  on  X^ew  York  in  Xewton  ruled  at  thirty  per 

XKW ton's  banks. 

The  L.  1).  Clark  Banking  House,  of  Xewton.  was  estal>lished  in  1866, 
by  L.  D.  Clark.  It  is  a  private  banking  concern  with  no  specified  capital. 
The  owner  is  L.  D.  Clark  and  the  officers  are  Jay  Clark,  manager,  and 
D.  L.  Clark,  cashier.  Its  building  was  erected  in  1867.  It  stands  well 
among  the  reliable  banks  of  Jasper  county. 

The  Jasper  County  Savings  Bank  was  organized  in  1869,  by  Gen, 
James  Wilson  and  Albert  Lufkin  with  a  capital  of  $20,000.  It  now  has 
a  paid  up  capital  of  $100,000,  with  officers  as  follows:  J.  JM.  Woodrow, 
president;  F.  M.  Woodrow,  vice-president;  A.  E.  Hindorff.  cashier.  The 
bank  building  was  erected  in  1892,  in  which  the  extensive  business  is  carried 
on  at  this  date. 

When  first  established  this  banking  concern  was  known  as  the  Jasper 
County  Bank,  but  since  Februar}-  i,  1908,  it  has  operated  under  a  charter 
as  a  savings  institution,  under  the  same  officers  and  management.  This 
bank  does  a  large  business  and  has  the  full  confidence  of  all  within  this 
section  of  the  state.  The  management  has  always  been  conservative  and 
at  all  times  honorable  in  its  transactions. 

The  Citizens  State  Bank  was  organized  in  1896,  with  a  capital  of 
$60,000,  which  is  also  its  present  capital.  Jt  was  at  first  formed  and  known 
as  the  Farmers  and  Alerchants  State  Bank,  but  its  name  was  changed  to 
the  Citizens  State  Bank  in  1905. 

The  first  set  of  officers  were  as  follows :  F.  R.  \\'itnier.  president ; 
O.  H.  \\'itmer,  cashier.  At  this  date  its  officers  are:  Joe  Horn,  president; 
Charles  Seeberger,  vice-president :  Lee  E.  Brown,  cashier.  The  February, 
191 1,  statement  published  for  this  banking  house,  shows  the  deposits  to 
have  been  at  that  date,  $305,334.38 :  total  liabilities,  $377,543.46 ;  undivided 
profits,  $9,000.  In  the  list  of  directors  a])pear  the  names  of  Joe  Horn, 
C.  F.  Morgan  and  F.  A.  ]\IcMurray.  The  Citizens  Bank  of  X^ewton  has 
for  the  last  six  or  seven  years  publislied  and  distrilmted  free  to  its  i:)atrons 
or  others  desiring  it  a  small  eight-page,  dduble-cohinm  ])a])er  containing  nianv 
valuable  and  higlily  interesting  items  concerning  banking,  as  well  as  general 
literary  items.      It   is  a  neat    folder,   printed   in   modern   st}le   and   is   looked 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  261 

for  with  the  return  of  each  month  1)\-  hnndreds  of  ])ersons  who  ha\e  read 
it  a  number  of  \ears. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Xewton  was  organized  in  1882  and  was 
the  first  national  hank  chartered  in  jasper  county.  It  first  officers  were  V. 
T.  Campbell,  president ;  C.  Griebling.  vice-president :  C.  Glenaker,  cashier. 
The  present  officers  are:  W.  C.  Bergman,  president:  l\.  B.  Alfree  and  C. 
Slonaker,  vice-presidents:  R.  L.  Arn<jld.  cashier. 

The  present  surplus  and  profits  are  $105,000.  The  bank  was  erected 
in  1886  and  is  «mi  the  northwest  corner  of  the  courthouse  square.  This 
banking  house  is  the  only  government  depository  in  Jasi)er  county. 

The  Xewton  Savings  Bank  was  organized  in  1890,  with  J.  H.  Lyday, 
president:  Charles  Jasper,  vice-president:  C.  Slonaker.  cashier.  This  is 
run  in  connection  with  tlie  hirst  X^ational.  a1)o\e  mentioned,  and  its  i)resent 
officers  are  one  and  the  same.  The  combined  resources  of  the  two  banks 
were,  in  May,  191 1.  $700,000.  The  combined  deposits  of  both  banks  was 
at  the  date  last  named  $500,000.  The  surplus  and  undivided  profits  are.  w  hen 
combined.  $122,000.  The  X'ewton  Sa\ings  Bank  was  also  the  first  to  be 
incorporated  in  Jasper  county. 

These  two  banks  have  the  share  of  business  they  justly  merit  in  Jasper 
countv  and  surrounding  vicinity.  They  have  the  confidence  of  the  entire 
communitv.  as  safe,  conservati\e  bankers  and  business  men. 

BAN  KING   AT    MONROE. 

The  Monroe  Savings  Bank,  of  this  county,  which  was  organized  after 
the  Civil  war,  finally  became  known  as  the  Bank  of  Monroe.  In  1875  this  bank 
was  converted  into  the  First  X^ational  Bank  of  Monroe,  with  Tunis  Schenck, 
president:  W.  H.  Chipps.  vice-president:  R.  C.  Anderson,  cashier;  T.  Chad- 
wick,  assistant  cashier:  William  White.  James  H.  Loundsbury,  Manly 
Giflford,  George  J.  Dix.  directors.  Finding  the  business  not  remunerative, 
it  surrendered  its  charter  January  i.  1878,  and  at  once  re-organized  its 
capital  into  the  State  Bank,  with  a  paid  up  capital  of  $55,000  and  it  had  the 
same  set  of  officers. 

It  was  conducted  in  the  last  named  manner  until  August  10.  1904. 
when  it  was  organized  into  the  First  National  Bank,  with  a  capital  of 
$25,000.  the  same  which  it  still  operates  with.  Its  first  officers  were:  A.  J. 
Porter,  president:  J.  P.  Johnson,  vice-president:  C.  T.  Schenck.  cashier. 
A  bank  building  was  erected  on  the  west  side  of  the  square  in  1906.  The 
present  officers  are:  .\.  J.  Porter,  president:  Fred  \\'hitehead.  vice-president: 


262  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

F.  B.  Kingdon,  cashier;  F.  D.  Chipps,  assistant  cashier.  The  last  state- 
ment shows  this  bank  had  deposits  amounting  to  $157,000  and  loans  out 
amounting  to  $126,000. 

In  connection  with  this  national  bank  is  the  Monroe  Savings  Bank, 
organized  at  the  same  date  as  the  national.  Its  capital  was,  and  is  still. 
$10,000.  The  present  officers  are:  J.  W.  LeGrand,  president:  George 
Lackey,  vice-president;  F.  B.  Kingdon.  cashier.  Deposits,  $120,000;  loans, 
Si  12.000. 

The  State  Savings  Bank  of  Monroe  was  organized  January  30,  1893, 
with  a  capital  of  $17,000.  which  has  been  increased  to  $25,000  since  1908. 
The  first  officers  of  this  banking  house  were:  W.  H.  Shaw,  president;  T.  P. 
Burchinal,  vice-president;  Josiah  Fisher,  cashier;  T.  P.  Burchinal.  assistant 
cashier.  The  officers  in  the  spring  of  191 1  are:  W.  H.  Shaw,  president; 
T.  P.  Burchinal.  vice-president:  W.  M.  Livingston,  cashier:  O.  W.  Burchinal, 
assistant  cashier;  the  last  named,  with  W.  O.  Tice,  G.  W.  Loar  and  E.  W. 
Henry  are  the  directors.  The  present  capital  stock  and  surplus  amounts  to 
$33,000.  The  l)ank  building  now  used  was  built  in  1898.  at  a  cost  of  about 
$8,000. 

BANKING    AT    REASONER. 

The  Reasoner  Savings  Bank  was  organized  June  2.  1900,  as  a  private 
banking  house,  with  a  capital  of  $10,000.  Its  president  and  proprietor 
was  Josiah  Fisher.  In  1905  the  bank  was  incorporated  as  a  State  Savings 
Bank,  carrying  the  same  cash  capital  as  when  it  was  established  as  a  private 
concern.  The  first  officers  of  the  incorporated  banking  house  were :  H.  B. 
Allfree.  president:  B.  B.  Trout.  \ice-presi(lent :  W.  A.  ^\'illianlson.  cashier; 
C.  C.  Warring,  assistant  cashier.  The  a1)ove.  with  Riley  Lust,  are  the  Ijank's 
directors. 

This  town  being  within  one  of  the  best  stock  shipping  sections  in  Jasper 
county,  the  banking  business  is  good  and  has  been  considered  one  of  the 
safest  of  financial  institutions,  having  the  confidence  of  the  entire  community. 

In  the  start  the  bank  was  kept  in  the  Edwards  store  building,  but 
in  1907  a  substantial  brick  structure  was  built  for  banking  purposes  exclu- 
sively. 

BANKS  OF   PRAIRIE   CITY. 

As  might  be  expected  in  such  an  enterprising  place  as  Prairie  Citv. 
situated  as  it  is  in  the  heart  of  one  of  the  finest  farming  sections  in  all 
Iowa,  banking  flourishes  there.     The  historv  of  the  banks   is  as   follows : 


JASI'ER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  263 

In  1876  a  private  banking  house  was  established  by  L.  E.  Zachary, 
who  had  a  capital  of  $25,000.  He  erected  a  handsome  brick  banking  house, 
and  continued  as  a  private  bank  until  May.  J 893.  when  it  l)ecame  the 
First  National  Bank,  with  the  same  capital  stock.  Under  the  new  l>ank, 
the  first  president  was  J.  D.  Whisenand,  who  is  still  at  the  head  of  the  bank; 
the  vice-presidents  are  B.  F.  Moore  and  J.  G.  Olmsted;  cashier.  Hugh  (j. 
Little;  the  additional  directors  are  J-  H.  Little,  A.  A.  Arnold  and  E.  A. 
Nye.  ^Ir.  Little  has  served  as  cashier  since  1909.  when  he  succeeded  W.  D. 
Scott,  who  had  succeeded  Fred  L.  Risser. 

The  March.  191 1,  statement  makes  a  good  showing  for  the  bank,  as 
is  to  be  seen  by  the  following  items:  Loans,  $264,543;  United  States  bonds 
(five  per  cent),  $13,125;  cash  and  due  from  banks,  $49,532,  as  resources. 
The  liabilities  include:  $25,000  capital  stock;  surplus  and  profits,  $10,276; 
circulation,  $12,500;  deposits,  $281,924.  This  gives  a  total  of  $329,701, 
liabilities  and  resources,  including  the  real  estate  holdings. 

The  Prairie  City  State  Bank  was  organized  December  2,  1889,  with  the 
same  capital  it  now  runs  under,  $25,000.  The  officers  were:  Dr.  S.  V. 
Duncan,  president;  John  Ryan,  vice-president;  B.  W.  Brown,  cashier.  This 
banking  house  has  always  been  conducted  in  a  safe,  conservative  manner, 
hence  has  always  had  the  good  will  and  confidence  of  the  community.  Its 
officers  in  the  spring  of  191 1  are:  T.  E.  Johns,  president;  A.  G.  Warner, 
vice-president;  John  Ryan,  vice-president;  John  R.  Buckley,  cashier,  and 
Estell  Porter,  assistant  cashier.  Its  late  statements  show  that  the  amount 
of  deposits  was  $250,056,  and  its  total  liabilities  were,  on  March  7,  191  i. 
$282,237. 

BANKING    AT    NEWBURG. 

Being  within  one  of  the  richest  portions  of  Jasper  county,  it  is  not  to 
be  wondered  at  that  pioneer  John  Borroughs  saw  fit  to  organize  the  present 
Savings  Bank  of  Newburg.  in  the  month  of  October.  1908.  Its  first  and 
present  capital  is  Sio.ooo.  Its  first  officers  were  John  Borroughs  (now 
deceased)  ;  P.  Y.  Fuller,  vice-president,  and  A.  K.  Murphy,  cashier.  The 
brick  bank  building  was  erected  as  the  home  of  the  institution  in  October 
of  the  year  in  which  the  bank  was  organized. 

The  present  officers  are :  John  Newcomer,  president ;  P.  Y.  Fuller, 
vice-president:  A.  K.  Murphy,  cashier.  The  stockholders  were  originally 
about  fortv-two,  manv  of  whom  were  fanners  in  the  northeast  part  of 
this  countv.  The  last  statement  shows  deposits  amounting  to  about  $50,000. 
The  bank  has  among  items  in  its  last  statement,  loans  to  the  amount  of 


264  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

$45,000.  The  itistitution  is  in  the  hands  of  safe,  conservative  men,  inckid- 
mg  that  excellent  business  man  of  many  years"  commercial  training.  A.  K. 
Murphy,  the  efficient  cashier. 

MIXGO    BANKING   INTERESTS. 

The  Ming;!)  Trust  and  Savings  Bank  was  established  in  1894  and  incor- 
porated in  1904.  Its  founder  and  president  was  F.  R.  Witmer.  who  started 
with  a  capital  of  S3.000.  The  present  officers  are:  F.  R.  Witmer,  president: 
W.  J-  Gannon,  vice-president :  A.  W.  Frey.  cashier.  The  ])resent  capital 
is  Si 5.000:  deposits  about  $70,000:  loans  about  $70,000.  Ilie  neat  brick- 
bank  building  was  constructed  in  1905. 

BANKING    AT    LYNNVILLE. 

Macy  Brothers  Exchange  Bank  of  Lynnville  was  established  in  1891, 
by  Macy  Brothers  (E.  B.  and  C.  O.  Alacy),  who  started  on  a  capital  of 
$5,000.  The  present  officers  are :  C.  O.  Macy.  president :  E.  B.  Macy. 
cashier:  E.  M.  Carey,  assistant  cashier.  The  present  capital  is  $10,000. 
with  a  surplus  of  $2,000.  The  bank  building  was  erected  in  1900.  Prior 
to  this  banking  house.  Johnson  Brothers  operated  a  private  bank  at  Lynn- 
ville a  number  of  years. 

BANKING    AT    B.VXTER. 

What  is  now  known  as  the  State  Savings  Bank  of  Baxter  was  originally 
established  and  known  as  the  City  Bank  of  Baxter,  the  date  of  its  establish- 
ment being  1894.  George  D.  and  Alexander  Wood  established  the  City 
Bank,  were  the  president  and  vice-president  respectively,  and  the  cashier 
was  R.  L.  Arnold. 

The  State  Savings  Bank  was  formed  and  incorporated  in  1902  and  it 
then  took  over  the  business  of  the  old  City  Bank  and  in  1906  it  also  took  over 
the  banking  interests  of  the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Baxter. 

The  present  officers  are:  Fred  Hager.  president:  11.  .\.  Geise.  vice- 
president  :  Charles  Burdick,  cashier. 

The  capital  is  now  $30,000.  with  a  surplus  and  undi\ide(l  profits  of 
$12,000.     The  building  was  erected  in  1895. 

At  this  date  the  directors  are :  Fred  Hager,  H.  S.  Downs,  Charles 
Sanderman,  A.  C.  Meyer.  George    T.  Hager.  TI.   A.  Geise.  Henry  Krampe. 


JASPER    COrXTV.    IOWA.  265 

The  showini^-  made  in  the  fall  of  k^io  was.  loans.  $288,000.  and  (le])<)sit.s 
amounting  to  $3i7/)79. 

There  were  at  that  date  about  fifty  stockholders. 

The  People's  State  Bank  was  organized  in  1906,  by  L.  1*:.  l-'owk-r.  with 
a  capital  of  $15,000.  A  handsome  bank  building  was  erected  the  same  year 
of  the  bank's  organi/:ation.  The  present  officers  re:  A.  D.  Berry,  presi- 
dent: L.  R.  Fowler,  cashier.  The  present  capital  is  $15,000:  surplus  and 
profits.  $2,400.  This  banking  house,  although  new,  is  gaining  a  good  repu- 
tation and  a  good  grade  of  business. 

BANKING   AT    IRA. 

At  the  village  of  Tra.  this  county,  the  Farmers'  Savings  Bank  was  estab- 
lished in  1904  by  the  citizens  of  Tra  and  vicinity,  with  a  capital  of  $10,000.  Its 
first  officers  were:  B.  F.  Baker,  president:  W.  F.  Rippey.  vice-president:  C.  S. 
Weston,  cashier.  The  officers  in  191  i  are:  B.  F.  Baker,  president:  TIenrv 
Miller,  vice-president:  \\'.  I.  Price,  cashier.  Their  recent  statement  shows 
loans  amounting  to  $62,000:  deposits  $60,000:  net  earnings  $800. 

KAXKINC,    AT     KF.IJ.OC.O. 

At  the  enterprising  town  of  Kellogg,  banking  was  first  established  bv 
J.  B.  Burton — a  private  banking  house — in  1881.  This  continued  to  serve 
all  demands  in  the  community  until  1900,  when  it  became  organized  into 
a  state  bank  under  the  name  of  the  Burton  &  Company  State  Bank.  Its 
present  capital  is  $80,000.  The  present  officers  are:  J.  1].  Burton,  presi- 
dent; C.  J-  Irish,  cashier:  R.  C.  Burton,  assistant  cashier. 

In  September,  1908,  the  whole  scpiare  upon  which  stood  the  bank  was 
destroyed  by  a  sweeping  fire  and  the  bank  was  destroyed.  Then  the  same 
year  (1908)  the  present  bank  was  built.  It  is  a  fine  structure  on  the  main 
street. 

The  last  statement  of  this  bank  shows  they  had  deposits  amounting  to 
$225,764.15,  while  its  undivided  profits,  etc.,  amounted  to  $6,871.60. 

COLFAX    P.AXKTXG. 

The  Citizens  State  Bank  of  Colfax  was  established  in  iS(/).  It  was  the 
successor  to  a  private  banking  concern  called  the  Citizens  Bank.  The  present 
bank  was  established  bv  "M.  B.  W'heelock  and  S.  d.   Ruby,  with  a  paid  up 


206  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA, 

capital  of  $35,000,  which,  with  the  surphis  funds,  now  amounts  to  $50,000. 
The  first  officers  were:  S.  G.  Ruby,  president;  W.  M.  Croft,  vice-president; 
M.  B.  Wheelock,  cashier.  The  present  officials  are:  C.  W.  Crissman,  presi- 
dent; S.  B.  Wheelock.  vice-president;  M.  B.  Wheelock,  cashier.  The  present 
deposits  amount  to  about  $300,000,  with  loans  amounting  to  $275,cxx).  The 
bank  has  always  had  a  good  growth  and  is  now  in  a  flourishing  condition. 
Suavity  of  manner  on  the  part  of  the  officers  of  this  bank  is  a  marked  feature 
of  their  dealing  with  customers. 

After  the  failure  of  the  Bank  of  Colfax  (which  is  treated  elsewhere  in 
this  chapter),  w^hich  closed  its  doors  and  passed  into  the  hands  of  a  recei\er 
appointed  by  the  district  court,  the  building  in  which  that  defunct  institution 
had  been  kept  was  sold  by  the  receiver  at  public  auction,  and  purchased  by  P. 
E.  Johannsen  for  about  $13,000,  and  he  at  once  established  the  People's 
Loan  &  Trust  Company,  .\bout  the  same  date  Des  Moines  capitalists  came 
to  Colfax  and  established  the  First  National  Bank  and  the  two  new  concerns 
run  for  several  years,  after  which  they  sold  to  the  People's  Loan  &  Trust 
Company,  the  two  banks  becoming  one.  This  continued  until  the  Johannsen 
interests  were  sold  to  the  present  owners  of  the  First  National  Bank. 

In  1904  R.  A.  Craw-ford  and  W.  W.  Lyons,  of  Des  Moines,  established 
the  First  National  Bank.  The  first  officers  were  W.  \V.  Lyons,  president ; 
E.  E.  Dotson.  vice-president;  A.  S.  Marcjuis,  cashier.  The  present  officers 
are :  F.  E.  Boyd,  president ;  R.  D.  Atchison,  cashier ;  R.  E.  Cummings,  assist- 
ant cashier.  The  capital  has  always  been  $25,000.  The  present  deposits  are 
$115,000,  with  loans  amounting  to  $85,000.  The  building  in  which  the  bank 
is  kept  was  erected  in  1881. 

This  bank  has  the  confidence  of  the  citizens  of  Colfax  and  the  new  men 
at  the  head  of  the  concern  are  loyal  and  true  to  every  interest  of  their  newly 
adopted  city. 

BANK   FAILURES. 

What  was  known  as  the  Bank  of  Newton  failed  in  1884.  ^t  was  a 
private  concern  and  its  cashier  was  J.  G.  Cotton,  who  dealt  on  the  Board  of 
Trade  in  Chicago  and  went  under  for  fifty  thousand  dollars.  Much  might 
be  added  to  the  history  of  this  transaction,  l)ut  it  may  be  best  to  let  the 
"dead  bury  tlie  dead"  and  keep  silent.  Suffice  to  say.  that  the  guilty  one  paid 
the  j)enally  for  his  wrong  doing.  I  hit  the  (lei)()sitors  ne\er  received  the  funds 
he  had  squandered  in  speculation. 

Other  bank  failures  have  been  at  Baxter,  Lynnville  and  Colfax.  Of  the 
Colfax  failure  let  it  be  said  that  the  Bank  of  Colfax  was  a  copartnership 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  267 

banking  house,  doing  business  at  the  city  of  Colfax.  Its  cashier  and  gen- 
eral manager  was  one  of  the  two  who  formed  the  copartnership,  the  other 
member  being  an  uncle  of  the  cashier.  The  cashier  was  named  George  D. 
Wood,  a  fine  looking,  brainy,  business  man,  in  whom  his  uncle  and  all  patrons 
of  the  bank  had  the  utmost  confidence.  But  in  an  unguarded  moment  he 
thought  he  saw  a  short  cut — a  "get-rich-(juick"  plan — and  dealt  in  options  on 
the  Chicago  Board  of  Trade,  which  concern  has  ruined  so  many  hundreds  of 
good  business  men.  He  turned  out  to  be  a  "plunger" — he  invested  in  any- 
thing and  everything  from  stocks  of  goods  to  live  stock  speculations  and 
finally  the  grain  pit.  The  capital  was  sui)posed  to  be  about  $75,000.  He  was 
badly  involved  in  December,  1903,  and  on  the  4th  day  of  that  month  he" 
deliberately  shot  himself  through  the  temple,  ending  his  life  instantly.  There 
were  over  eleven  hundred  creditors  to  his  bank,  and  these  included  bankers 
in  the  chief  cities  and  towns  in  Iowa;  widows  and  orphans  in  estate  forms, 
and  merchants.  The  total  of  all  claims  against  the  bank  was,  in  round  figures, 
$624,000,  while  the  receiver,  W.  O.  McElroy,  of  Newton  (appointed  by 
Judge  Preston),  after  three  years  and  two  months'  hard,  faithful  .service, 
including  carrying  three  cases  through  the  supreme  court,  was  only  able  to 
pay  out  $235,000,  or  about  thirty-nine  and  sixty-five  hundredths  cents  on  a 
dollar  of  the  claims  in  question.  The  largest  claim  was  over  a  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars.  Banks  at  Marshalltown,  Des  Moines,  Council  Bluffs,  Daven- 
port, Washington,  etc.,  all  got  fleeced,  as  well  as  one  bank  at  Colfax,  which 
suffered  many  thousand  dollars  of  loss.  In  fact  the  business  interests  of  the 
city  of  Colfax  suffered  for  a  number  of  years,  before  full  confidence  in  money 
institutions  could  be  restored — people  were  all  afraid  of  banks  and  bankers 
for  a  long  time  after  this  failure  and  sudden  tragic  ending  oi  their  esteemed 
fellow  townsman.  ]^Ir.  Wood. 

LIST    OF    JASPER    COUNTY    BANKS. 

As  shown  in  the  Iowa  Bank  Directory  for  January.  191  i.  the  following 
is  concerning  Jasper  county  banking  interests  : 

Place.                    Xame.                                                        Organized.  Capital. 

Baxter — People's  State  Bank 1906  $15,000 

Baxter — State  Savings  Bank  1894  30.000 

Colfax — Citizens'  State  Bank 1893  35.000 

Colfax — First  National  Bank  1904  25,000 

Ira — Farmers'  Savings  Bank  1904  10,000 


268  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Kellogg — Burton  <S;  Co.  State  Bank 1881 

Lvnnville — Macy  Bros."  Exchange  Bank 1889 

Mingo — Mingo  Trust  &  Savings  Bank 1894 

Monroe — Monroe  National  Bank    1870 

Monroe — Monroe  Savings  Bank    1904 

Monroe — Monroe  State  Savings  Bank 1893 

Xewburg — Newburg  Savings  Bank    1908 

Xewton — First  National  Bank   1882 

Xew  ton— Citizens'   State   Bank    1905 

Xewton — Xewton  Savings  Bank    1890 

Xewton — Jasper  County  Savings  Bank 1869 

Xewton — Bank  of  L.  D.  Clark      1866 

Prairie  City — Prairie  City  State  Bank 1890 

Prairie  City — First  Xational  Bank   1893 

Reasoner — Reasoner  Savings  Bank 1900 

Sully— Bank  of  Sully    1889 

Total   capital   of   all   banks,   aside    from   the   L.    D.    Clark 

private  banking"  house    

The  total  surplus  and  profits  amounts  to 


80.000 
10  000 
15,000 
25.000 
10.000 
25.000 
10,000 
65,000 
60.000 
15.000 
1 00.000 

25,000 

25.000 

10,000 

7.500 


$597'50« 
i82.s6o 


NORTH  SIDE  SQUARE.  NEWTON.  IN  1861 


NORTH  SIDE  SQUARE,  LATER 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


THE   CITY   OF   NEWTON. 


Newton,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Jasper  county,  now  has  a  population 
(according  to  the  latest  census)  of  4.616  people,  has  a  fine  public  librarv,  ten 
churches,  a  $200,223  court  house,  paved  streets,  four  excellent  hanking  in- 
stitutions, three  railways,  twenty-five  bus\-  factories,  employing  upwards  of 
fi\e  hundred  persons  constantly,  the  best  municipal  electric  lighting  plant  in 
any  town  in  Iowa  of  its  size,  a  fine  water  plant  and  a  water  supply  showing 
ninety-eight  per  cent,  purity,  with  nine  miles  and  more  of  water  mains,  seven 
or  eight  miles  of  sewer,  and  coal  mines  in  three  directions  from  the  city.  Its 
population  has  increased  more  than  twenty-five  per  cent,  in  the  last  decade. 

BEGINNING   OF    THE    CITY. 

Xewton  was  located  as  the  county  seat  by  the  locating  commissioners 
named  in  the  act  of  the  Legislature  creating  the  county,  and  these  men  were 
sworn  before  Justice  of  the  Peace  Ballinger  Aydellotte.  2^Iay  11,  1846,  to 
''take  into  account  the  future  as  well  as  the  present  population  of  the  county." 
The  report  of  this  commission  will  be  found  in  the  general  chapters  of  this 
work. 

It  may  not  be  without  some  interest  to  know  what  town  lots  sold  iov  in 
Xewton  in  1846,  hence  the  subjoined  account  of  same  will  be  given.  This  is 
from  a  record  of  lots  sold  in  the  newly  platted  town  of  "X'ewton  City,"  as 
Xewton  was  at  first  called:  John  R.  Sparks,  lot  i.  block  20,  $^7:  John 
Wilson,  lot  3,  block  20.  $20:  Joab  Bennett,  lot  4,  block  21,  $20:  John  X". 
Kinsman,  lot  2.  block  21.  $14:  C.  X.  Hamlin,  lot  4,  block  15,  $20;  William 
Hanshaw.  lot  3.  block  15.  $27:  T.  J.  Adamson.  lot  4,  block  22,  $10.50;  T.  J. 
Adamson,  lot  5.  block  14.  S7 :  Xathan  Williams,  lot  5.  block  9,  S31  :  William 
Edmundson,  lot  5, "block  9,  ^t,2\  :\Ianly  Gifford,  lot  i,  block  16,  $31  ;  .\lvin 
Adkins.  lot  7.  block  16,  $31;  Joab  Bennett,  lot  8,  in  block  9,  $26:  James 
Pearson,  lot  7.  block  16,  $13.62:  William  Hanshaw,  lot  6,  in  block  15,  $20: 
J.  X.  Kinsman,  lot  i,  block  21,  $8:  Joab  Bennett,  lot  8,  block  16,  $25:  T.  J. 
.Adamson.  out-lots  i.  14.  21.  23.  2^.  at.  respectively.  $5.  Sio.  $31.  S7  and 
$7.25. 

It  will  be  an  interesting  problem  for  some  realty  man  of  this  day  to  go 
through  this  list  of  lots  and  com])ute  their  ])resent  value. 


270  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

NEWTOX    TOWN    PLAT    SURVEYED. 

The  records  of  Jasper  county  show  that  at  a  meeting  of  the  county  com- 
missioners in  June,  1846,  it  was  ordered  that  the  town  plat  of  the  new  county 
seat;  "Xewton  City,"  be  surveyed  into  lots.  The  record  of  July  7th,  that 
vear,  shows  that  orders  were  allowed  out  of  "the  town  money,"  to  Rdchard 
Fisher,  Thomas  Henderson,  Joab  Bennett,  J.  N.  Kinsman,  Samuel  Metz, 
lames  Edgar.  Closes  Lacy,  T.  C.  Underwood  and  William  Campbell,  in  all 
amounting  to  eighty-one  dollars,  all  of  the  persons  named  having  taken 
some  i)art  in  the  survey  of  the  new  town  and  county  seat. 

The  survey  of  the  original  plat  was  executed  by  Silas  Sawyer,  who,  the 
books  show,  was  allowed  sixty-seven  dollars  and  fifty  cents  for  such  services 
and  that  his  work  was  performed  about  June  25,  1846.  There  were  twenty- 
nine  blocks,  of  eight  lots  each,  and  twenty-nine  out-lots.  The  streets  from 
north  to  south  were  South.  Marion,  IMain,  McDonald.  A\'ashington  and 
X<irth.  and  those  from  west  to  east  were  Farmer,  Mechanic,  Olive,  Spring, 
Market.  Vine  and  Race.  The  location  was  describetl  as  being  the  "northwest 
of  section  34,  township  80,  range  19." 

The  first  building  erected  on  the  plat  was  early  in  the  autumn  of  i84r>, 
by  John  X.  Kinsman,  on  lots  t  and  2,  block  21.     It  was  a  log  structure. 

The  second  building  was  that  built  by  Joab  Bennett.  This  was  a  hewed 
log  building  and  its  owner  intended  to  rent  it  to  the  commissioners  for  a 
county  building  (court  house),  but  he  was  disappointed  in  this.  A  little  later 
a  small  store  was  opened  by  a  Mr.  Van  Horn. 

An  old  historic  item  runs  thus :  'W  son  of  William  Edmundson  relates 
that  in  the  spring  of  1847,  being  then  six  years  old.  he  accompanied  his  father 
on  a  considerable  drive  across  the  prairie.  Several  miles  awav  he  saw  a 
flag  floating  in  the  air  above  a  building,  which,  according  to  his  recollection, 
stood  solitary-  and  alone.  Boylike,  he  set  his  question-mill  going  and  soon 
found  from  his  father  that  the  people  had  laid  out  a  town  called  X^ewton 
City  the  year  before  for  a  county  seat,  and  that  the  building  he  saw  was  a 
small   store." 

"Upon  a  virgin  prairie,  forest  decked, 

A  pole  was  set  in  seeming  pride  erect. 

Upon  its  ])oint  the  stars  and  stripes  unfurled 

Proclaimed  its  due  importance  to  the  world ; 

And,  where  that  starry  emblem  kissed  the  breeze, 

A  town  was  platted, — Newton,  if  you  please." 

RiNEHART. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  2/1 

The  residents  in  Xewton  in  1850  were  made  up  of  about  the  following 
persons,  possibly  a  half  dozen  others  whose  names  ha\e  escaped  the  notice 
of  the  earliest  historian  of  the  county :  \V.  M.  Springer  and  family,  hotel : 
John  H.  Franklin  and  family,  cabinetmaker  and  justice  of  the  peace;  Ezekiel 
Shipley  and  family,  carpenter:  Willis  Green  and  family,  farmers;  P.  M. 
Wood  and  family,  plasterer;  Jesse  Rickman  and  family,  postmaster  and 
clerk  of  the  county  board  of  commissioners;  James  Edgar  and  familv,  black- 
smith; Calel)  Lam])  and  family,  carpenter;  L.  L.  D.  Kennedy  and  Jesse  R. 
Kennedy,  carpenters;  Joseph  Morgan  and  family,  blacksmith;  Job  Springer, 
clerk;  James  Fry  and  family,  farmers;  Re\'.  Strange  Brooks  and  familv.  cir- 
cuit preacher  of  the  ^Methodist  Episcopal  denomination;  John  Meredith  and 
family,  blacksmith;  Zadock  ]\[.  Allen,  blacksmith;  Dr.  D.  R.  Rodgers;  Mrs. 
Good  and  Mrs.  Peter  Miller  and  daughter;  E.  Hammer,  teacher. 

It  would  appear  that  blacksmiths  were  in  great  demand  at  that  day,  for 
it  will  be  obserxed  that  out  of  the  first  colony  which  located  on  the  new  town 
site,  three  were  knights  of  the  forge. 

The  first  drugs  were  sold  in  way  of  patent  medicines  kept  bv  John  H. 
Franklip  in  his  furniture  and  undertaking  establishment.  It  was  he  who  had 
for  "free  distribution"  a  lot  of  Dr.  Jayne's  Almanacs,  on  the  back  cover  of 
which  was  printed  the  ad\-ertisement  of  ''John  H.  Franklin,  corner  of  Farmer 
and  South  streets,  Xewton.  Iowa,  cabinetmaker  and  undertaker  and  dealer  in 
patent  medicines.'' 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  Elisha  Hammer  in  the  old  court  house, 
and  spelling  schools  were  frequent  and  interesting. 

The  early  hotel  was  the  Ault  House  and  later,  after,  additions  had  been 
made  thereto,  it  was  styled  the  Tammany  House.  ]Many  a  good  story  is 
told  of  this  pioneer  stopping  place.  Some  are  doubtless  true  and  many 
anotlier  one  untrue,  hence  none  will  find  place  in  this  connection.  Jo  Thomas 
was  one  of  the  funny  oddities  who  lx)re  the  title  of  landlord  at  this  hotel  and 
he  it  was  who  had  a  suit  in  court  and  when  the  judge  (AIcFarland)  was  en- 
tering his  decision  on  the  record,  just  as  Thomas  entered  the  court  room,  the 
judge  looked  up  and  remarked,  "Jo  Thomas,  by  G — .  I  am  beatin'  you.  You 
don't  set  up  enough  corn  at  vour  table.     I  enter  judgment  against  you  for 

S and  costs."    Thomas  conducted  this  house  many  years.     It  was  a  stage 

station  and  manv  a  weary  traveler  was  sheltered  beneath  its  roughly  made 
walls.     It  was  burned  in  1857  and  was  known  at  that  day  as  the  Ohio  House. 

Of  all  the  various  industries  and  enterprises  of  which  Xewton  may 
justly  be  proud  today  none  are  more  lacking  than  that  of  hotels,  there  being 


2-2  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

onlv  one  hotel  in  the  city,  ami  there  is  oertainl}-  room  tor  at  least  two  more, 
of  reasonable  rates  and  acceptable  fare. 

But  to  resume  the  story  of  early  matters  in  Newton,  let  it  be  said  that 
at  the  close  of  the  Civil  war  period  (  1866)  the  ])usiness  of  the  city  was  in 
the  hands  of  the  following  persons,  chiefly: 

Xewspapers — Jasl>cr  Free  Prrss.  Republican,  b}-  h'rank  T.  Campbell ; 
Xcuio)i  Baimrr,  Democratic,  by  John  A.  ^^'ilson. 

Crocers,  Wholesale  and  Retail — John  Meyer,  R.  Dixon,  Anderson  & 
Pardoe,  A'ernon  Skiff.  John  Dixon.  I.  E.  Webster,  Bradway  &  Belt,  Joseph 
Rodgers.  the  last  named  a  refreshment  saloon. 

General  Merchants— J.  B.  O'Neal  &  Brother.  George  Wright,  Sawyer  & 
Company,  G.  G.  Lindley  &  Company,  J.  M.  Blanchard.  McCalmont  t^  Broth- 
ers, S.  E.  Zinn,  Loomis  &  Company,  Miller  &  Little. 

Druggists — Dr.  J.  Green.  Hammer  &  Company,  Evans  &  Company. 

Jewelers — C.  J.  Housel.  Chapman  &  Dawson. 

Hardware — Rhodes  Lee.  Thrift  &  Clippinger.  \\'il]iam  \'au§han. 

l'\u-niture — David  Vangeison,  W.  H.  Silsby. 

Dentists — C.  J.  Housel.  W.  E.  Roseman. 

Harness — Milton  Anderson,  A.  J.  Osborn,  R.  McDowell,  P.  Alesworth. 

.\ttorneys — O.  C.  Howe,  G.  R.  Shays,  ^^'inslow  &:  Lindley,  S.  G.  Smith, 
R.  A.  Sankey.  J.  W.  Wilson,  J.  W.  Sennett.  D.  L.  Clark. 

Physicians — Drs.  J.  R.  Gorrell,  H.  E.  Hunter,  E.  H.  Mershon.  H.  J. 
Walker,  A.  Patton,  B.  M.  Eailor,  Jabez  Green,  A.  T.  Ault. 

Hotels — Phelps  House,  Union  Hotel,  City  Hotel. 

Miscellaneous  Dealers,  etc. — Livery,  Sampey  &  Company ;  marble  shop ; 
photographer,  S.  D.  Leveridge ;  bookseller.  Charles  Gillman ;  clothing,  Gar- 
rett &  Company;  patent  medicines,  A.  T.  Ault,  manufacturer;  meat  market. 
James  Lester;  lumber  sealer.  \\'illiam  Durose,  Hough  &  Atwater;  boots  and 
shoes.  R.  McDowell.  Milton  Anderson.  \\"illiam  Manning.  John  Lloyd. 

The  year  of  JCS75  was  one  of  the  most  noted  for  building  operations  in 
Newton,  up  to  that  date,  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  worth  of  building  being 
effected.  Among  the  structures  may  l)e  remembered  the  Masonic  block,  J.  B. 
Eyerly's  building,  J.  W.  Wilson's,  Caleb  Lamb's,  Burns  &  Condit,  Henry 
Sami)ey,  on  the  west  side  of  the  public  square.  West  from  northwest  from 
the  square  was  the  W.  H.  L.  Kjing  and  Henry  Sampey's  buildings;  at  the 
southea.st  corner  of  the  square  were  the  buildings  of  Mershon  and  the  hotel, 
a  three-story  building,  sixty-three  by  one  hundred  thirty-two  feet  in  size.  At 
the  same  corner  was  the  Joseph  McCalmont  iroii  front  building.  The  better, 
larger  class  of  residences  included   those   of    Dr.    (iorrcll,    Willirun   Wiughn. 


EAST  SIDE  SQUARE,  NEWTON 


SCENE  ON  CHAQUAQUA  OR  SKUNK  RIVER 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  273 

Gen.  James   Wilson.    Mr.    Ainswoitli.    .Xiij^ust    W'endt   and    W.    D.    W'eineke. 
The.se  and  twenty  other  buildin<^s  were  all  completed  in   1875  '"  Xewton. 

In  the  eii^hties.  nineties,  and  a.t(ain  in  the  first  vears  of  the  twentieth 
century.  Xewton  had  rapid  i^rowth.  hut  never  was  known  as  a  f)oom  town, 
always  being  steady  and  conser\ati\e  in  its  actions  and  ad\ancement.  Per- 
haps within  the  last  twelve  or  fifteen  years  has  there  been  more  of  a  genuine 
sj)irit  of  enterprise  than  in  an\-  other  \ears  in  the  historv  of  the  citv.  In  this 
period  the  city  has  come  to  he  known  for  its  many  tine  i>aying  manufacturing 
plants,  which  have  gi\en  the  i)lace  much  advertising  abroad.  This  is  the 
well-known  home  of  the  patented  articles  marie  bv  the  famous  One  Minute 
Manufacturing  Company,  the  self-feeding  threshing  machine  and  band-cut- 
ting machinery,  named  elsewhere  in  this  chajiter.  etc.  Todav  the  hum  of 
machinery  in  twenty-five  plants  can  l)e  daily  heard,  while  the  rtve  hundred 
persons  engaged  swell  a  pay-roll  amounting  to  about  fortv  thousand  dollars 
per  month. 

All  tiie  \arious  retail  Imsinesses  of  a  first  class  citv  of  its  population  are 
here  well  represented,  the  naming  of  which  is  useless  in  this  connection.  The 
great  activities  of  X'ewton  are  certainly  centered  in  its  manv  factories,  the 
whole  being  in  working  harmony  with  the  well  developed  farming  com- 
munity surrounding  the  city.  The  following  include  the  manufacturing 
enterprises  of  Xewton  in   191 1  : 

The  Maytag  Comi)any  make  the  Parsons  feeder,  swinging  ele\ator 
feeder,  Ruth  feeder,  corn  husker  and  shredder,  shock  hoist,  shock  loader,  hay 
press,  grain  grader.  Pastime  washer,  hog  waterer.  belt  guide,  cvlinder  wrench, 
automobile  parts. 

The  G.  W.  Parsons  Compan\-  make  trenching  and  exca\ating  machinery 
and  do  a  crucible  steel  and  iron  foundr}-  business. 

One  Minute  Manufacturing  Company  make  the  One  Minute  washer, 
gasoline  ])ower  washer,  electric  power  washer,  gasoline  engines,  ironing 
lx)ards.  rinse  tul)s.  combination  farm  tools. 

X'ewton  Balance  \'alve  Companx   make  balance  \alves. 

M.  &-  E.  Manufacturing  Companv  manufacture  acetylene  gas  lighting 
phmts. 

Automatic  I'^lectric  Washer  Company  manufacture  an  automatic  electric 
washer  and  wringer  and  gasoline  power  washers. 

Cherry  Blossoms  Manufacturing  Company  make  flavoring  extracts. 

American  Construction  Company  ])ut  in  municipal  gas  plants. 

The  Bergman  Manufacturing  Company  make  grain  graders. 

Hummel  Manufacturing  Company  manufacture  road  graders. 
(18) 


2-4  JASPER    COrXTV,    IOWA. 

Xewton  Ice  &  Cold  Storage  Company  make  artiricial  ice. 

Xewton  Milling  Company  make  Honr  and  patent  pancake  Hour. 

Oglnirn    Manufacturing  Company  make  the  detachable  manure  spreader. 

Western  Stock  Remedy  Company  make  stock  remedies. 

Henry  Held  makes  cigars. 

John  O'Leary  makes  cigars. 

Xon-Leak  Balance  \'alve  C()mj)any  make  balance  valves. 

Scheurman  Brothers  make  ladies'  garments. 

Ever  Ready  Manufacturing  Company  make  ironing  boards. 

Xewton  Manufacturing  Company  make  advertising  novelties. 

Clipless  Paper  Fastener  Compau}-  make  the  clipless  paper  fasteners. 

Skew  Brothers  make  road  graders,  disc  sharpeners,  gray  iron  castings, 
bank  and  otfice  fixtures,  show  cases,  stair  cases,  exterior  and  interior  finishes, 
manure  spreaders. 

Xewton  Disc  Plow  Company  make  disc  garden  plows,  and  X^ewdisco 
electric  and  power  washers. 

Engle  Coffee  Mill  Company  make  power  coffee  grinders. 

M.  G    Rogers  makes  cement  l)locks. 

M.  Brown  makes  brick  and  tile. 

F.  Henning  makes  brick  and  tile. 

C.  Schaumberg  makes  brick  and  tile. 

Ad\ertising  Xovelty  Manufacturing  Company  make  advertising  novel- 
ties. 

Arthur  H.  Joy  &  Company  make  dental  soldering  machines. 

M.  L.  Lewis  &  Son  make  bottled  goods. 

E.  C.  Smith  makes  breakfast  foods. 

The  Cieorge  W.  Xewton  Company,  advertising  no\elties. 

FLOl'RINT.   MILL.S. 

One  of  the  mo.st  imi)urtant  and  useful  industries  Xewton  possessed  as 
early  as  1858  was  its  steam  flour  mill,  which  plant  made  upon  an  average  of 
two  hundred  barrels  per  day  of  an  excellent  grade  of  flour. 

The  present  milling  business  is  conducted  by  the  X^ewton  Milling  Com- 
pany, H.  C.  McCardell,  proprietor.  These  mills  are  not  extensive,  but  do  ex- 
cellent work.     They  are  located  on  the  corner  of  Spring  and  South  streets. 

Other  mills  of  Jasper  county  are  situated  at  Baxter,  Monroe,  Prairie 
City.  Kellogg  and  Lynnville. 

Ten  years  ago  (1900)  the  industries  of  Xewton  were  summed  up  as 
follows:    The  Parsons  Band  Cutter  and  Self-Feeder  Comi)any  was  organized 


JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA.  2/5 

in  1892.  has  a  capital  of  $73,000.  ccners  two  and  one-half  acres  with  a  splen- 
did plant,  turns  out  3.500  machines  per  annum,  worth  S600.000.  employs 
ninety  artisans  and  twenty-five  traveling;-  men,  pays  out  $80,000  a  vear  in 
wages  and  sells  its  product   in  all   the  grain  growing  states  of  the    L'nion. 

The  Hawkexe  l-'eeder  Works  was  incorj)orated  in  Mav.  1898,  l>y  Par- 
sons. Rich  &  Company,  composed  of  (ieorge  W.  Parsons  and  V.  S.  Rich. 
The  plant  represents  a  value  of  $30,000.  turns  out  1.200  machines  worth 
$240,000.  sells  in  all  small  grain  districts.  1"he  i)lant  covers  half  a  hlock.  em- 
ploys 46  artisans,  six  in  office,  and  ten  traveling  men.  and  ])avs  out  in  wages 
S25.000  per  }-ear. 

The  Taylor-Xewell  Company,  manufacturers  of  pants,  operate  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $20.ocx).  employs  65  people  in  the  factory  and  five  traveling- 
men,  turn  out  $100,000  worth  of  goods  and  sell  in  Iowa.  Minnesota.  South 
Dakota.  Nebraska.  Kansas.  Alissouri,  Colorado.  Illinois.  The  pav  roll  is 
$15,000  per  year.  The  stockholders  are  F.  M.  Taylor.  Will  G.  Xewell. 
Charles  Seeberger.  C.  F.  Alorgan,  Ralph  Parmenter.  Ralph  Robinson.  A.  C. 
riates.  E.  J.  Schuneman.  A.  J.  Anderson.  The  former  is  president  of  the 
company. 

A.  C.  Randolph  &  Company,  manufacturers  of  the  Randolph  [)neu- 
matic  stacker,  established  in  1899,  employs  20  men  in  factory,  six  tra\-eling 
men,  turns  out  500  stackers  worth  $125,000  and  sells  where\-er  threshing  is 
done.     A.  C.  Randolph  is  manager. 

Xewton  Steel  Cut  Milling  Company,  manufacturers  of  "W'heat-O" 
breakfast  food,  established  in  1898.  capital  $10,000,  turns  out  $18,000  worth 
per  year  and  sells  through  jobbers  in  several  states.  There  are  fi\e  employes 
at  the  mills,  two  at  office  and  two  on  the  road.  The  compan\-  is  composed 
of  A.  H.  Bergman.  E.  C.  Smith.  J.  A\'.  Langanback. 

The  Hawkeye  Incubator  Company  is  composed  of  W.  C.  and  F.  H. 
P)ergman.  was  organized  in  1898.  turns  out  incubators  and  the  "Ratchet 
Slat"  washing  machine,  puts  out  2.500  incubators  and  brooders  and  1.000 
washers,  value  $30,000  and  employs  2=,  men. 

In  addition  to  the  al)o\e  the  Skow  Bros,  manufacture  a  disc  sharpener 
and  a  sand  shoveler  at  their  foundry  and  machine  shop. 

PO.STOFFICE    HISTORY. 

A  postoffice  was  established  in  Xewton  in  the  summer  of  1847  ^"^^  T.  J. 
Adamson  was  a])pointed  postmaster.  The  mail  was  carried  on  horseback 
from  Iowa  Citv.  then  the  state  capital.     A.  B.  Meacham  was  the  mail  carrier. 


276  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Later  he  became  famous  in  the  Modoc  Inthan  warfare.  Mail  was  thus  car- 
ried until  1850.  when  stages  were  put  in  operation.  It  is  known,  howexer, 
that  in  the  winter  of  1850-51  the  town  had  only  about  fifty  people  within  its 
borders  and  that  mail  was  received  but  once  a  week.  It  was  brought  in  by 
\'al.  Adamson  and  the  po.stoffice  was  kept  in  the  old  court  house,  where  all 
hands  would  congregate  to  hear  the  latest  news,  get  a  i)aper.  ix)ssibly  two  or 
three  weeks  old.  printed  in  .>^ome  one  of  the  states  to  the  east  of  our  own.  In 
the  winter  of  1850-51  the  postmaster  w-as  Jesse  Rickman,  who  was  also  clerk 
of  the  county  board  of  commissioners,  and  he  held  his  combined  office  in  the 
countv  l)uilding.  near  where  now  stands  the  magnificent  court  house.  In 
1861  .\.  W.  McDonald  was  postmaster;  he  succeeded  Perry  Grossman,  who 
was  appointed  under  President  James  Buchanan.  The  records  are  lost  from 
the  date  of  Mr.  McDonald  to  1868.  when  followed  these:  G.  B.  Hunter, 
David  Flowers,  T.  M.  Rodgers.  Samuel  Sherman,  L.  S.  Kennington,  M.  A. 
McG(»r(l,  George  Glark,  Jr.,  the  present  postmaster. 

In  1886  this  office  was  made  a  second-class  ofilice.  About  1900  the 
rural  free  delixery  went  into  force  at  Newton  office  and  now  there  are  rural 
carriers.  The  office  was  made  a  free  city  delivery  office  in  1899.  with  three 
carriers,  which  has  l)een  increased  to  four.  The  office  has  been  in  its  present 
place  al>out  seven  years,  and  just  ])revious  to  the  present  (piarters  the  post- 
office  was  kept  on  the  west  side  of  the  pulilic  square.  The  amount  of  business 
transacted,  outside  of  the  money  order  business,  in  1910  was  twentv-five 
thousand  dollars.  There  are  now  twelve  mails  each  way  daily,  and  the  total 
number  of  ])ersons  em|)loyed,  including  the  rural  carriers,  is  eighteen. 

During  tlie  administration  of  T.  M.  Rodgers  as  po.stmaster.  on  the  eve 
of  St.  X'alentine's  day.  1893.  the  office  was  burglarized  of  three  hundred  dol- 
lars of  government  money  and  alx)ut  the  same  amount  belonging  to  the  {XDSt- 
niaster.  Xo  clue  as  to  the  thief  was  ever  had,  but,  aside  from  positive  proof, 
it  was  really  known  who  took  the  mone\'. 

MlNCJl'AI.    lirSTOKV. 

Xewton  was  incorporated  under  a  special  charter,  being  one  of  the  few- 
cities  in  Iowa  thus  incorporated.  The  legislative  act  incorporating  the  place 
was  approved  and  dated  January  26,  1857.  Section  19  of  the  articles  of 
incor]K)ration  reads  as  follows: 

'"The  county  judge  of  the  county  of  Jasper  is  hereby  authorized  to  issue 
an  order  for  an  election,  to  lie  held  in  the  .said  town  of  Newton  on  the  first 
Mfjnday  of  .\pril  next,  for  the  adoption  or  rejection  of  this  act  of  incorpora- 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  2/7 

tion,  and  the  election  hoard  ot  the  township  oi  Xewton.  in  the  said  county. 
sliall  on  said  day  open  a  separate  poll  for  the  ])urpose  of  such  votes;  said 
election  to  be  held  in  accordance  with  the  laws  governing  county  elections. 
Those  in  favor  of  the  adoption  of  this  act  shall  write  on  their  tickets  'ff)r  in- 
corporation;'  those  opposed  to  the  adoption  of  this  act  shall  write  on  their 
tickets  'against  incorporation.'  Only  the  resident  voters  of  said  town  shall 
be  eligible  to  vote  at  said  election." 

At  the  above  election  there  were  one  hundred  and  twenty-one  votes  cast 
for  incorporation  and  thirty-four  against  the  proposition.  The  first  corpora- 
tion election  was  held  May  4,  1857,  Imt  the  records  of  Xewton  have  not  been 
l)reser\ed  and  hence  the  list  of  the  first  few  set  of  officials  cannot  now  l)e 
arrived  at.     An  old  history  states  that  the  first  mayor  was  Hugh  Newell. 

It  should  be  said  in  connection  witli  the  legislative  act  by  which  Xewton 
became  an  incorp(^rated  town,  in  i^^y.  that  through  a  clerical  blunder,  the 
act  defined  the  location  as  being  "in  township  81,''  which  would  bring  it  six 
miles  north  of  where  the  town  does  in  fact  lie.  and  was  intended  bv  the  peti- 
tioners to  be  located.  This  error  caused  much  anncjyance  for  a  number  of 
years,  especially  in  attempting  to  enforce  any  criminal  law.  This,  however, 
was  later  remedied  l)y  the  Legislature. 

The  records  show  that  the  following  ser\ed  as  officers  of  the  town  of 
Xewton  in  1868:  D.  D.  Piper,  mayor;  Jcjhn  C.  Wilson,  recorder:  W.  II. 
Hough.  F.  T.  Campbell.  James  McGregor,  C.  K.  I-'ord.  J.  M.  Hiatt  and 
George  T.  Anderson,  councilmen. 

During  the  summer  of  1868  there  was  a  large  amount  of  wooden  side- 
walk put  down  on  the  streets  of  X'ewton.  as  a  result  of  the  town  [)eing  in- 
corporated. 

Tn  September.  1869,  one  hundred  and  fourteen  citizens  and  four  "not 
eligible"  petitioned  the  council  to  repeal  the  ordinance  prohibiting  the  sale  of 
"ale,  wine  and  beer,"  but  it  was  tabled  and  not  long  before  the  reiuon- 
strance  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  voters  and  ninety-six  ladies  was  presented 
to  the  same  body.  N^ewton  has  never  had  legalized  saloons.  The  ladies  have 
to  be  given  much  credit  along  this  line,  be  it  recorded  to  their  honor. 

Tn  September.  1869.  the  council  granted  the  right  to  F.  11.  ( iriggs  to 
construct  a  horse  car  line  through  the  alley  running  north  and  south  between 
Race  and  Vine  streets,  from  the  Rock  Island  depot  to  the  south  line  of  Xew- 
ton. and  thence  west  on  the  street  along  the  south  side  of  the  incorporation, 
to  connect  with  the  public  road  leading  to  the  fair  grounds.  But  it  appears 
that  the  franchise  was  never  taken  advantage  of,  for  there  was  never  any 
street  railroad  constructed  in  X'^ewton. 


jjS  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

FIRST   TOWN    CHARTER    ABANDON  ED. 

On  Februarv  28.  1870.  thrdUi^h  llie  i)etili()n  of  eighty-se\en  citizens, 
with  no  renit^nstrance  ai^ainst  it.  the  special  charter  of  Xewton's  first  incor- 
iwration  was  al)an(lone(l.  and  the  place  was  then  organized  under  the  laws  of 
the  state  as  seen  in  chapter  51,  i860.  An  election  was  held  in  April  of  that 
vear  and  the  question  was  voted  upon  and  resulted  in  a  \ote  of  eighty-seven 
for  and  none  against,  thus  reorganizing  the  town  inc(jrporation.  The  Hrst 
officers  under  the  new  town  government  were  as  follows:  J.  A.  Hammer, 
mavor;  L.  B.  Westbrook.  recorder:  J.  A.  Garrett.  M.  A.  Blanchard.  J.  A. 
WiLson.  C.  Connelly.  J.  J.  Vaughan.  conncilmen  :  A.  J.  Osl^orn.  treasurer:  W. 
H.  Hough,  assessor. 

On  ^\a\'  5,  1870.  the  ccnuicil  divided  the  city  into  five  wards  and  about 
the  same  date  instituted  a  "pound"  and  purchased  land  on  which  to  place  the 
same. 

On  Januarv  30,  1871.  the  limits  of  the  place  were  extended  to  the  extent 
of  eightv  acres,  in  section  2/:  two  hundred  acres  in  section  ^7,:  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  in  section  34. 

On  May  30.  1870.  the  right  of  wa}-  through  the  city  limits  was  refused 
to  the  Jasper  County  Coal  &  Railroad  Company  and  to  the  Iowa,  ^Minnesota 
&  Northern  Pacific  Company :  but  on  the  2d  of  August,  that  year,  the  appli- 
cation of  the  latter  company  was  granted  and  an  ordinance  issued  therefor. 
Xewton  became  a  city  of  the  second  class  in  ]\Iay.  1870. 

FIRE   DEPARTMENT    BEGINS. 

The  beginning  of  the  present  fire  department  in  Xewton  was  effected  in 
1874.  when  about  twenty  members,  which  soon  increased  to  fortv-five.  or- 
ganized themselves  into  a  hook  and  ladder  companv.  S.  J.  Mover  was  its 
president:  J.  J  I.  Tait.  foreman:  Alex.  Work,  first  assistant:  J-'rank  Clark,  sec- 
ond assistant;  Alanson  Clark,  secretary:  H.  K.  Stahl,  treasurer.  The  present 
company  consi.sts  of  about  thirty-five  men.  Iliey  are  in  charge  of  the  hook 
and  ladders  and  three  hose  carts,  by  which  they  ha\e  l)eeii  very  successful  in 
fighting  fires. 

A  city  hall  was  erected  in  about  1886  and  is  still  in  use.  The  mayor 
has  his  private  office  and  the  city  clerk  and  water  su])erinten(lcnt  hrnc  officc< 
in  the  electric  lighting  plant. 


.lASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  279 

ELECTRIC    EIC.llT    I'l.AXT,    WATER    WORKS,    ETC. 

This  i)l:int  was  (jri^inally  buill  by  the  Thompson-Houston  Companv  in 
1883  and  was  of  a  private  ownersliip  ty])e.  but  in  1889  the  present  citv  plant 
Avas  installed  and  has  furnished  lii^ht  and  power  U)  the  citv  since  then.  It 
furnished  li^ht  at  cheaper  rates  than  were  had  in  almost  any  other  citv  in 
Iowa.  Last  year  (1910)  it  made  a  pnjfit  of  twelve  thousand  dollars,  hence, 
after  making  a  cheap  rate  to  patrons,  it  is  far  more  than  self-sustaininj^-. 

The  city  is  this  year  (  1911  )  installing  a  gas  ])lant  for  power  and  heating 
purposes,  by  bonding  the  city  to  the  amount  of  forty  thousand  dollars.  Thev 
expect  to  furnish  gas  as  cheaply  as  possible,  but  at  first  it  will  necessarilv  l)e 
about  ()ne  <lollar  and  fift\-  cents  per  thousand  feet. 

In  addition  to  the  above  concerning  the  establishment  of  the  light  plant 
in  Newton,  it  should  be  said  that  the  Thompson-Houston  Companv.  one  of 
the  largest  corporations  in  lighting  and  electric  plants  in  America  at  that 
date,  held  a  perpetual  franchise  in  Xewton.  Imt  l)y  reason  of  the  high  rates 
charged  the  people,  a  home  concern  went  into  l)usiness  for  the  city  and  its 
municipal  benefit.  A  small  plant  was  installed  and  little  by  little  thev  man- 
aged to  draw  away  the  patrons  of  the  old  prixate  company  of  Thompson- 
Houston.  That  corporation  got  into  litigation  with  the  city  of  Xewton  over 
the  franchise  rights  of  the  city  streets:  thou.sands  of  dollars  were  expended 
in  the  courts,  both  higher  and  lower.  Then  came  cutting  of  rates  bv  both 
companies,  until  finally  it  proved  unprofitable  to  both  and  the  Thompson- 
Houston  people  S(jld  their  entire  ])lant  for  a  little  more  than  four  thousand 
dollars  to  the  cit\  of  X'ewton.  The  next  Legislature  passed  a  law  that  no 
city  should  grant  franchise  for  a  longer  term  than  twenty-five  years. 

Xewton's  first  water  works  system  was  of  private  ownership,  and  was 
granted  its  franchise  by  the  city  in  1903.  It  was  owned  by  Messrs.  B.  W. 
Skift'.  Charles  Seaberger  and  M.  L.  MaA-tag.  who  operated  it  until  1907, 
when  the  city  purchased  the  plant  for  forty  thousand  dollars.  Bonds  were 
issued  and  floated  for  the  j^aymeni  of  this  needed  cit\-  impr(~>\ement.  It  has 
come  to  be  almost  self-sustaining.  The  su|)ply  of  water  is  had  In-  a  large 
nuniber  of  fortv-five-foot  wells  sunk  to  the  gravel  beds  of  the  fiats  lying  si.x 
miles  to  the  west  of  the  city,  near  the  village  of  'Sletz.  The  water  is  of  the 
best  and  purest  in  the  country.  It  is  i)um])ed  In-  steam  power  through  cast 
iron  pipes  and  forced  to  elevated  tanks  in  the  heart  of  the  city.  The  original 
tank  holds  eighty-fi\e  thousand  gallons  of  water,  but  the  one  being  con- 
structed at  the  i)resent  time  is  to  be  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  feet  high 


28o  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

and  constructed  ui  steel.     This  will  hold  one  hundred  thousand  gallons  mure. 
Both  will  be  used,  one  as  a  reserve  tank  in  case  of  emergency. 

A    NEW   DEPARTURE. 

In  i8y7  the  citizens  awoke  to  the  fact  that  they  were  behind  the  times 
in  which  thev  were  living  and  some  advocated  the  paving  of  streets  and 
making  other  needed  city  improvements,  another  class  bitterly  opposing 
these  improvements  on  account  of  the  necessary  expenses,  but  when  the 
spring  election  for  city  officers  came  around  that  was  one,  if  not  the  prin- 
cipal, feature  in  nominating  men  for  the  office  of  mayor  and  members  of  the 
council.  As  it  turned  out  the  right  man  was  selected  and  won  out  at  the 
l)olls.  This  was  George  Early,  who  ser\ed  one  term  and  was  friendly  toward 
the  putting  down  of  the  first  brick  paving  Newton  had  ever  had.  So  well 
were  the  propertv  owners  pleased  that  extensions  were  made  from  year  to 
vear  until  now  the  city  has  many  miles  of  paving. 

It  was  under  the  administration  of  Mayor  Early,  too,  that  the  legal 
battle  over  the  electric  light  franchise  and  original  plant  was  carried  forward 
and  finallv  won  by  the  city  purchasing  the  old  private  plant.  Newton  now 
gets  water  and  lights  (under  municipal  ownership  plan)  at  the  cost  of  pro- 
duction. 

CITY  OFFICIALS. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  mayors  for  Newton,  commencing  with  1868, 
the  records  having  been  lost  for  the  i>eriod  before  that:  1868.  D.  D.  Piper; 
1870.  J.  A.  Hammer:  1873.  C.  Howard;  1874.  M.  A.  Blanchard ;  1875,  D.  D. 
riper:  1877,  John  A.  Wilson,  w^hose  term  was  completed  by  D.  Edmundson 
and  ]\I.  A.  Blanchard:  1878.  M.  A.  Blanchard;  1879,  D.  Edmundson;  1880, 
X.  Townsend :  1887.  J.  B.  Eyerly :  1889,  Joseph  Stevens:  1893,  A.  Lufkin; 
1898,  George  Early:  1899.  Frank  I-ong;  1907,  Ed.  Cook:  1909  to  present 
date.  O.  C.  Meredith. 

The  officers  for  the  city  at  this  date  are:  ^layor,  O.  C.  ^^leredith: 
solicitor.  J.  E.  Cross;  clerk.  E.  C.  Finch;  deputy  clerk.  Rov  Fisk :  treasurer. 
I).  L  Clark:  health  officer.  Dr.  E.  E.  Besser :  street  commissioner,  .\rt  Rey- 
nolds: marshal,  J.  H.  Robbins;  deputy  marshal.  \\'.  V.  Wade:  superintendent 
light,  water  and  gas.  Connie  OT^eary :  councilmen.  Frank  P.  Baldwin.  George 
H.  Warner  (at-large).  Oscar  Coon,  first  ward:  John  H.  Harvey,  second 
ward:  R.  B.  Jackson,  third  ward;  Fred  Fl.  Bergmen,  fourth  ward.  The  chief 
of  the  fire  department  is  Bruce  E.  Sattele :  city  assessor,  E.  E.  Effnor :  over- 
•seer  of  the  poor,  Ed.  Cook. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  28l 

FREE   I'L-BLIC   LIBRARY 

As  has  been  well  said  hy  the  efficient  librarian  of  the  splendid  new- 
public  library  of  Xewton,  "Researches  in  the  ancient  history  of  Xewton  re- 
veals the  fact  that  the  hrst  inception  of  the  librar}-  idea  was  due  to  a  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  at  a  very  early  date.*  The  history  is  not  easilv 
traced.  The  fact  remains,  however,  that  Xewton  counted  the  furni.shing  of 
good  literature  an  important  factor  in  the  growth  of  a  good  town.  Later 
the  work  was  undertaken  b}-  the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union  and 
was  pushed  with  the  public  spirit  and  energy  that  characterizes  that  organi- 
zation. It  passed  through  many  \icissitudes.  and  only  those  of  us  who  have 
given  years  of  effort  to  initial  points  of  service,  who  have  tasted  the  bitter- 
ness of  seeming  failure,  relie\ed  by  transient  gleams  of  success,  can  aijjjre- 
ciate  the  patient  labors  of  those  days. 

"The  next  stej)  was  the  foundation  of  the  Social  I'nion.  an  enterprise  in 
which  many  took  an  acti\e  part — indeed  these  faithful  toilers  Inu'lded  better 
than  they  knew. 

'Tn  1897  the  city  took  charge  of  the  library.  In  October  of  that  year 
the  present  librarian  was  employed  and  the  matter  assumes  the  character  of 
personal  history." 

Again,  in  1910,  Miss  Belle  E.  Smith  writes  a  short  history  of  the  in- 
stitution in  which  she  says : 

"X'ewton's  free  public  library  of  four  thousand  thirteen  volumes  and  sixty 
periodicals  is  the  outgrowth  of  a  library  instituted  by  the  ladies  of  the 
Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union,  in  June.  1878.  For  seventeen  years 
a  handful  of  self-sacrihcing  women  conducted  a  public  library  and  reading 
room,  supported  b}-  indixidual  contributions  of  money  and  Ixnoks  and  a  few 
])eriodicals. 

"In  1895  the  Xewton  Social  Union  succeeded  to  the  management  of 
the  librarv  and  was  very  influential  in  causing  the  citizens  to  vote  in  March. 
1896.  for  the  establishment  of  a  public  library,  as  authorized  by  law  and  for 
a  lew  of  a  tax  f(^r  its  maintenance.  For  three  years  the  society  lalxired  to 
increase  the  number  of  books  and  when  they  last  met,  in  October,  1898.  the 
li])rarv  contained  one  thousand  eight  hundred   fourteen   volumes.     The  or- 


*Xote. — This  must  be  in  error  from  the  fact  that  an  old  record  discloses  the  fact 
that  the  Newton  Library  Association  was  organized  in  1859,  prior  to  any  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  work  in  Iowa.  The  first  invoice  of  books  numbered  one  hundred 
and  thirty-two  volumes.  A.  K.  Campbell  was  librarian  and  the  books  were  kept 
at  the  old   court  house. 


jg2  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

jianization  of  tlie  new  free  puljlic  library,  under  tlie  state  laws,  was  com- 
pleted in  Jiilv.  1896,  by  the  appt)intnient  of  nine  trustees  who  were  confirmed. 
Jn  lulv.  1902,  in  response  to  a  recpiest  from  the  trustees.  .Vndrew  Carnegie 
donated  ten  thousand  dollars  for  a  huildini;-.  under  the  usual  conditions  im- 
posed bv  him.  .\  lari^e,  attractive  site  was  purchased  and  donated  by  public- 
spirited  citizens.  December.  1902.  saw  the  library  in  its  own  building',  the 
first  time  in  its  existence  when  it  had  no  rent  to  i)ay. 

This  edifice  is  a  two-story  brick  building,  forty-seven  by  sixty-five  feet, 
has  a  heating  ])lant  and  is  lighted  nicely  by  electricity.  The  first  floor  is 
taken  up  by  the  library  proi)er  and  five  rooms — children's  reading  room, 
general  reading  room,  reference  library  and  toilet  room.  The  second  floor 
is  used  bv  the  Woman's  Clul).  library  trustees,  school  board  and  other  or- 
ganizations. 

The  number  of  visitors  to  the  reading  rooms  are  reported  not  long 
since  as  two  thousand  fi\e  hundred  monthly.  Already  two  townsmen  have 
donated  one  thousand  one  hundred  dollars  toward  the  book  purchasing  fund. 
The  library  and  reading  room  are  open  nine  hours  through  the  entire  school 
vear  of  the  public  schools  of  Newton,  and  six  hours  in  summer  time.  The 
expenses  are  reduced  some  Ijy  ha\ing  the  magazines  hand-bound  by  one  of 
the  women  of  the  place.'' 

The  tax  for  library  maintenance  at  the  jjeginning  of  1909  was  two  and 
one- fourth  mills  on  the  dollar,  but  in  August  that  year  was  increased  to 
three  mills. 

The  present  (1911)  trustees  of  the  library  are:  W.  O.  McElroy,  presi- 
dent; Mrs.  O.  C.  Meredith,  secretary;  O.  N.  Wagley,  Mrs.  C.  M.  Campbell, 
E.  J.  H.  Beard,  Mrs.  F.  L.  Maytag.  E.  C.  Ogg.  C.  P.  Hunter,  Mrs.  F.  P. 
Gardner.  Charlotte  \'.  P>ryant  is  the  librarian  and  her  assistant  is  Helen  M. 
Taylor. 

T hi:  r .\ lox  CKM j:t I':rv. 

The  attention  ])aid  to  the  resting  place  of  the  departed  dead  in  an^■  gixen 
community  speaks  \olumcs  for  or  against  the  character  of  the  people  of 
.such  section  of  the  country.  Indeed  the  mark  between  ci\ilized  and  unciv- 
ilized life  is  found  in  this  one  feature.  The  city  cemetery  in  .Xewton  lias 
been  fre(|uently  \isited  by  many  from  otlier  parts  of  Iowa,  with  the  \ic\v  of 
getting  ideas  as  to  caring  for  their  own  Ijurial  places. 

With  the  first  .settlement  (jf  Xewton  ihc  bur\ing  ground  was  on  the 
lots  when-  now  stands  the  new  high  schod]  l)nilding.  Tiiere  tiie  first  ])ioneers 
of  the  ])lace  were  laid  away  to  rest.      Tlu-rc  lluw  remained   until   Ci\il   war 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  283 

days  and  a  little  later,  when  the  association  which  had  charge  turned  it  over 
to  the  incorporated  town  of  Xewton.  Many  of  the  interments  were  moved 
to  the  new  grounds.  The  deed  record  shows  that  the  land  where  the  present 
cemeter}'  is  situated,  and  which  is  known  as  the  L'nion  cemetery,  was  origin- 
ally owned  by  Jacob  K.  Ciuthric.  who  deeded  it  to  D.  E.  Longfellow,  in  Feb- 
ruary, i860,  for  the  consideration  of  $S37-  'his  tract  contained  eleven  and 
one-(iuarter  acres.  Mr.  Longfellow  deeded  the  same  to  the  incorporation  of 
Newton,  August  23,  1866,  for  the  consideration  of  ten  dollars,  the  record 
reads.  This  cemetery  is  located  to  the  northwest  of  the  city  and  is  a  part 
of  section  2H.  township  80.  range  19.  To  this  has  been  added  two  other 
small  tracts,  making  the  present  size  of  the  cemetery  about  tw'enty  acres. 
There  are  numerous  l)eautiful  native  trees  growing  here  and  there  through- 
out the  cemetery.  In  the  nineties  the  sexton,  Mr.  Kuhn.  found  it  necessarv 
to  have  the  ground  re-platted,  so  a  better  account  could  be  kept  of  the  lots. 
At  the  northeast  corner  of  the  grounds  is  situated  the  four  lots  known  as 
Memorial,  or  Soldiers',  s(piare,  where  with  the  return  of  each  Decoration 
day  the  (jrand  Army  and  Relief  Corps  representatives,  with  other  citizens, 
meet  and  have  their  own  special  ceremonies  in  honor  of  the  fallen  heroes, 
many  of  whom  are  sleeping  their  last  sleep  \\  ithin  this  sacred  enclosure.  An- 
other feature  of  the  cemetery  is  the  chapel,  erected  in  1900  at  a  cost  of 
seven  hundred  and  eighty  dollars. 

In  1910  a  local  company  erected  a  large  mausoleum  ha\ing  two  hundred 
cr)-pts  f(^)r  the  burial  of  the  dead  abo\e  ground  in  sealed  vaults.  This  struc- 
ture was  made  of  cement  block  material  and  adds  much  to  the  beauty  of  the 
grounds.  Onlv  eight  bodies  are  now  resting  in  this  place.  After  the  build- 
ing was  completed  it  was  turned  over  to  the  city  authorities  \\  itli  pro\isions 
that  the  citv  should  maintain  it  and  keep  it  intact  perpetual!)-.  Since  early 
in  191 T  the  cit}'  has  cared  for  it. 

THE    BUSINESS    MEX's    .VSSOCIATIOX. 

Being  ali\'e  to  e\er\-  interest  of  a  growing  western  cit}-,  the  abo\e  as- 
sociation was  organized  in  1897  ^"^^  '^'^"^^  enjoys  a  membership  of  two  hun- 
dred and  foiu".  Its  hrst  officers  were  H.  M.  X'aughan.  president:  A.  K. 
Hindorff.  secretarv.  The  present  officers  are  W.  V.  Johnson,  president;  E. 
E.  Lambert,  secretarv.  The  association  has  been  instrumental  in  inducing 
manv  industries  to  locate  in  X'ewton  and  are  still  reaching  out  over  the 
countrx-  l)v  means  of  literature  and  correspondence,  llu-ough  tlie  \arious  chan- 
nels of  commerce,  to  make   Xewton   well  known  abroad,      h'rom  its  circular 


284  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

issued  in  i<)io  and  freely  distrihuled  al  the  Ikwu  stale  fair  that  season,  we 
(|uote  the  following: 

■"Xewton  is  situated  right  in  the  center  of  the  greatest  consuming  region 
in  the  world.  Iowa  is  known  the  country  over  as  l)eing  the  hest  market  in 
tile  west  for  goods  of  all  kinds  and  being  right  in  the  center  of  the  state, 
we  are  e(|uall\'  distant  from  four  great  states  which  hound  Iowa  on  either 
side. 

"Xewton  has  one  of  the  largest  iron  foundries  in  Iowa,  and  the  only 
crucihle  steel  foundrx-  of  anv  size  west  of  Milwaukee.  This  is  a  great  con- 
venience to  small   manufacturers   who  need   castings   in   small   ([uantities. 

'■l-"or  factories  Newton  ofTers  a  twenty-four-hour  electric  current  for 
motors  with  as  cheap  rates  as  any  city  in  Iowa,  large  or  small.  Our  fac- 
tories are  now  using  several  hundred  horse  power  daily  from  this  ])lant, 
wliich  is  owned  and  operated  by  the  city  itself. 

"Newton  now  employs  l:>etween  fi\e  and  six  hundred  persons  in  her 
factories  and  has  ne\-er  had  a  labor  trouble  of  any  note  in  all  the  years  of  her 
factory  history." 


CHAPTER    XIX. 


BUENA    VISTA    TOWNSHIP. 


Bnena  Vista  township  was  organized  in  February,  1857,  by  the  order 
of  the  then  presiding  judge.  The  record  shows  that  the  order  was,  that 
there  l)e  a  new  township  formed  b}-  the  name  of  Buena  Vista,  bounded  as 
follows:  "Commencing  at  the  northeast  corner  of  section  25,  township 
80.  range  18;  thence  west  on  the  section  line  to  the  northwest  corner  of  sec- 
tion 30,  same  township  and  range ;  thence  south  on  the  range  line  to  the 
southwest  corner  of  section  30,  township  79,  range  18;  thence  east  on  the 
section  line  to  the  southeast  corner  of  section  25,  said  township  and  range; 
thence  north  to  the  place  of  beginning  by  the  range  line." 

This  refers  to  original  Buena  Vista  township.  There  have  been  some 
changes  in  its  boundaries  since  then,  however. 

This  sub-division  of  Jasper  county  derived  its  name  doubtless  from  the 
Mexican  city  in  which  our  American  army  entered  in  the  war  with  Mexico 
that  had  just  closed  when  this  county  had  got  fairly  well  organized  and  had 
among  its  ])ioneer  band  many  who  had  taken  part  in  that  war. 

It  is  situated  to  the  south  of  Kellogg,  to  the  west  of  Richland,  to  the 
north  of  Elk  Creek  and  Palo  Alto,  and  to  the  east  of  Palo  Alto  townships, 
this  county.  It  is  six  miles  square.  Among  its  chief  water  courses  may  be 
named  Little  Elm  creek.  The  northw'estern  portion  of  this  township  has. 
or  did  have  at  an  early  day,  considerable  natural  timber.  The  iK)pulation  of 
the  township  in  1905.  according  to  the  Iowa  state  census  rei)orts,  was  ^"/T). 
Tt  is  one  of  the  most  excellent  farming  sections  of  the  county. 

Its  pioneer  settlers  were  thoughtful  and  enterprising  men  and  women 
whose  characters  have  left  their  impress  upon  the  present  po])ulace.  Among 
the  first  persons  to  enter  government  land  in  this  townshi])  were:  William 
Smith,  in  the  west  half  of  the  northwest  of  section  20.  August  12.^847: 
Evan  Adamson.  east  half  of  section  18,  August  14,  1847. 

In  1874  occurred  the  death  of  pioneer  Henry  Hammer.  Sr..  who  settled 
in  Buena  Vista  township  in  1848.  He  was  a  native  of  Tennessee  and  reached 
the  ripe  old  age  of  seventv-three  years.  He  was  an  anti-slax  ery  man  all  of  his 
eventful  life. 


286  lASPKK    COIXTV.    IOWA. 

In  1878  the  records  show  that  Buena  \'ista  township  liad  personal  prop- 
erty to  the  extent  of  $82,718.  inclnding  670  horses,  eis^hty  mules  and  1.780 
head  of  cattle.  In  1877  the  Ijooks  show  thai  this  township  had  i)roperty 
\alued  for  assessment  purposes  to  the  amount  of  $336,000.  The  tax  on 
this  property  broui^ht  to  the  treasury  of  the  county  $5,072.  See  Educational 
chapter  for  the  public  schools  of  this  township. 

CONCEKXING  THK     SETTLEMENT. 

A  settlement  was  made  on  Elk  creek,  this  township,  as  early  as  1845 
in  what  is  stvled  the  Hixon  and  Adamson  groves.  Moses  Lacy,  of  Illinois, 
took  a  claim  in  the  southeast  (piarter  of  section  18,  in  March.  1845.  built  a 
cabin  and  later  sold  to  Evan  Adamson.  who  moved  to  the  same  in  the  spring 
of  1846.     Adamson  immigrated  from  Missouri. 

Xathan  Williams  settled  in  the  northwest  (piarter  of  section  20  in  the 
autumn  of  1845.  sold  to  Bill  Smith,  known  as  "Fool  Bill,"  in  the  spring  of 
1846.  lie  sold  to  Enos  Adamson,  he  to  James  Robb,  and  he  in  turn  to 
William  Robb,  who  owned  the  farm  in  1900. 

l)a\id  Adamson  took  a  claim  in  the  northwest  (piarter  of  section  18. 
in  March,  1846,  and  the  following  April  sold  to  Abraham  Adamson.  He  had 
sexen  sons  and  from  this  large  family  the  gro\e  took  its  name. 

M.  D.  Springer  took  a  claim  later  known  as  the  Sam  Scpiires  farm, 
moving  to  the  same  in  January,  1846.  Ele  sold  to  Elijah  Hammer.  On 
section  20,  Ira  Hammer  claimed  land  and  the  date  of  this  entry  was  1846. 
There  pioneer  Hammer  li\ed  and  died,  barther  to  the  east.  William  Chen- 
e(|oth,  from  Ohio,  and  later  from  Missouri,  settled  either  in  1847  or  possibly 
the  year  before.     He  died  there  ten  years  later. 

Henry  Smith  claimed  land  in  1846  where  John  Wells  li\ed  a  few  vears 
ago.     He  .sold  to  IVFoses  Darling  in  1837. 

On  Elk  creek  Ballington  Aydelotte  claimed  land  in  section  8,  locating 
there  in  March.  1845,  '^''^  ^^^  original  entry  man.  In  1851  he  sold  to  Samuel 
McDaniel  and  later  it  passed  to  the  ownership  of  Milton  \'ansco\-. 

James  Plumb.  Jr..  settled  in  a  log  cabin  near  where  the  J.  W.  Murphv 
residence  now  stands  in  1848.  In  this  rude  ca])in  home  the  Rew  b'unes  IMuml) 
fn-st  saw  the  light  of  day.     Air.   Mur])hy  ])urchased  this  farm  in   1856. 

John  H.  Franklin  claimed  land  in  the  southeast  corner  of  section  6.  in 
the  early  days  of  the  spring  of  1845.  ^^''^  cabin  stood  near  the  present  school 
building  on  section  5. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  287 

William  M.  Sprini^cr  took  a  claim  on  the  northwest  of  section  7,  in  the 
fall  of   1843. 

Da\i(l  l^dmundson  settled  exactly  where  n(jw  stands  the  conntv  poor 
farm,  in  the  spring"  of   1846. 

Jacol)  Hennett  took  land  in  the  northwest  of  section  6  in  1843;  he  kej)! 
a  honse  of  entertainment  for  traxelers. 

James  Pearson  settled  in  section  5.  in  1845;  this  ])ropertv  a  few  vears 
since  was  owned  by  Daniel  W.  Alnrphw 

Pioneer  Pearson  came  into  the  connty  on  foot,  made  a  fire  and  prepared 
his  meal  and  then  laid  him  down  to  rest,  for  he  was  \erv  \\ear\ .  He  slcj)! 
by  the  side  of  a  hnge  log,  and  when  he  awoke  in  the  earlv  morning  he  dis- 
covered a  larg-e  wolf  on  the  ojjposite  side  of  the  log'  and  he  too  had  been  too 
weary  to  look  for  game  or  to  molest  the  stranger.  Both  were  surprised  and 
alarmed — the  wolf  ran  away  and  for  the  time  Mr.  Pearson  forgot  he  had  a 
gnn  and  let  the  animal  go.  Pearson  weighed  fully  two  hundred  and  fiftv 
pounds  and  it  has  often  ])een  related  of  him  that  when  he  \iewed  the  beau- 
tiful prairie  and  forest  landscape  all  about  him,  that  he  climbed  a  big,  high  tree 
and  exclaimed  in  a  very  loud  voice,  ''I  pre-empt  all  the  land  in  sight." 

Between  1850  and  1856  the  settlement  was  greatly  augmented  in  this 
and  manv  parts  of  Jasper  county.  Among  those  who  entered  lands  in  this 
township  ma}'  be  recalled  now  the  names  of:  d.  T.  Saum,  in  section  1,  in 
1851  ;  James  Fenwick.  in  section  21,  in  1852;  Leonard  Lickens,  in  section  2j. 
in  1852  or  1853;  Levi  Cook,  in  section  3,  1854;  he  erected  a  frame  house 
which  for  many  years  was  known  as  the  "steep-roofed  house.'' 

It  was  about  this  time  that  the  hrst  postoffice  east  of  Xewton.  on  the 
Iowa  City  road,  was  established.  This  oifice  was  kept  on  section  35  of  what 
is  now  Kellogg  township. 

FIR.ST    EX'EXTS. 

It  seems  (|uite  certain  that  the  first  child  born  in  this  township  was  Allie 
Springer,  son  of  William  .M.  and  "Aunt  Sally"  Springer,  he  having  been  l)orn 
in  the  winter  of  1846-7. 

The  earliest  marriage  was  that  of  Jesse  Rickman  (later  a  judge)  and 
Xancy  Pearson.  At  the  same  time,  and  both  ceremonies  being  performed  at 
the  cabin  of  Thomas  Pearson,  were  united  for  better  or  for  worse.  John 
Wilson  and  Josie  Pear.son.  Ballinger  Aydelott  tying  both  marriage  knots. 
This  was  in  Alarch.  1847.  '^he  wedding  supper  consisted  of  corn  bread, 
crabapple  pie.  crabapple  .sauce,  roast  chicken  (both  prairie  and  tame),  cab- 
bage, slaw,  roast  pork  and  vegetables. 


288  JASPER    COIXTV.    IOWA. 

The  First  sermon  preached  in  Buena  N'ista  townsliip  was  that  delivered 
by  Joah  Bennett,  a  Methodist  minister,  in  March.  1846.  Imvc  i)ersons  made 
up  his  auchence.  In  tlie  autumn  of  1846  WilHam  Ferguson  formed  a  Chris- 
tian church  society  at  the  house  of  pioneer  Balhnger  Aydelott.  and  tliis  was 
doubtless  the  first  of  this  denomination  in  Jasper  county. 

WILD   TURKEYS. 

it  has  been  related  of  pioneer  Jacob  Bennett's  good  wife  that  slie  met 
with  the  following  fate  by  a  wild  turkey:  In  the  spring  of  1845  Bennett 
planted  a  patch  of  corn  in  the  edge  of  the  brush ;  in  the  fall  he  cut  and  shocked 
it  uj).  The  wild  turkeys  proposed  to  get  a  share  of  his  labor,  so  they  came 
to  pick  corn.  Mrs.  Bennett  proposed  to  be  their  equal,  so  she  hid  herself  in 
a  shock.  A  large  turkey  gobbler  climbed  on  the  shock  she  was  in.  She 
caught  him  bv  the  leg.  held  him  fast  and  he  lacerated  her  hand  terribly  with 
his  spurs.  1)in   she  took  him  in  and  cooked  him. 

VILLAGE    OF     ML^RPHY. 

In  1890  there  was  a  postoffice  established  at  this  point,  the  northeast 
quarter  of  the  northwest  (juarter  of  section  17,  township  79,  range  18,  but  it 
was  discontinued  January  15,  191 1.  J.  W.  Murphy,  an  old  pioneer,  was 
the  only  person  who  ever  ser\'ed  as  postmaster.  The  business  of  19 10  only 
amounted  to  about  forty  dollars.  Three  mails  were  received  each  way  daily 
while  the  office  was  in  existence.  The  people  of  the  vicinity  are  now  sup- 
plied with  mail  by  the  rural  free  delivery  from  Newton  route  No.  7.  There 
is  a  small  store  located  iiere,  l)ut  aside  from  its  being  a  station  point  on  the 
railroad,  there  is  no  business  transacted  there. 

\ILLAGE  OF   KILl.DUFF. 

The  only  real  \illage  in  this  township  is  Killduti',  located  on  section  35, 
ten  miles  to  the  southeast  of  Newton,  on  the  Iowa  Central  railroad.  It  had 
in  1900  about  eighty  inhabitants,  a  postoffice,  two  good  stores,  a  lumber  yard 
and  a  blacksmith  shop.  It  had  a  population  of  one  hundred  and  fifty.  Its 
business  in  1910  consisted  of  the  following:  The  live-stock  dealer  was 
Henry  W.  Agcr;  l)lacksmithing,  ])y  O.  H.  Caniahan ;  liardware  and  hotel 
were  being  conducted  by  William  B.  Coe ;  barl>ering,  William  Harvey;  gen- 
eral dealer  in  merchandise  and  banking  in  a  small  way.  I'rank  W.  Swearingen  ; 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 


289 


restaurant,  by  W:lliani  C.  Korff,  ^vho  was  the  postmaster  at  the  date  ^iven 
above.  '^ 

There  are  two  churches,  the  Methodist  Episcopal  and  the  Reformed  •  the 
latter  denommation  have  no  regular  pastor  at  this  writing. 


(19) 


CHAPTER    XX. 


FATRVIEW  TOWNSHIP. 


This  township  Hes  on  the  south  hne  of  the  county  and  west  of  Skunk 
river,  hence  is  of  an  irregular  shape,  -conforming  as  it  does  on  its  eastern 
border  to  the  nieanderings  of  that  stream.  It  is  bounded,  or  rather  sur- 
rounded by  four  townships  and  one  county  hne.  It  has  two  steam  railroad 
lines,  both  entering  the  only  town  in  the  territoiy,  Monroe,  situated  on  the 
south  line  of  the  township  and  county.  Marion  county  is  just  to  the  south 
of  Fairview  township. 

Being  one  of  the  original  precincts  of  Jasper  county,  it  was  organized 
Mav  14,  1846.  The  order  which  made  it  a  civil  township  read  as  follows: 
"Ordered  that  Fairview  precinct  be  bounded  on  the  northeast  by  Skunk 
river,  on  the  south  by  the  county  line,  on  the  southwest  by  Des  ^loines  pre- 
cinct, and  on  the  west  by  said  county  line  to  the  said  Skunk  river.'' 

This  is  numbered  among  the  oldest  and  richest  portions  of  Jasper  county 
and  within  its  tx^rders  are  to  be  seen  many  ^•aluable  and  highly  cultivated 
farms,  producing  their  annual  harxest  of  valuable  crops,  which  have  en- 
riched  the   owners. 

Among  the  first  entries  of  government  land  in  Fairview  township  may 
be  mentioned  IManly  Gifford,  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  southeast  quar- 
ter of  section  36,  January  16,  1848;  Joel  B.  Worth,  the  west  half  of  the 
southeast  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  34,  also  the  northeast 
quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  same  section,  on  October  10,  1848. 

In  the  extreme  southeastern  portion  of  the  township  is  found  a  large 
body  of  natural  timber,  as  well  as  some  in  the  southwestern  part. 

It  was  in  this  township  that  the  original  settlement  of  Jasper  county 
was  effected  and  here  the  first  Methodist  services  were  held  at  the  home  of 
pioneer  Adam  Tool  early  in  1844;  ^  Sabbath  school  was  organized  the  same 
year  at  the  cabin  home  of  Joel  Worth,  three  miles  southeast  of  the  first  pio- 
neer settlement  in  the  county.  The  first  store  selling  general  merchandise  in 
the  south  part  of  the  county  was  in  Fairview  township.  It  was  the  property 
of  Rol^ert  Moore  and  brother,  in  1848,  they  having  purchased  the  claim  taken 
by  Mr.  Fish. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  29I 

While  the  schools,  churches  and  lodges  will  be  mentioned  at  length  in 
general  chapters  on  these  subjects,  it  may  be  stated  here  that  in  March,  1855, 
the  amount  of  school  fund  apportionment  for  Fairview  township  was  eight 
dollars  and  twenty-nine  cents. 

At  the  presidential  election  in  1852,  when  Scott  and  Pierce  were  the  can- 
didates for  the  presidency,  the  result  of  the  election  in  Fairview  township 
was  twenty  votes  for  each  candidate;  Gen.  W'infield  Scott,  however,  carried 
this  county. 

In  1855  the  temperance  (piestion  was  voted  on  in  Jasper  countv  with  the 
following  results  in  Fairview  township:  Votes  for  prohibition,  fiftv-three, 
and  against  the  measure,  forty-nine. 

In  1878  the  total  personal  property  of  Fairview  township  amounted  to 
$82,680,  including  the  items  of  941  head  of  horses,  122  head  of  mules  and 
asses  and  2,155  head  of  cattle. 

The  records  show  that  in  1877  the  total  value  of  all  property  in  this 
township  was  $423,876  and  the  taxes  paid  into  the  treasury  was  $6,554.35. 

The  first  business  transacted  in  Fairview  township,  of  which  there  seems 
to  be  any  record  extant,  was  that  of  March  7,  1853,  when  William  DeLong 
and  Xewton  Wright  met  and  divided  the  township  into  two  road  districts. 

October  4,  1853,  John  E.  Teeters  had  his  stock  mark  recorded,  which 
was  "a  swallow  fork  in  the  point  of  each  ear." 

In  April,  1854.  Daniel  Harcourt  and  Jacob  Kipp  were  elected  justices 
of  the  peace;  Ezra  Woodv  and  Jesse  Seay,  constables;  Theophilus  Bethel, 
assessor ;  \\'illiam  Highland,  Ximrod  Cope  and  William  DeLong,  trustees ; 
]*klartin  Rogers,  clerk. 

According  to  the  state  census  reports  for  1905,  the  population  of  Fair- 
view  township  in  that  year  was  1.258. 

(  For  an  account  of  the  proposed  state  capitol  in  this  township,  at  "Mon- 
roe City,"  see  index  of  general  chapters.) 

THE  TOWN   OF    MONROE. 

Monroe  was  laid  out  by  pioneer  Adam  Tool,  in  the  spring  of  1851.  the 
first  platting  being  under  the  name  of  Tool's  Point.  It  was  changed  a  year 
or  two  later  to  Monroe. 

The  first  house  erected  on  the  plat  was  by  James  A.  Tool.  The  same 
season  buildings  were  erected  by  Mrs.  Mary  S.  Fleenor,  W'illiam  DeLong, 
Daniel  Hiskey,  Dr.  J.  E.  Teter,  Hugh  Patterson.  William  Peg  and  J.  Kipp. 
The  building  erected  bv  Mr.  Hiskey  was  used  by  him  for  store  purposes. 


2Q2  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Mr.  Peg  was  the  first  "village  blacksmith.""  These  structures  were  all  of  the 
frame  tvpe.  Hosea  Alatthews  had  constructed  a  saw  mill  on  Alikesell  creek, 
iust  north  of  Red  Rock,  and  lumber  could  be  obtained  at  low  figures.  Most 
of  the  buildings  had  the  old  style,  heavy  frames  mortised  together  and  fast- 
ened with  hardwood  pins.  Only  three  were  ventured  on  the  "balloon"' 
frame  plan.  The  timbers  were  hewed  out.  studding  and  all.  The  siding 
was  black  walnut,  the  floors  of  oak,  and  the  doors  and  window  casings  were 
of  walnut.     Long  shingles  were  used,  being  split  and  dressed  by  hand. 

Late  in  185 1  a  school  house  was  built  in  the  town. 

The  first  child  to  see  the  light  of  day  here  was  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Airs.  Ilill.  She  was  christened  Anna  and  became  the  wife  of  Stephen  Shel- 
lady,  Esq.  The  eldest  child  of  the  Hill  family  was  born  in  Des  Moines  in 
1846  at  the  old  fort,  and  was  the  second  child  born  in  the  fort,  the  date  of  its 
birth  being  the  9th  of  January,  1846.  Had  the  child  been  a  son,  it  was  the 
intention  of  Mr.  Hill  to  name  him  Andrew  Jackson,  as  its  father  was  a  rock- 
rooted  Democrat. 

The  first  lawyer  to  hang  out  his  shingle  in  Monroe  was  S.  N.  Lindley, 
who  did  not  remain  long,  however,  but  moved  to  the  new  town  of  Xewton. 
In  the  county  seat  ]\Ir.  Lindley  became  a  successful  lawyer  and  judge  of  much 
note. 

Monroe  grew  steadily  until  1857,  when  it  had  reached  about  four  hun- 
dred population  and  was  the  center  of  a  good  business  territory.  The  Des 
Moines  Valley  railroad  entered  the  town  in  the  month  of  November,  1865, 
and  on  the  24th  of  that  month  the  first  freight  was  unloaded  from  a  car. 

During  the  Civil  war  days  Monroe  was  a  lively  place  and  it  sent  forth 
its  full  share  of  men,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  War  chapter. 

In  1876,  the  Newton  &  Monroe  railway  entered  the  place  and  this  gave 
new  life  and  encouragement  to  the  town.  The  first  road  charged  very  high 
rates  for  freight  and  caused  the  dealers  at  Monroe  to  lose  heavily,  especially 
about  1 87 1 -2.  but  when  connection  was  made  at  Newton  with  the  great  Rock 
Island  system,  Chicago  and  all  eastern  rates  were  materially  reduced.  Many 
of  the  Monroe  dealers  exchanged  goods  for  time  checks  of  laborers  who  djd 
the  railway  construction  work  for  the  Iowa,  ^Minnesota  &  Northern  Rail- 
road Company.  l)ut  were  great  losers  in  the  end.  as  such  paper  proved  almost 
worthless. 

INCORPORATION    ITI.STORV. 

Monroe  became  an  incorporated  town  in  December,  1867,  but  the  final 
legal  papers  were  not  properly  completed  until  the  autumn  of  1868.  The 
records  do  not  show  the  result  of  the  first  town  election,  but  it  is  ijuite  certain 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  293 

that  the  first  council  met  December  31.  1868,  and  was  made  up  of  the  fol- 
lowing gentlemen:  W.  L.  LeFever,  mayor;  M.  K.  Campbell,  recorder;  L. 
M.  Shaw,  Seth  Dixon,  J.  B.  Bennington,  John  Morrison.  A.  S.  Elwood, 
trustees:  William  Johnson,  treasurer:  John  I.  Nichols,  marshal. 

The  first  ordinance  was  one  to  restrain  persons  from  hitching  teams  to 
the  fence  around  the  public  square. 

Up  to  1878  the  sentiment  of  the  people  of  Monroe  was  largelv  in  favor 
of  allowing  liquors  to  be  sold  under  a  licensing  system,  at  least  for  the  sale 
and  use  of  ale.  wine  and  beer,  but  at  that  date  a  new  council  was  elected 
with  tliis  in  view  and  wiped  the  saloon  from  the  town. 

The  following  have  served  as  mayors  of  Monroe :  W.  L.  LeFever. 
elected  in  1868;  J.  Kipp,  1870:  H.  Green.  1872;  J.  C.  McDill.  1873;  J.  B. 
Bennington.  1874:  L.  M.  Shaw,  1875;  ^lelvin  Nichols,  1876;  G.  \V.  Hertzog, 
1877:  W.  T.  Stotts,  1879:  Aaron  Custer,  1880-81  :  \V.  G.  Romans,  1882:  D. 
Hiskey,  1883:  J.  Cunningham,  1884;  Z.  Mosher,  1885;  Z.  ]\Iosher,  1886;  G. 
\\\  Hertzog,  1887-8:  J.  W.  Honald.  1889;  W.  L.  LeFever,  1890;  Hugh  Mor- 
rison, 1891-93:  S.  S.  Seger,  1894-6:  Crane.   1896-7;  Hugh  Morrison, 

1898:  S.  S.  Seger,  1899:  J.  B.  Gray,  1900-01  ;  J.  Koder,  1901-02:  D.  J.  Lev- 
eridge,  1902-3:  G.  ^L  Cowles,  1904-05;  J.  Kbder,  1905-6-7;  A.  Palmer, 
1908-9:  \\'.  T.  W'olcott,  1910-11 

The  present  town  officers  are  W.  T.  Wolcott,  mayor:  D.  C.  Phillips, 
clerk ;  Jonas  Barr.  marshal :  councilmen.  C.  C.  Worth.  George  H.  Orcutt. 
George  Ammer.  O.  G.  Shaw,  George  Neft. 

A  gasoline  gas  plant  provides  sufficient  light  for  the  town.  It  was  in- 
stalled in  1902-3  at  a  cost  of  six  thousand  dollars,  secured  by  floating  bonds. 
The  town  has  a  good  brick  city  hall  and  jail,  but  needs  water  works. 

In  1905  the  population  of  Monroe  was  eight  hundred  and  thirty-six,  ac- 
cording to  the  state  census  reports. 

The  banking  interests  are  mentioned  in  the  chapter  on  banking. 

BUSINESS  DIRECTORY. 

In  the  spring  of  19 10  the  business  and  professional  interests  of  this  old 
and  interesting  town  were  as  follows : 

General  Dealers — James  H.  Cochrane,  Frank  J.  Coffee,  Custer  Brothers 
&  Wright,  Louis  H.  Yost. 

Groceries — J.  A.  Murray. 

Meat.s — Irwin  Heffelfinger. 


294  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Live  Stock — R.  B.  Hendershot.  Mark  Batenian,  Charles  Cramer,  W.  1. 
Shaw .  W'ilHani  Whitted.  all  breeders  but  the  first  named. 

Drugs — \V.  \\'.  Townsend. 

Lawyers — J.  Kipp  &  Son,  Jacob  Koder. 

Hardware  and  Plumbing — Ammer  &  Worth. 

Blacksmith — George  F.  Anderson. 

Physicians — Dr.  Charles  J.  Alpin.  Leonard  \V.  Cochrane  (dentist), 
Robert  K.  Gladson  (dentist).     In  191 1,  D.  H.  Wheelwright,  F.  L.  Smith. 

Li\ery — George  Corroy,  Thomas  W.  Hancock 

Merchant  Tailor — Edwin  A.  Coburn. 
.   ?^Iillinery — Estella  Broomfield,  Mrs.  Cora  Ferguson. 

Cigar  Maker — Harry  Demming. 

Shoes — O.  H.  and  L  W.  Fisher. 

Hotel — Roberts  House. 

Lumber — Citizens"  Lumber  Company. 

Furniture — J.  &  S.  Scharf,  Chicago  Furniture  Company  (1911). 

Exclusive  Live  Stock — Monroe  Live  Stock  Company. 

Newspaper — The  Monroe  Mirror. 

Telephone  Company — The  Monroe  Telephone  Company,  who  built  a 
fine  cement  block  exchange  building  in  1910. 

Cement  ^^'ork — L.  T.  Munson. 

Real  Estate— W.  T.  Stotts. 

Buggies  and  \\'agons — Hetherington  &  Son. 

THE    CITY    OF    THE    DE.\D. 

The  people  of  this  community  have  ever  taken  much  care  and  have  a 
just  pride  in  their  cemetery.  The  ^Monroe  cemetery  was  established  as  a 
private  enterprise  on  the  part  of  Daniel  Hiskey,  Esq.,  who.  in  1871,  pur- 
chased twenty-two  acres  of  land,  at  a  cost  of  two  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars,  within  a  half  mile  of  the  public  square.  This  was  soon 
fitted  up  and  properly  improved  for  a  resting  place  for  the  departed  dead  of 
the  community.  In  1878  the  property  was  sold  to  F.  M.  Slusser,  Esq.  He 
continued  proprietor  until  his  death,  when  his  heirs,  a  son  and  daughter, 
took  the  work  up  and  have  carried  the  same  on  ever  since,  although  they  reside 
away  from  Monroe.  Through  pioneer  hardware  man,  L.  I\L  Shaw,  they 
have  had  this  burying  place  well  cared  for  and  improved.  Aside  from  this 
the  citizens,  especially  the  Ladies  Association  of  Monroe,  have  accomplished 
much  to  beautify  the  sacred  enclosure  and  through  their  work  have  sue- 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  295 

ceeded  in  laying  a  fme  cement  walk  from  the  city  out  the  entire  way  to  the 
cemetery,  a  half  mile,  and  they  have  also  cared  for  all  graves  and  grave  lots 
where  relatives  do  not  reside  in  Monroe.  Xo  obnoxious  weeds  and  tall,  un- 
sightly grasses  are  permitted  to  grow  on  the  grounds.  The  walk  alone  cost  them 
eight  hundred  dollars.  With  the  return  of  each  springtime,  these  grounds  are 
looked  after  and  Memorial  day  is  an  interesting  event  in  Monroe  district,  for 
all  gather  and  remember  the  graves  of  departed  friends.  Many  fine  shade 
trees  beautify  the  place.  lx)th  native  and  evergreens.  There  are  many  costly 
monuments,  including  the  John  D.  Long  shaft,  forty  feet  high,  of  white  mar- 
ble, surmounted  by  an  angel  figure  of  rare  design.  This  monument  was 
raised  by  a  Philadelphia  firm  who  had  to  send  a  special  freight  wagon  to 
draw  the  material  from  the  railroad  to  the  cemetery,  so  huge  were  the  parts, 
including  the  great  granite  base.  This  monument,  which  cost  ten  thousand 
dollars,  was  erected  to  the  memory  of  the  great  cattle  raiser  and  '"cattle  king"' 
of  Jasper  county,  who  at  one  time  just  before  his  death  had  eight  hundred 
acres  of  Jasper  county  land  and  a  mansion  on  one  tract  of  it.  Strange  to 
relate,  and  seemingly  without  cause.  Mr.  Long  took  his  own  life  by  hanging, 
alx)ut  ten  days  prior  to  a  great  im[K)rted  stock  sale  he  was  to  have  on  his 
farm.  He  left  a  daughter  by  his  first  marriage  and  his  second  wife,  who  was 
buried  beside  him  in  the  spring  of  191 1. 

When  the  construction  of  mausoleums  l>ecame  so  popular  a  few  years 
since  in  Iowa  a  company,  at  an  expense  of  twenty-two  thousand  dollars, 
erected  one  on  the  Monroe  cemetery  grounds,  on  land  purchased  of  the  pro- 
prietors. This  was  completed  in  1909  and  has  two  hundred  and  fifty  crypts, 
of  which  about  forty  are  now  disposed  of.  The  prices  at  first  were  one  hun- 
dred dollars,  but  after  Mr.  Maytag,  of  Xewton.  came  into  possession  of  the 
place  it  was  raised  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  per  crypt.  It  is  a 
massi\e  piece  of  masonry,  lined  with  pure  white,  polished  marble.  It  con- 
tains four  tiers  of  crypts,  one  above  another,  for  both  children  and  adults. 
This  is  a  prixate  institution  and  has  mtthing  to  do  with  the  cemetery  proper. 

POSTOFFICE    IILSTORV. 

There  has  been  no  record  kept  of  this  ofiice,  except  intermittently,  so  it 
will  be  impossible  to  go  much  into  details.  It  was  one  of  the  early  offices  in 
Jasper  count)-  and  the  following  gentlemen  have  served,  with  possibly  one  or 
two  more,  but  this  seems  to  be  about  a  correct  list :  Mrs.  Adam  Tool,  first  in 
charge;  Thomas  Petete,  1854,  John  Hickey,  W.  L.  Lefevre,  Aaron  Adams, 
L  W.  Allum,  O.  B.  Kipp,  H.  G.  Nelson,  John  Vandernast.  W.  T.  Stotts.  H. 


296  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

A.  Perrin.  who  receixed  his  appointment  in  1897,  and  still  holds  the  office  ac- 
ceptably to  the  patrons  of  the  office    H.  J.  Perrin  is  assistant  postmaster. 

Monroe  postoffice  was  robbed  May  14,  1902,  when  twenty-three  dollars 
in  stamps  and  small  change  were  taken  from  the  money  drawer. 

VILLAGE    OF    FAIRMOUNT. 

This  is  a  station  point  on  the  old  Des  Moines  Valley  (now  the  Rock 
Island  branch)  railroad,  situated  in  Fairview  township,  midway  between 
Monroe  and  Prairie  City.  It  is  beautifully  situated  by  nature,  being  on  a 
level  plateau  of  prairie  land  separating  the  Des  Moines  from  the  Skunk  rivers, 
the  timber  from  both  streams  being  plainly  in  sight.  In  1878  the  place  had 
grown  to  possess  a  Methodist  Episcopal  church  edifice,  costing"  almost  two 
thousand  dollars. 

At  the  date  last  mentioned  Fairmount  did  considerable  business  in  the 
shipping  of  farm  products,  including  many  potatoes.  The  present  business 
of  the  place  is  confined  to  a  few  business  houses,  a  church  and  the  usual 
small  shops  such  as  are  demanded  by  the  farming  community.  The  county 
directory  of  1910-11  gave  the  population  of  Fairmount  as  fifty.  The  general 
dealer  was  xA.rch  Livingston,  who  was  postmaster;  grain  dealer,  J.  M.  Porter 
&  Sons. 

A  Methodist  Episcopal  church  is  sustained  here,  the  same  being  cared 
for  by  the  pastor  from  Prairie  City.  The  postoffice  at  Fairmount  was  estab- 
lished in  1876.  It  is  a  fourth-class  office,  and  has  had  but  two  postmasters, 
George  Volk  and  A.  Livingston.  It  is  a  small  office,  having  transacted  only 
one  hundred  dollars'  worth  of  postal  business  during  the  last  year.  Two 
mails  are  received  and  one  sent  each  way  daily. 

FAIRVIEW  TOWNSHIP   AND  THE   CIV^IL  WAR. 

Fortunate,  indeed,  are  the  publisliers  to  obtain  a  true  certified  copy  of 
the  list  of  soldiers  who  went  from  this  township  to  the  Civil  war.  The  list 
is  certified  to  by  R.  C.  Anderson  and  Roljert  Elwood,  sworn  to  before  Notary 
Public  Simeon  B.  Tefft.  January  11,  1865.  The  company  and  regiment  in 
which  these  men  served  will  generally  be  found  in  the  War  chapter  of  this 
work,  hence  will  not  be  repeated  in  this  connection,  but  their  age  will  be  here 
published,  showing,  as  it  does,  that  l'\airview  sent  forth  from  her  midst  youth 
and  age.  the  best  blood  and  flower  of  the  community.  Other  townships  may 
have  e(|ualed  this,  but  no  record  is  found : 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 


297 


Armstrong,  Richard,  aged  forty. 

Adams,  Aaron,  aged  thirty-five. 

Armstrong,  Samuel,  aged  eighteen. 

Brady,  George,  aged  eighteen. 

Bain,  Robert,  aged  twenty. 

Bain,  James,  aged  eighteen. 

Bargenholts,  James,  aged  twenty. 

Box.  Joseph,  aged  twenty-eight. 

Baker,  Henry,  aged  twenty-three. 

Beath.  Thomas,  aged  twenty- four. 

Buckhaher,  Cason.  aged  forty-four. 

Bargenhalts.  Peter,  aged  eighteen. 

Carr.  Raymond,  aged  eighteen. 

Campbell,  M.  K.,  aged  twenty. 

Cowles,  H.  A.,  aged  eighteen. 

Caple.  S.,  aged  eighteen. 

Dowler.  Henry,  aged  eighteen. 
Deye.   William,   aged  twenty-seven. 
Dibble,  Milo.  aged  twenty-five. 
Eyerley.  William  R.,  aged  twenty- 
four. 
Estella,  William,  aged  nineteen. 
Ell  wood,  A.  G.,  aged  thirty-seven. 
Eyerly,  J.  B..  aged  twenty-six. 
Fudge,  John  C.,  aged  twenty-one. 
Fudge.    James    W.,    aged    twenty- 
three. 
French.  Angus,  aged  thirty-five. 
Grubb,  Sylvester,  aged  eighteen. 
Grubb.  W^illiam.  aged  eighteen. 
Gray,  Perry,  aged  forty. 
Gray,  John,  aged  twenty-one. 
Gray.  Samuel,  aged  nineteen. 
Gray.  James,  aged  eighteen. 
Harcourt.     Charles,     aged     twenty- 
three. 
Heron.  David,  aged  twenty-one. 
Hughes.  Sylvester,  aged  nineteen. 
Hawkins.  David,  aged  fortv. 


Hitchins,  Joseph,  aged  thirty. 
Howard,  A.,  aged  eighteen. 
Hammond,  J.  Q..  aged  twenty. 
Hunter,  Jacob,  aged  forty. 
Hill.  John,  aged  twenty-one. 
Hill.  Frank,  aged  twenty-five. 
Hill.  James,  aged  nineteen. 
Hawling,   Edward,   aged   thirty. 
Hawkins,  William  A.,  aged  eighteen. 
Jordan.  Isaac,  aged  eighteen. 
Jones.  T.  K.,  aged  eighteen. 
Jones.  G.  G..  aged  twenty-five. 
Jordan,  John,  aged  forty-three. 
Kerr.  Thomas,  aged  twenty-one. 
Kerr,  Wesley,  aged  eighteen. 
Kerr.  George,  aged  eighteen. 
Knapp.  William,  aged  twenty-two. 
Knapp,  C.  D.,  aged  thirty. 
Kaiser,  Christopher,  aged  eighteen. 
Kindle.  Joseph,  aged  thirty. 
Loudenback.  R.,  aged  fifty. 
Lapella.  John  P..  aged  eighteen. 
Loudenback.  I.  X..  aged  twenty-two. 
Lone.  J.  P.,  aged  twenty-fi\e. 
Loudenback,   David,  aged  nineteen. 
Loudenback,   Joseph,    aged    twenty- 
one. 
Leeter.  D.  W..  aged  twenty-two. 
Mudgett.  P.,  aged  nineteen. 
Mudgett,  Woodbury,  aged  nineteen. 
Mateer,  John,  aged  thirty-five. 
Mateer.  Alex.,  aged  twenty-five. 
?^forgan.  Joseph,  aged  twenty-six. 
Murphy.  H.  ]\L.  aged  twenty-eight. 
-Murphy,  William,  aged  twenty-one. 
Montgomery,  James,  aged  eighteen. 
Moore.  W.  W.,  aged  twenty-eight. 
Mathews.  Peter,  aged  twenty. 
Mortimore.  Ephraim.  aged  eighteen. 


298 


TASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 


Mathews,  Alfrey,  aged  eighteen. 

Mathias.  Henry,  aged  thirty-four. 

McKee.  Robert,  aged  nineteen. 

McBride,  John,  aged  eighteen. 
:McDonald,    Charles,    aged    twenty- 
one. 

McWilliams.  Henry,  aged  twenty. 

McDonald,  Allen,  aged  thirty. 

McReynolds,   Ew-ing.   aged   twenty- 
two. 

McReynolds,    David,    aged    twenty- 
six. 

McCarthy,  J.  W..  aged  twenty-one. 

Xitnnio,  David,  aged  twenty-three. 

Nelson,  H.  G.,  aged  forty. 

Painter.  James,  aged  twenty-two. 

Porter,  Andrew  J.,  aged  twenty-one. 

Porter,  Robert,  aged  eighteen. 

Porter.  A\'illiam,  aged  twenty. 

Priddy,  D.  M.,  aged  forty-two. 

Parker,  Joshua,  aged  thirty-one. 

Patterson,  James,  aged  eighteen. 

Pattison,  Alex.,  aged  fifty-five. 

Romans,  A.  D.,  aged  twenty-two. 

Rice,  Frank,  aged  twenty-five. 

Richardson,    Norris.    aged    twenty- 
five. 

Rogers,  Edward,  aged  eighteen. 

Rutter,  James  G.,  aged  thirty-one. 

Rutter.  John,  aged  twenty-one. 

Rutter,  David,  aged  eighteen. 

Robison,  Jasper,  aged  eighteen. 

Robison,  George,  aged  twenty. 


Sumney,  Anthony,  aged  thirty-three. 
Sumney,  Ransom,  aged  twenty-one. 
Staler,  William,  aged  nineteen. 
Schooley,    William    E.,    aged    eigh- 
teen. 
Schooley,  James,  aged  forty. 
Stem,  Jacob,  aged  twenty- four. 
Scott,  David,  aged  twenty-two. 
Scott,  David,  aged  twenty-three. 
Scott,  James,  aged  twenty-one. 
Story,  John  H.,  aged  forty-two. 
Story.  James,  aged  eighteen. 
Shellady,  Stephen,  aged  eighteen. 
Shelledy.  S.  B.,  aged  sixty. 
Shelledy,  John  E.,  aged  twenty -five. 
Stevens,  James,  aged  eighteen. 
Sterrett,  Robert,  aged  forty-four. 
Starrett.  Finley.  aged  eighteen. 
Thorne,  George,  aged  twenty. 
Taylor,  James,  aged  twenty-six. 
Tefft,  Seneca,  aged  eighteen. 
Taylor.  James  C,  aged  twenty- four. 
Taylor,  Columbus,  aged  twenty-two. 
Taylor,  John,  aged  thirty-five. 
\^olk,  ^Michael,  aged  twenty-two. 
Vaughan.  H.  C,  aged  twenty-two. 
Wood,  Eli  F..  aged  twenty-five. 
Whitted.  Aaron,  aged  eighteen. 
Wilson.  James,  aged  nineteen. 
\\'inkler,    Theodore,   aged   eighteen. 
Whitman.  Adam,  aged  eighteen. 
\\'estfall,  Leander,  aged  twenty-two. 


VETERANS     WHO     RE-ENLISTKD. 


These  are  the  soldiers  from  Fairview  township  who  veteranized :  Robert 
W.  McKee,  H.  C.  Vaughan.  Ransom  Sumney.  Robert  Bain,  Thomas  Kerr, 
William  Eyerley,   Sylvester  Flughes,  I.   N.   Loudenback,  Leander  W^estfall, 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  299 

E.  McReynolds,  J.  O.  Hamniond.  John  Hill,  James  G.  Rutter,  William 
Murphy,  John  Schooley,  William  Mills,  William  Estee.  Alex.  Livingston, 
S.  V.  Shelledy,  O.  W.  Buckhalter,  Jeff  Long,  John  Scheck,  John  Hiskey,  H. 
Stem,  Samuel  McRevnolds. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


MOrXn   PRAIRIE  TOWNSHIP. 


This  sub-division  of  Jasper  county  is  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the 
county,  comprises  about  twenty-seven  sections  of  land,  for  the  most  part  sit- 
uated in  township  79.  ranges  20  and  21  west.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north- 
east by  the  South  fork  of  the  Skunk  river,  that  stream  being  the  Hne  be- 
tween it  and  Sherman  township.  It  is  of  quite  irregular  form,  owing  to 
the  meanderings  of  the  river.  A  ix)rtion  of  Prairie  City  is  within  this  town- 
ship, while  the  remainder  is  situated  in  Des  Moines  township.  The  north 
line  of  the  township  is  traversed  by  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  rail- 
road, which  enters  W^ashington  township  at  Colfax,  just  to  the  west  line  of 
Mound  Prairie  township. 

A  half  dozen  or  more  small  tributaries  of  the  Skunk  river  flow  from 
the  southwest  to  the  northeast  through  this  township.  But  little  native 
timber  ever  grew  within  this  township,  but  the  farming  land  on  the  prairies 
is  of  an  excellent  character  and  has  come  to  be  verv-  valuable.  The  only 
village  within  the  township,  aside  from  a  portion  of  Prairie  City,  is  Metz.  a 
small  station  point  on  the  Rock  Island  railroad. 

Mound  Prairie  was  organized  in  February.  1857,  under  the  old  county 
judge  .system.  The  order  of  the  court  creating  this  township  organization 
reads  as  follows :  "That  there  be  a  township  organized  by  the  name  of 
Mound  Prairie,  bounded  as  follows:  Commencing  at  the  northwest  corner 
of  section  3.  township  79.  range  20.  thence  west  on  the  township  line  to  the 
northwest  corner  of  township  79.  range  21  ;  thence  west  on  the  countv  line 
to  the  southwest  corner  of  said  township  and  range;  thence  east  on  the 
township  line  to  the  southeast  corner  of  section  ^^.  township  79.  range  20; 
thence  north  on  the  section  line  to  the  quarter  section  stake  on  the  east  side 
of  .section  ii.  same  town.ship  and  range:  thence  west  one  mile:  thence  north 
to  place  of  beginning.'' 

It  will  be  seen  that  this  took  in  much  more  tcrritorv  than  the  present 
township  does.  Washington  township  was  not  yet  cut  ofT  and  made  into  a 
township  organization. 

Among  the  original  land  entries  in  this  township,  as  first  organized, 
were  the  following:     Elbert  Evans,  on  the  southwest  of  section  2.  range  20. 


JASPER    COUNT V,    IOWA.  3OI 

October  28,  1848;  John  Rodgers,  in  the  southwest  quarter  of  northeast  range 
20,  of  section  2,  October  21,  1848. 

The  state  census  returns  for  1905  gave  this  township  a  population  of 
1.393- 

In  1878  the  township  paid  a  personal  tax  on  $45,867,  including  the 
items  of  544  horses;  39  mules;  1,067  head  of  cattle  over  six  months  of  age. 

In  1877  the  total  real  estate  and  personal  tax  of  this  township  was  re- 
corded as  $276,776,  on  which  a  tax  was  turned  into  the  county  treasurer 
amounting  to  $4,575.26.  See  table  of  present  township  valuations,  m  the 
chapter  on  County  Government. 

The  people  of  Mound  Prairie  ha^■e  ever  been  on  the  alert  for  the  in- 
troduction of  the  best  public  school  methods  and  have  had  standard  Jasper 
county  public  schools  from  the  earliest  date  of  its  history.  Much  concerning 
schools,  churches,  lodges,  etc.,  in  this  township  will  be  incorporated  in  the 
general  chapters  of  this  volume,  under  their  proper  and  respective  headings. 

EARLY  SETTLERS. 

The  first  settler  in  this  township  was  Joseph  Slaughter,  of  section  5, 
and  he  came  in  1845  ^"^  built  a  log  cabin,  went  back  east  and  returned  with 
his  family  in  the  spring  of  1846. 

Samuel  K.  Parker  settled  in  1847.  He  had  a  saw  mill  operated  by 
Robert  Warner. 

In  1853  John  Sumpter  settled  on  section  7.  He  became  the  first  justice 
of  the  peace  of  this  township.  Then  there  were  a  few  settlers  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river  before  1855,  in  what  is  now  known  as  the  Metz  corner,  and 
among  these  were  the  Millers,  L.  D.  Samms,  who  came  in  1849;  James, 
John  and  G.  W.  Miller,  of  1853.  with  possibly  others  who  settled  for  a  short 
time  and  moved  on  west. 

At  that  date  the  facilities  for  home  and  comfort  were  not  excellent, 
only  for  the  stout-hearted,  brave  and  self-denying  spirits.  The  nearest  post- 
office  was  at  Tool's  Point:  a  grist  mill  at  Red  Rock;  a  corn-cracker  on  the 
Indian  creek,  near  present  Colfax;  all  merchandise  had  to  be  hauled  on 
wagons  from  the  Mississippi  river ;  salt  was  seven  dollars  a  barrel :  cut  nails 
fifteen  cents  per  pound  and  other  articles  in  proportion. 

Coal  was  first  discovered  in  this  county  in  1846  by  a  young  man  on 
the  Slaughter  place. 

Reaping  with  a  reaper  was  first  accomplished  in  this  township  in  1857 
with  an  old  Rugg  reaper. 


302  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

Following  the  settlers  already  mentioned,  may  also  be  recalled  the 
following:  E.  R.  Peck;  on  section  19  was  Riley  Scoyac,  who  remained  until 
1857;  Daniel  Shepherd;  and  possibly  a  few  more  in  the  early  fifties. 

The  first  school  was  taught  as  a  private  school  by  Mrs.  Charles  Kendall 
in  the  kitchen  of  her  small  house  in  1856.  This  stood  on  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  8.  The  first  school  house  in  this  township  was  erected  on 
the  southwest  corner  of  the  east  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  7 
and  among  the  first  teachers  there  was  Samuel  Gooden. 

The  fencing  all  had  to  Ije  of  rails  split  from  the  nearby  forests,  and  if 
for  no  other  reason  the  timber  sections  of  the  country  were  always  occupied 
first,  this  being  many  years  prior  to  barb  wire  inventions.  Then  the  timber 
afforded  better  protection  against  the  severe  winter  blasts.  The  winter 
season  was  usually  put  in  by  these  pioneers  at  rail  splitting  and  getting  out 
logs,  some  of  which  went  twenty  miles  to  be  sawed  into  floor  stuff  for  cabin 
homes.  The  diet  was  usually  corn  bread,  corn  cakes  and  honey  and  plenty 
of  prairie  chicken  breasts. 

In  1843  a  mounted  company  of  dragoons  passed  through  this  township 
from  Iowa  City  to  Raccoon  Forks  or  Fort  Des  Moines.  They  crossed  the 
Skunk  at  Samuel  K.  Parker's  place. 

In  1849  set  in  the  heavy  California  emigration  to  the  faraway  gold 
fields. 

In  1856-7  the  Momions  passed  through  on  their  way  to  Salt  Lake,  in 
colonies  of  from  five  hundred  to  one  thousand  daily,  with  their  hand-carts 
loaded  with  all  their  earthly  possessions.  Each  company  had  a  few  wagons 
and  good  tents  for  the  leaders  and  the  sick  ones.  The  hand-carts  were 
rough  and  unsafe  for  such  a  long  trip. 

The  same  road  was  lined  from  sunrise  to  dark  in  1859  with  Pike's 
Peak  trains,  and  then  the  Skunk  bottoms  were  next  to  impassable.  The 
suffering  of  both  man  and  beast  will  never  be  known. 

The  first  railroad  in  this  township  made  its  advent  in  1867.  the  Rock 
Island  system. 

In  1894  Seth  W.  Macy  sunk  the  first  hole  for  coal  so  far  out  on  the 
prairies  and  struck  five  feet  of  good  coal.  Hanson  &  Nay  lor  later  opened 
a  large  bank  near  this  point  in  the  township.  Now  one  of  the  most  valuable 
coal  mines  in  Iowa  is  situated  on  the  R.  N.  Stewart  farm  on  section  17. 

The  winter  of  1855-6  was  long  to  be  remembered,  being  one  of  the 
severest  on  record.  Snow  stood  thirty  inches  deep  on  a  level  in  the  timber 
and  much  suffering  was  experienced  all  over  Iowa. 


JASPER    COrXTV.    IOWA.  3O3 

THE    VILLAGE    OF    METZ 

Metz  is  the  small  railroad  station  situated  midway  between  Xewton  on 
the  east  and  Colfax  on  the  west.  In  1877  it  is  said  to  have  contained  but  a 
half  dozen  buildings,  all  told.  It  was  put  in  here  by  the  railroad  company 
as  an  accommodation  to  the  farming  community,  where  stock  and  other 
farm  products  might  be  shipped  and  where  lumber  and  fuel  might  be  pur- 
chased from  the  local  dealers.  It  is  situated  on  section  11,  and  was  platted 
in  1883.  by  William  Hitchler.  It  now  contains  about  eighty  population.  Its 
present  business  consists  of  a  general  store  by  Jesse  H.  Clement,  who  is  also 
the  postmaster :  the  grain  business  is  carried  on  by  D.  J.  Eberhart.  Recently  a 
Baptist  church  has  been  organized  and  a  house  of  worship  erected,  at  least  is 
now  in  course  of  erection :  it  is  a  frame  building  in  the  northern  part  of  town. 

VILLAGE    OF    SEVERS. 

This  is  a  coal  mining  town  and  has  never  grown  to  great  proportions. 
It  is  at  the  terminus  of  a  coal  spur  extending  out  from  Colfax.  A  postoffice 
was  established  there  many  years  ago. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


ROCK    CREEK    TOWNSHIP. 


Rock  Creek  township  is  on  the  eastern  border  of  Jasper  county  and 
the  second  from  the  north  hne  of  the  county.  It  comprises  all  of  congres- 
sional township  Xo.  80,  range  17  west,  except  section  31,  in  the  southwest 
corner  which  belongs  in  Kellogg"  township.  Hickory  Grove  township  lies  to 
the  north;  Poweshiek  county  to  the  east;  Richland  township  at  the  south 
and  Kellogg  township  on  its  west.  In  the  central  and  eastern  portions  is  a 
fine  body  of  native  timber.  Rock  creek,  a  beautiful  stream,  with  its  branches 
affords  ample  drainage  for  this  township,  which  for  the  greater  part  is  made 
up  of  excellent  prairie  farming"  lands,  now  of  high  value  on  account  of  the 
price  of  land  and  its  exceptional  fine  productive  qualities.  The  Rock  Island 
railroad  runs  through  its  domain  from  east  to  west,  bearing  to  the  south- 
east in  its  course. 

According  to  the  state  census  reports  in  1905,  the  population  of  Rock 
Creek  township  was  seven  hundred  and  twenty- four.  It  takes  its  name  evi- 
dently from  the  stream  of  the  same  name,  a  tributary  of  the  Skunk  river. 

Among  the  first  original  entries  of  government  land  within  this  town- 
ship may  be  mentioned  Theodore  Whitney,  in  the  northwest  of  section  9, 
on  October  27,  1848;  Charles  G.  Adams,  in  the  north  half  of  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  27,  and  the  south  half  of  the  southeast  of  section  22,  on 
the  same  date. 

This  township  was  set  off  from  Lynn  Grove  township  September  4, 
1854.  The  first  election  was  held  at  the  house  of  James  Elliott.  This  sub- 
division of  Jasper  county  was  described  as  being  congressional  township 
X^os.  80  and  81,  range  17  west.  Later  Hickory  Grove  was  formed  from  its 
northern  half. 

Among  the  fatal  accidents  in  this  township  is  recalled  by  those  living- 
there  in  1874,  that  of  Washington  Young,  who  was  struck  by  lightning  on 
September  19th  of  that  year  and  instantly  killed,  while  standing  in  front  of 
his  blacksmith  shop.  A  man  and  boy  standing"  near  him  were  badly  shocked, 
but  not  materially  injured.  During  the  same  thunder  storm,  a  barn  be- 
longing to  J.  H.  Russell,  living  five  miles  southwest  of  X^wton,  was  set  on 
fire  by  lightning  and  totally  destroyed. 


r 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 


305 


Rock  Creek  is  purely  an  agricultural  district  and  has  hundreds  of  most 
excellent,  well  improved  farms,  upon  which  reside  a  happy,  contented  and 
prosperous  people. 

To  show  the  general  sentiment  of  the  township,  in  April.  1855,  when 
the  prohibition  of  the  sale  of  lifpior  came  up  through  a  vote  in  Jasper  county, 
it  may  be  stated  that  the  vote  stood  eight  for  the  law  and  twelve  against. 

In  1878  the  total  assessed  ^•alue  of  all  personal  property  in  the  town- 
ship was  $38,805.  including  that  levied  on  477  head  of  horses;  17  head  of 
mules  and  989  head  of  taxable  cattle. 

In  1877  t^i^  total  \aluation  of  both  personal  and  real  estate  was 
$275,590.  on  which  the  sum  of  $5,280  was  paid  into  the  county  treasury. 
The  reader  is  referred  to  the  table  in  the  County  Government  chapter  on 
total  valuations  of  the  various  townships  in  Jasper  county  as  in  comparison 
to  the  figures  of  this  year. 

The  schools  and  churches  are  mentioned  at  length  in  chapters  especially 
on  these  topics  for  the  whole  county. 

THE    VILLAGE    OF    TURNER. 

Turner  is  a  little  hamlet  on  the  Rock  Island  railroad  on  the  line  of  sec- 
tions 23  and  28  of  Rock  Creek  township,  fourteen  miles  east  of  Newton.  It 
affords  a  good  trading  point,  in  a  small  way,  for  the  adjacent  community  of 
farmers.  The  recent  dealers  there  are :  General  merchandise.  Lena  Diehl ; 
creamery.  E.  B.  Elliott;  postmaster,  O.  J.  Turner;  live  stock,  coal  and  lum- 
ber, O.  J.  Turner. 


(20) 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


ELK  CREEK  TOWNSHIP. 


I'^lk  Creek  township  is  situated  on  the  south  hue  of  Jasper  county  and 
comprises  almost  forty  sections  of  land,  all  in  township  78,  range  18  west, 
except  about  three  sections  which  lie  in  range  19,  of  the  same  congressional 
township. 

It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Buena  Vista  and  Palo  Alto  townships ; 
on  the  east  by  Lynn  Grove  township;  on  the  south  by  Mahaska  county  and 
Fairview  townshi[).  Jasper  county;  on  the  west  by  Palo  Alto  and  Fairview 
townships. 

This  civil  township  was  organized  May,  1846,  as  one  of  the  original 
townships  or  precincts  of  the  county  of  Jasper.  For  a  description  of  its 
original  boundaries  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  chapter  on  County  Or- 
ganization, elsewhere  in  this  work. 

The  pioneer  settlers  who  came  in  to  this  fair  and  fertile  portion  of 
Jasper  count}-  were  men  and  women  of  sterling  worth  and  possessed  the 
true  Western  settler  traits  of  character  and  indeed  they  "builded  better  than 
they  knew." 

Among  the  first  to  enter  government  land  in  this  section  of  the  county 
were:  John  J.  Mudgett,  the  west  fractional  part  of  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  29,  on  December  16,  J  856,  and  the  same  person  on  parts  of  section 
30.  September  4,  1847;  James  A.  Tool,  on  the  east  half  of  the  northwest 
(piarter  of  section  34,  September  4.  1847;  the  same  in  the  southwest  of  sec- 
tion 27,  on  the  same  date.  The  lands  were  purchased  from  the  general 
government  at  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  per  acre  and  are  now  certain 
of  being  worth  from  sixty  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  ])er  acre.  This 
shows  the  reader  the  base  of  much  of  Jasjjcr  countN's  wealth. 

The  first  sermon  ever  preached  within  Elk  Creek  township  was  by  Rev. 
-Mr.  Hitchcock,  a  Congregational  missionary,  at  the  house  of  M.  D.  Springer, 
in  the  early  spring  of  1846.  Twenty  or  more  persons  were  his  attentive  aud- 
ience.    Xo  attempt  was  made  to  form  a  church  there  then. 

The  schools  and  churches  of  this  townshij)  appear  in  iheir  resi)ective 
places  in  chapters  on  these  subjects.      It  may  be  said,  however,  in  passing. 


JASI'KR    tOlNTV.     IOWA.  3O7 

that  in  March,  1851.  the  record  shows  that  the  school  fund  a])p(jrtionnient 
for  Elk  Creek  township  aiiiounted  to  the  sniii  of  tweKe  dollars  and  twenty- 
seven  cents. 

At  the  general  election  in  iS3_>,  when  (leneral  Scott  and  hVankiin 
Pierce  were  running  for  President  of  the  L'nited  States,  the  vote  in  Elk 
Creek  township  stood,  ten  for  Scott  and  three  for  Pierce. 

In  1855  the  question  of  prohihition  of  intoxicating  liquors  in  Jasper 
county  resulted  at  an  election  in  which  tlie  \ote  in  Elk  Creek  township  was 
thirteen  for  the  law  and  thirty  against  prohihition.  It  carried,  however,  in 
the  county  hy  thirty-five  votes. 

In  1878  the  total  amount  of  personal  property  assessed  in  Elk  Creek 
township  was  $83,267.  This  included  the  items  of  786  horses,  66  mules 
and  asses,  and  1,670  cattle. 

As  to  the  valuation  and  taxes  on  property  of  all  kinds  in  this  town.ship 
in  1877.  the  books  show  that  it  amounted  to  $356,410,  and  that  the  taxes 
turned  into  the  treasury  were  $5,073.  I^he  state  census  returns  in  1905  fixed 
the  population  as  being  909. 

VILLAGE    OF    GALESBURG. 

The  village,  or  hamlet  of  Galesburg,  on  section  16  of  this  township,  is 
five  miles  east  of  Reasoner.  It  was  recorded  of  it  in  1878  that  it  contained  a 
good  store  which  drew  trade  from  a  large  farming  section.  It  once  had  a 
postoffice,  but  after  the  establishment  of  rural  delivery  of  mail  in  the  county 
it  was  discontinued.  A  general  store  is  conducted  there  by  A.  A.  AUoway; 
also  one  l)y  William  C.  DeBruyns  and  A.  Graffs.  The  village  blacksmith  is 
C.  Breen.  At  an  early  day  there  was  hopes  of  this  becoming  a  much  larger 
place  than  it  has  attained  to. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


MARIPOSA     TOWNSHIP. 


Mariposa  township  is  the  second  from  the  east  and  lies  on  the  north  hne 
of  the  county,  comprising  congressional  township  No.  8i,  range  17  west.  It 
is  almost  entirely  a  prairie  township,  having  a  few  small  streams.  Its  soil 
is  fertile  and  its  farms  are  among  the  most  valuable  and  productive  of  any  in 
the  county.  To  its  north  is  Marshall  county;  to  its  east  is  Hickory  Grove 
township;  to  its  south  is  Kellogg  township  and  on  its  west  is  Malaka  town- 
ship. Its  population  in  1905  w^as  placed  in  the  state  enumeration  reports  as 
being  six  hundred  and  twelve. 

Mariposa  was  organized  in  the  month  of  February,  1857,  by  the  county 
judge  then  in  office.  The  record  says,  "Ordered  that  there  be  a  new  township 
formed  by  the  name  of  Mariposa,  bounded  as  follows :  Commencing  at  the 
northeast  corner  of  township  81,  range  18;  thence  west  to  the  northwest 
corner  of  said  township;  thence  south  to  the  range  line  to  the  southwest 
corner  of  section  19,  in  township  80,  range  18;  thence  on  the  section  line  to 
the  southeast  comer  of  section  24  in  said  township  and  range;  thence  north 
on  the  range  line  to  place  of  beginning."' 

Among  the  first  to  enter  government  land  in  this  township  were :  Ben- 
jamin Springer,  in  the  fractional  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  7, 
on  May  15,  1854;  Almond  Bird,  in  the  sowtheast  of  section  33,  July  i,  1854. 

The  settlement  prospered  and  the  lands  l>ecame  e(]ually  valuable  to  that  of 
<jlder  and  timbered  portions  of  the  county.  In  1878  the  records  show  that 
this  township  had  a  personal  tax  valuation  amounting  to  $40,322,  on  which 
they  paid  into  the  treasury  the  sum  of  v$700.  In  1877  the  total  value  of  all 
taxable  propcrt\-,  personal  and  real,  was  $218,239,  which  caused  the  taxpayers 
to  deposit  in  the  county   funds  the  sum  of  $3,365.13. 

This  township  has  always  kept  al)reast  with  the  average  township  in 
jasper  county  in  the  matter  of  roads,  l)ridges  and  schools,  the  people  being 
full}'  up-to-date  and  possessed  of  the  true  American  spirit  of  "go-ahead.'' 
With  the  advent  of  the  rural  mail  delivery  and  the  telephone  system  in  the 
county,  Maripo.sa  has  l>een  gready  benefited  by  these  necessities,  as  viewed 
from  a  modern  farmer's  standpoint. 

The  schools,  churches,  etc.,  connected  witli  this  townshij)  are  treated  in 
general  cliapters  on  tliese  to])ics,  hence  need  not  here  be  repeated. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


MALAKA   TOWNSHIP. 


This  is  the  largest  township  within  Jasper  county.  It  is  situated  cen- 
trally east  and  west  and  is  on  the  northern  hne  of  the  county,  bordering  on 
Marshall  county,  with  Mariposa  and  Kellogg  townships  at  its  east;  Xewton 
township  on  the  south  and  Sherman  and  Independence  on  the  west.  It  has 
forty-eight  sections  of  land,  and  comprises  township  8i  and  two  tiers  of  sec- 
tion of  township  80,  range  19  west. 

This  township  was  organized  in  February,  1S57.  by  the  then  county 
judge.  The  record  of  its  formation  is  as  follows:  "Commencing  *m  the 
northeast  corner  of  township  81,  range  19;  thence  west  on  the  countv  line 
to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  2,  in  township  81.  range  20;  thence  south 
on  the  section  line  to  the  southeast  corner  of  section  12.  township  80,  range 
19;  thence  north  on  the  range  line  to  the  place  of  beginning.'' 

According  to  the  census  reports  of  1905  taken  by  the  state  authorities, 
this  township  had  a  population  at  that  date  of  six  hundred  and  twenty-four. 

Robert  H.  Snyder  entered  government  land  in  the  northwest  (piarter 
of  the  northwest  (juarter  of  section  23,  township  81,  range  19,  on  November 
16,  1852;  Greenberry  Bridges,  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  27,  on  the  same  date. 

This  is  one  of  Jasper  county's  almost  exclusive  prairie  townships  and  is 
now  well  developed  into  valuable,  high-priced  farms  with  a  happy,  prosperous 
and  contented  populace.  However,  it  is  without  railroad  or  near-by  town 
market  places,  depending  upon  the  city  of  Newton  largely  for  such 
accommodations. 

This  township  became  the  seat  of  the  famous  \\'ittemberg  Manual  La- 
bor College,  mentioned  at  length  in  the  Educational  chapter. 

The  taxes  paid  on  the  personal  property  in  this  township  in  1878 
amounted  to  $90,680,  inclusive  of  the  items  of  849  head  of  horses;  51  head  of 
mules  and  asses  and  2,333  ^^^^<^1  '^^  cattle  over  six  months  of  age.  The  year 
prior  to  that  (1877)  the  total  tax  of  the  township,  personal  and  realty, 
amounted  to  $5,760,  while  the  total  valuation  was  placed  at  $370,400. 

Several  other  items  connected  with  the  history  of  this  township  will  be 
found  under  their  proper  headings  in  the  general  chapters,  including  the 
churches,  schools,  etc. 


cii.\rT]-:k  x.w  1. 


UES    MOINES   TOWN  SHIP. 


Des  Moines  is  the  extreme  southwestern  township  of  Jasper  county.  It 
is  composed  of  township  78,  range  21  west,  and  a  part  of  range  22  of  the  same 
township.  It  is  eight  miles  from  east  to  west  and  six  from  north  to  south. 
The  "correction  hue""  runs  on  the  north  line  of  this  township,  hence  there  oc- 
curs a  set-off,  or  jog,  the  townships  to  the  north  being  set  over  to  the  west  one 
mile  on  account  of  this  correction  line.  The  southern  portion  of  this  sub- 
division of  Jasper  county  is  quite  well  supplied  with  native  timber,  of  excellent 
varieties.  Numerous  little  streams  course  through  the  domain,  making  it 
one  of  rare  beauty  and  fertility.  To  its  east  lies  Fairview  township;  to  its 
south  is  Marion  county ;  to  its  west  is  Polk  county ;  and  on  its  north  are 
Washington  and  Mound  Prairie  townships,  Jasper  county. 

In  1905  its  population  was  one  thousand  and  eighty.  For  an  account  of 
its  schools  and  churches,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  general  chapters  on  these 
topics. 

Of  the  organization  of  this  township  it  should  be  stated  that  it  was  among 
the  original  townships  set  off  in  jasper  county  and  has  a  history  dating  back 
to  May,  1846,  when  the  county  was  organized  into  precincts.  It  was  described 
by  the  record  as  comprising  "a  precinct  laid  oft'  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
county,  to  be  called  Des  Moines,  said  precinct  to  contain  all  the  territory  west 
of  the  Indian  boundary  line,  and  all  south  of  the  territorial  road  leading  from 
Oskaloosa  to  Fort  Des  Moines,  within  said  Jasper  county." 

.Among  the  first  to  enter  go\ernment  land  in  this  township  were ;  Na- 
than l^jrown,  in  the  east  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  26,  on  Sep- 
tember 26,  1848;  (ieorge  Anderson,  on  the  west  half  of  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  section  30,  on  the  same  date. 

The  sch(Kjl  fund  apportionment  for  1  (S5  i  was  thirteen  dollars  and  twenty- 
seven  cents  for  Des  Moines  township. 

In  1852,  at  the  presidential  election,  this  townshi])  cast  sexenteen  votes 
for  Cien.  Winfield  Scott  and  fifteen  for  ['"ranklin  Pierce  for  President  of  the 
United  States. 

In  .\ijril.  1855,  at  an  election  o\er  the  \  exed  (|uestion  of  selling  or  not 
.selling  intoxicating  li(|uors  in  Jasper  county,  the  vote  stood  in  this  township, 
twenty  for  and  thirty  against  tlie  measure  of  ])roliihition. 


I  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  3II 

The  records  show  that  in  iHjcS  the  personal  property  in  Des  Moines 
township  amounted  to  $85,609.  inchuhnj,^  such  articles  as  865  horses,  133 
mules  and  asses,  and  i,<j^^  head  of  cattle. 

In  1877  the  books  show  that  this  townshi[)  had  a  total  of  $408,647  in  all 
kinds  of  property,  and  on  this  paid  taxes  into  the  treasury  to  the  amount  of 
$6,268.13. 

TOWNS    AND   VILLAGES. 

In  this  township  are  the  towns  of  Prairie  City  and  Vandalia.  The 
former  is  situated  on  the  northern  border  line  and  is  a  station  point  on  the 
first  railroad  in  Jasper  county,  the  old  Des  Moines  Valley  line,  now  owned 
and  operated  by  the  great  Rock  Island  systeuL  It  was  written  (^f  this  enter- 
prising town  as  early  as  1877  that  it  was  one  of  the  best  of  its  size  in  all  Iowa 
and  that  Iowa  towns  ^vere  the  best  of  any  between  the  two  great  oceans.  It 
was  at  hrst  named  Elliott,  but  changed  in  1856  to  Prairie  City.  The  first 
settlement  was  effected  here  in  the  autumn  of  1851  l)y  William  Means,  soon 
followed  bv  James  H.  Elliott  in  1852,  and  he  in  turn  succeeded  by  Anderson 
Boyd  in  1853.  The  first  building  was  erected  by  the  owner  of  the  plant  and 
it  was  used  as  a  blacksmith  shop.  William  Robertson  built  the  first  dwelling 
and  the  pioneer  store  was  a  small  building  removed  from  Monroe  on  a  wagon 
by  Benjamin  Adams,  this  being  done  before  the  town  had  been  surveyed. 
George  W.  Bailey  opened  the  next  store.  A  school  house  was  built  in  the 
summer  of  1856.  but  the  first  school  taught  in  this  township  was  by  Isaac 
Hershman  in  a  small  building  owned  by  James  H.  Elliott,  this  being  in  1855. 
It  stood  until  1877,  when  it  was  torn  down  from  its  original  site,  which  was 
lot  No.  6,  block  No.  10,  of  Prairie  City. 

The  first  preaching  here  was  by  a  Methodist  preacher  in  the  fall  of  1853. 

The  first  deaths  were  children  of  Anderson  Boyd,  who  died  of  scarlet 
fever  in  the  fall  of  1854. 

Prairie  City  grew  rajjidly  from  1865  on  for  several  years.  The  Des 
Moines  Valley  Railroad  reached  this  point  in  1866  and  then  came  a  genuine 
healthv  boom.  By  1878  its  population  had  reached  about  nine  hundred, 
which  is  probably  in  excess  of  its  present  population  by  a  hundred  or  more. 
In  1878  it  reported  to  a  local  historian  that  it  possessed  two  good  banks,  a 
large  flouring  mill,  two  grain  elevators,  and  the  usual  number  of  shops  and 
stores. 

Its  location,  geographically  and  topographically,  make  it  one  desirable 
to  live  in.  as  it  stands  on  almo.st  level  table-lands  separating  the  Des  ^loines 
from  the  Skunk  rivers. 


312 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 


To  gi\e  the  reader  a  faint  glimpse  of  what  this  town  was  in  pubhc  en- 
terprise ami  spirit  in  i860,  it  may  he  well  to  descril>e  the  Fourth  of  July  cele- 
bration of  that  year.  It  was  celebrated  in  splendid  style,  by  a  procession  form- 
ing on  the  public  square  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  officered  by  Isaiah 
Coombs.  George  Fugard,  James  F.  Parker,  Fletcher  :\linshall,  J.  H.  Elliott 
and  R.  H.  McConnell,  headed  by  the  Newton  Brass  Band.  A.  F.  McConnell 
read  the  Declaration  of  Independence  and  addresses  were  made  by  H.  S. 
W'inslow.  Judge  Phillips,  of  Des  Moines,  Thomas  S.  Osborn.  of  Chicago,  and 
Rev.  Caleb  Bundy.  Six  hundred  people  sat  at  dinner  around  a  table  heavily 
loaded  with  all  that  was  palatable,  the  length  of  the  improvised  table  being 
four  hundred  feet. 

A  later  Independence  Day  celebration  was  of  not  so  pleasing  a  character. 
It  was  that  of  18^)9,  when  several  young  men  were  saluting  by  the  firing  of 
an  anvil  when  some  one  mentioned  the  fact  that  the  town  afforded  another 
an\il.  which  was  brought  forward,  l)urst  with  the  first  shot  or  discharge. 
It  proved  to  be  a  cast  iron  one,  hence  not  safe.  The  bursting  of  this  anvil 
instantly  killed  a  Mr.  Anderson,  of  Prairie  City,  a  man  sixty  years  old ;  also 
Mr.  Rockbold,  of  Vandalia,  besides  severely  wounding  several  others  in  the 
crowd  of  by-standers. 

Prairie  City  was  incorporated  and  its  first  council  met  October  14,  1868, 
when  Sidney  Williams  was  mayor.  In  March,  1869,  the  work  of  sidewalk 
building  engaged  the  attention  of  the  people  and  the  council.  In  July,  the 
same  year,  a  town  jail  or  calaboose  was  erected  for  the  unruly  ones  who 
chanced  to  l)e  within  the  town's  gates.  The  mayors  from  then  on  included 
1).  M.  Bartlett,  1869:  C.  Smith,  in  1875;  D.  G.  Winchell,  1876;  E.  R.  Ward, 
in  1877;  A.  H.  Brous,  1881-83;  L.  A.  Williams,  1883-85;  G.  J.  Comman, 
1885-89;  M!.  Feathers,  1889-91;  I.  W.  Shriver,  1891-95;  C.  M.  Baird,  1895- 
97;  F.  J.  Cowman,  1897-99;  C.  M.  Baird,  1899-1901 ;  George  K.  Scott,  1901- 
03;  D.  H.  Gill,  1903-07;  C.  M.  Baird,  1907-10;  J.  W.  Hayes.  1910-12. 

,\  nine-thousand-dollar  water  works  plant  was  voted  in  1904  and  it  is 
now  doing  service.  The  present  city  clerk  is  Frank  C.  Turner,  who  is  capable 
for  his  duties. 

The  lodges  and  churches  of  this  place  will  be  treated  in  their  respective 
chapters   elsewhere    in   this   work. 

The  postoffice  history  of  tliis  place  begins  with  its  establishment  in  about 
1855.  It  is  now  situated  on  the  north  side  of  the  square.  The  first  rural 
route  was  established  from  this  point  in  July,  1902,  and  there  are  now  two 
routes  leading  to  the  surrounding  country.  The  amount  of  business  trans- 
acted during  the  year  1910  at  this  postoffice  was  three  hundred  and  fiftv  dol- 


JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA.  3I3 

lars.  Five  mails  are  received  here  daily.  On  the  night  of  April  21,  1909,  the 
safe  of  this  postoffice  was  blown  open  by  two  burglars,  and  stamps,  etc.,  to 
the  amount  of  eight  hundred  dollars  and  postal  funds  to  the  amount  of  about 
one  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars  was  taken  out.  Xo  clue  has  ever  been 
obtained  to  the  rcjbbery. 

The  following  have  served  as  postmasters  at  Prairie  City :  James 
Elliott,  J.  Irely.  John  Butters.  Caleb  Bundy,  D.  M.  Bartlett,  Dennis  Win- 
chell.  Jc^hn  Lyons.  A.  H.  Brous.  T.  J.  Cowman,  J(jhn  Sell)y.  W.  H.  Price. 
Jacol)  Mummert  and  the  present  incumbent,  T.  W.  Xixon. 

The  town  is  provided  with  a  handsome  park,  a  full  square,  in  which  are 
now  growing  a  large  number  of  artificial  trees,  which,  with  the  band-stand 
in  the  center,  makes  an  attractive  place. 

The  Knights  of  Pythias.  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  Masons 
have  lodges — see  chapter  on  Lodges  in  this  volume. 

The  churches  here  represented  are  the  Christian,  Methodist  Episcopal, 
Congregational.  Christian  Reformed  (Dutch). 

BUSINESS  DIRECTORY  IN    I9II. 

Banking — The  First  National  and  the  State  Bank. 

Prairie  City  Milling  Company — Peter  Wagman,  miller. 

Dowden  Manufacturing  Co. — Makers  of  end-gates  and  potato  diggers. 

Prairie  City  Grain  and  Live  Stock  Company — George  V^anderz,  manager. 

General  Dealers — F.  J.  Christie.  George  Cross. Illias. 

Hardware  Dealers — Little  &  Gill  Company,  Jenks  &  Son. 

Drugs — X.  D.  Riddle.  J.  F.  Freeman. 

Harness— E.  C.  Wilson. 

Restaurant — E.  K.  Ballogh.  A.  A.  Jones. 

Hotels— The  Main  and  the  Feathers.  ■ 

Furniture — ^^^  A.  Thomas. 

Novelty  Store — M.  Feathers. 

Postmaster — T.  \V.  Nixon. 

Millinery — Carrie  White. 

Meats — \>rhaalen  &  \^erdught. 

Railroad  Agent — Frank  Joy. 

Blacksmiths — Rantlall  &  Son.  Ren  fro  &  Bowen. 

Dentist — Dr.  D.  ]\I.  Hemminger. 

Billiard  Hall— F.  E.  Davis. 

Auctioneer — Col.  John  T.  Graham. 


-I^^  JASPER    COIXTV.    IOWA. 

Shoes  and  Clothing — D.  Kramer  &  Co. 

Barbers — W'aher  Hugen,  Alex.  Ray. 

Newspaper — The  Prairie  City  Nezus. 

General  Insurance — Frank  L.  \Voodard. 

Stationery — Leonard  May. 

Books  and  Confectionary — H.  C.  Cowman. 

Livery — William  Dutley. 

Lumber — McKleven  &  Co. 

Physicians — Drs.  J.  F.  Hary.  \\'.  B.  Chase,  W.  D.  AlcCormaughey.      ' 

Attorneys — A.  A.  Arnold,  A.  H.  Brous. 

Opera  House — The  L'nion  Mall.  W.  S.  F'arker.  i)roprietor. 

VANDALI.\   VILLAGE. 

\^andalia  was  laid  out  in  1851.  John  0.  Deakin  and  family  were  the 
life  of  earlv  \'andalia.  The  first  store  in  the  place  was  opened  by  Henry 
Shearer.  Mr.  Deakin's  father-in-law. 

A  school  house  was  provided  in  1856,  and  by  a  few  years  more  the 
place  had  outgrown  the  most  sanguine  expectations  of  its  founder.  In  1861 
it  was  a  better  town  than  Monroe  and  kept  on  holding  its  enterprise  until 
1865.  when  it  had  a  population  of  about  five  hundred.  There  were  four 
general  stores,  two  mills,  two  hotels,  three  blacksmith  shops,  two  wagon  shops 
and  a  good  plow  factory.  Before  that  date  had  been  formed  both  a 
Christian  and  Presbyterian  church  society. 

The  Des  Moines  Valley  road  had  planned  to  take  in  this  village  on  its 
southeastern  route,  but  finding  that  they  could  legally  avail  themselves  of 
every  other  section  of  valuable  land,  even  if  they  did  go  in  a  ^■ery  crooked 
and  extended  course  through  the  domain  of  the  state,  they  decided  to  go 
farther  out  and  leave  Vandalia  out  in  the  rural  district  in  which  she  had 
been  so  long  located.  It  was  the  old  Des  Moines  Navigation  Companv  liack 
of  the  building  of  this  railroad,  and  its  litigation  was  the  tliorn  in  the  side  of 
every  Congress  until  finally  adjusted,  about  1885.  Many  of  the  original 
settlers  all  along  the  river,  as  far  north  as  Fort  Dodge,  lost  all  they  had  ])ut 
on  their  lands  in  way  of  twenty  years  improvements. 

EARLY  DAY.S  IN    TTTE  VILLAGE. 

.\t  \'andalia,  the  first  claim  was  taken  by  John  O.  Deakin,  in  1845, 
while  Iowa  was  yet  a  territory.  He  removed  from  Henry  countv.  Iowa,  in 
the  following  year,  and  not  long  after  his  settlement  he  was  joined  bv  liis 
wife's  parents,   Henry   Shearer  and   wife,  and   George   Anderson   and   wife. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  315 

Dnrini^-  his  first  year's  sojourn,  Mr.  Deakin  believed  he  had  located  in  Polk 
county,  and  he  cast  his  vote  in  that  county  in  the  fall  of  1846.  Me  also  served 
as  a  grand  juryman  from  Polk  county. 

The  hrst  birth  in  the  village  was  that  of  a  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  An- 
derson in  the  fall  of  1849. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  a  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deakin,  which  oc- 
curred in  1848. 

The  first  school  house  was  erected  in  1850,  but  a  school  had  been  taught 
by  George  Reese,  the  previous  winter.  The  patrons  of  this  first  school  were 
inclusive  of  these :  Elias  Prunty,  Abner  Ray,  George  Anderson,  Alexander 
Black  and  J.  Q.  Deakin. 

In  1848  Mr.  Deakin  built  a  saw  mill  on  Camp  creek,  near  the  west  line 
of  the  county.  He  cut  large  quantities  of  native  lumber  and  patrons  to  his 
mill  came  for  many  miles  distant  with  logs.  Two  years  later  he  commenced 
the  building  of  a  flouring  mill  and  carding  machine,  where  \'andalia  now 
stands.  In  digging  a  well  for  his  carding  factory,  he  struck  a  vein  of  soft 
coal  about  twenty  feet  below  the  surface.  It  was  found  to  be  four  feet  thick, 
and  was  used  for  heating  his  buildings  during  the  winter. 

With  the  construction  of  the  old  Des  Moines  \^alley  railroad,  the  present 
Rock  Island  route,  Vandalia  began  to  go  down,  it  being  an  inland  town. 
Today  many  know  not  of  its  former  history.  Its  present  business  is  con- 
fined to  a  general  store  conducted  by  John  Cavatt. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 


KELLOGG  TOWNSHIP. 


Second  from  the  north  and  the  same  from  the  east,  in  Jasper  county,  is. 
Kellogg  township,  which  is  all  of  congressional  township  No.  80,  range  18 
west.  It  is  for  the  most  part  a  fertile  prairie  section  of  the  county.  Its 
Ix-autiful  streams  are  (juite  numerous,  and  these  include  Alloway,  Burr  Oak 
and  Coon  creeks.  In  the  central  part  of  the  township  is  found  a  good  sized 
hody  of  natural  timber  land.  The  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  railroad  traverses 
the  territory  from  east  to  west,  bearing"  diagonally  from  southeast  to  north- 
\\est  through  a  larger  part  of  its  course.  The  only  town  \yithin  this  town- 
ship is  Kellogg,  situated  on  section  23. 

The  township's  population  in  1905,  as  per  state  reports,  was  six  hun- 
dred and  eight,  plus  that  of  Kellogg  town,  five  hundred  and  ninety-two,  mak- 
ing a  total  of  one  thousand  two  hundred. 

In  1878  it  had  a  personal  tax  yaluation  of  $64,207.  including  571  head 
of  horses:  30  mules;  1,407  cattle. 

In  1877  the  township  paid  a  tax  on  all  its  property  assessment  into  the 
county  treasury  amounting  to  $4,986,  which  had  been  levied  on  a  valuation 
of  all  property,  personal  and  real,  amounting  to  $329,586. 

Here  one  finds  a  thrifty  set  of  settlers  who  have  wonderfully  trans- 
formed the  appearance  and  real  value  of  the  six-mile-square  tract  of  Jasper 
county  land. 

This  township  was  organized  in  1868  by  the  board  of  county  super- 
visors and  had  previously  been  attached  to  other  territory. 

TITE  TOWN    OF    KELLOGG. 

Kellogg  was  laid  out  l)y  Messrs.  Enos  Blair  and  Abraham  W.  Adair  on 
September  12,  1865,  \vhich  was  a  few  months  before  the  first  passenger  ser- 
\'ice  was  perfected  on  what  is  now  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  rail- 
road, then  known  as  the  Mississippi  &  Missouri  railway,  to  this  point  in 
Jasper  county.  It  stands  (original  platting)  on  section  23,  township  80, 
range  18  west. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  317 

Soon  after  the  platting  had  been  executed  a  postoffice  was  estabhshed, 
known  as  Kimball,  the  name  of  the  plat  having  been  recorded  as  "J^^sper 
City."  The  railroad,  however,  had  named  the  station  at  this  point  Kellogg, 
hence  the  place  had,  for  a  short  time,  three  names.  The  track  of  the  rail- 
road being  laid  from  east  to  west,  headed  for  the  Missouri  river,  reached 
Kellogg  in  the  spring  of  1866,  and  soon  freigiit  and  passenger  service  was 
maintained.  The  terminus  of  the  road  was  here  for  about  a  year.  None 
were  sure  what  the  company  proposed  to  do  in  way  of  extension,  or  improve- 
ments, hence  most  all  the  buildings  were  little  other  than  mere  board  shanties, 
aside  from  one  building  owned  by  a  Mr.  Downing,  which  later  liecame  the 
Methodist  parsonage. 

During  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1866  a  tavern  was  started  by  Ben- 
jamin Manning;  Blair  &  j\dair,  town  site  proprietors,  oi)ened  up  stores  and 
Samuel  Rich  a  blacksmith  shop.  Mr.  Rich,  aside  from  pounding  at  the 
glowing  forge,  was  also  the  ''Nasby"  of  the  town,  for  he  held  the  office  of 
postmaster  and  it  is  related  for  a  truth  that  he  delivered  mail  from  his  hat 
around  the  embryo  village.  The  beer  saloon  was  early  in  the  field  here,  for 
during  the  year  last  mentioned  two  were  staVted  by  Messrs.  -\.  J.  Fish  and 
Dick  Wood. 

Besides  those  already  referred  to,  there  were  residing  in  Kellogg  during 
the  winter  of  1866-7:  William  Vaughan,  Robert  Ludwick,  J.  \V.  Maynard. 
Samuel  Rich,  an  attorney  named  Cooney,  Lewis  Clark.  Fred  C.  Downing. 
John  Matthews,  the  pioneer  butcher,  George  Laird,  W.  R.  Reynolds,  E.  L. 
Keagy,  James  McCully,  Thad  Woods,  Captain  Atwater,  Barrtey  Curtis, 
Patrick  McGuire  and  a  few  more,  all,  or  nearly  all,  men  of  families. 

Tn  1867  the  peo])le  united  in  the  building  of  a  union  church,  which 
later  was  purchased  by  the  Congregational  society,  and  in  the-  winter  of 
1868-9  't  was  rented  for  school  house  purposes  and  in  it  was  taught  the  first 
school  by  J.  H.  F.  Balderson. 

The  first  sermon  in  the  place  was  preached,  however,  by  Rev.  Spooner  in 
the  depot  in  the  late  months  of  1866.  this  man  jjeing  of  the  L'nited  Brethren 
faith.  Next  came  the  L'uiversali^t  preacher.  Rev.  Eaton.  Then  came  another 
United  Brethren  preacher.  Rev.  Longshore.  A  society  of  this  faith  was 
formed,  but  went  down  after  a  year  or  two. 

The  infant  of  Air.  and  Mrs.  William  \'aughan,  born  in  the  winter  of 
1866-7,  '^^■^s  doubtless  the  first  to  be  born  in  Kellogg:  it  survived  init  a  half 
year. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  William  Patten  to  Mollie  Winters  in  1867. 


^iS  lAsi'KR  c()^^T^■.   iowa. 

In  1872  a  large  and  costly  flouring  mill  plant  was  erected  at  Ixlellogg. 
It  was  operated  about  three  years,  when  it  w^as  burned  and  another  followed 
in  a  few  years. 

Kellogg  had  a  fine  growth  for  many  years.  A  former  history  of  this 
place,  compiled  in  1878.  speaks  of  it  as  follows :  The  town  of  Kellogg  has  had 
a  rapid  growth  in  the  thirteen  years  of  its  existence.  It  is  surrounded  by  a 
magnificent  farming  region  and  enjoys  a  large  trade.  Its  population  ranks 
third  in  the  county  and  it  has  by  no  means  reached  its  limit  of  growth.  Its 
citizens  are  wide-awake  and  enterprising,  and  are  able  to  hold  their  own  in 
comjietition  with  the  surrounding  towns.  Its  builders  are  fully  employed 
and  its  growth  (hu-ing  iH/H  is  equal  to  that  of  the  most  prosperous  towns  in 
Iowa,  population  being  considered." 

MUNICrP.XL   HISTORY. 

Kellogg  was  legally  incorporated  in  1874,  pursuant  to  a  vote  of  its 
people.  The  first  council  was  organized  March  16.  1874,  made  up  as  follows: 
J.  H.  F.  Halderson,  mayor;  W.  J.  Hay  ward,  Philip  Shoemaker,  L.  L.  Patton, 
L.  W.  I)a\is.  S.  1').  Lyday.  trustees;  J.  P>.  Burton,  recorder;  F.  Clawson, 
marslial  and  street  commissioner. 

The  mayors  have  been  as  follows:  J.  H.  F.  Balderson,  1874  and  1875; 
L.  W.  Davis.  1876:  I.  L.  Patton,  1877-7*8;  H.  M.  Cox,  1880;  A.  W.  Adair, 
1881-2;  C.  J.  Wright.  1883;  A.  G.  West,  1884;  G.  J.  Wright,  1885;  C.  M. 
Golden.  1886:  John  Simpson,  1887;  J.  R.  Smith,  1888;  D.  H.  Setzer,  1890; 
W.  J.  Breedon.  i8(j3:  D.  K.  Moberly,  1896;  C.  K.  Irish,  1900;  A.  G.  West, 
1902;  S.  1).  Powers.  ]i)oC):  \V.  N.  Jones,  1908;  J.  Boyle,  1910;  F.  L.  Phipps, 
19TI. 

The  n'lunicipal  officers  in  the  spring  of  191 1  are:  F.  L.  Phipps.  mayor; 
R.  C.  Birchanl.  clerk;  ('.  J.  Irish,  treasurer;  A.  L.  Miller,  marshal;  council- 
men.  C.  W.  Richetl,  F.  T.  Hammer,  R.  C.  Butron,  Perry  Coon. 

The  town  is  not  well  protected  against  fire.  The  small  water  svstem  of 
the  town  is  not  sufiicient,  but  better  things  are  promised  another  year,  when 
a  more  up-to-date  system  will  probably  be  voted  upon.  The  recent  year's 
fire  has  opened  the  eyes  of  the  citizens  and  business  men.  Now  the  town 
only  has  small  street  wells  and  a  cistern  of  small  capacity  on  the  hill.  When 
these  improvements  go  in  it  is  thought  also  to  erect  a  town  hall  and  jail  com- 
bined. These,  with  a  suitable  stand-pipe  on  the  heights,  will  secure  the 
citizens  and  i)ro])erty  owners  against  the  further  ravages  of  the  dread  fire 
fiend. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  ■  319 

Kellogg  has  a  good  gasoline  gas-lighting  [jlant  owned  by  the  town ;  also 
the  advantages  of  a  good  electric  lighting  system  by  the  Craven  Electric  Com- 
pany, private.  The  gas  plant  was  installed  in  1905  at  a  cost  of  four  thousand 
dollars.     Bonds  were  floated  for  ten  years  for  this  purpose. 

BUSINESS  IN    J 911. 

In  the  month  of  April,  191  t,  the  following  were  the  business  factors  in 
Kellogg : 

Agricultural  Implements — Craven  Implement  Company,  Craven  &  Mo- 
berly. 

Garage — Craven  Garage  Company. 

Bank — Burton  &  Company's  State  Bank. 

Barbers — Hammer  &  Shill,  Arthur  Jay. 

Blacksmiths — A.  N.  Dunn. 

Brick  and  Tile — Kellogg  Brick  and  Tile  Company. 

Cement  Blocks — R.  L.  West. 

Clothing — Moses   Caminsky. 

Creamery — Beatrice  Creamery  Company. 

Dentist — J.  C.  Craven. 

Druggists — R.  C.  Birchard,  Carl  W.  Forche. 

Furniture  and  Undertaking — B.  A.  Burton. 

General  Dealers — Ed.  Lison,  Bobzin  Corner  Store.  Jones  Bros.,  Galusha 
&  Company. 

Grain  Dealers — Farmers'  Elevator  Company. 

Hardware — B.  A.  Burton.  Craven  &  Moberly. 

Hotel — Hotel  Simpson. 

Lawyer — John  W.  Burke. 

Stock — Stephen  A.  Morris.  C.  \V.  Rowland. 

Livery — Harry  Richeld. 

Lumber — Charles  Bobzin. 

Mills— Roller,  by  E.  A.  Conrad. 

Meats — "Melcher's  Market." 

Milliner — Mrs.  Lizzie  Arthur. 

Newspaper — Enterprise. 

Pool  Room — Mr.  Nichols,  of  the  Simpson  hotel. 

Physicians — Drs.  J.  Frank  Hackett.  B.  Liesman.  Dr.  Wood. 

Restaurant — Olson  Bros..  Leslie  Hill. 

\^alve  Factorv — Stock  company  of  home  capitalists. 


3_>0  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

The  most  important  concerns  of  Kellogg  at  this  date  are  the  brick  and 
tile  factory  and  the  \alve  factory.    The  former  was  established  in  1905. 

The  churches  of  the  town  are  the  ^Methodist  Episcopal.  Congregational, 
Christian  and  German  Lutheran  societies. 

The  lodges  include  the  Masons,  Odd  Fellows  and  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  ^^'oodmen  and  Yeoman  orders.  (See  Lodge  and  Church  histories  else- 
where.) 

The  postoffice  at  Kellogg  was  established  in  1865.  and  has  been  of  the 
third-class  since  January  i,  1907.  There  are  four  mails  each  way  daily.  The 
first  rural  free  delivery  route  was  established  July  i.  1902.  There  are  now 
three  routes.  The  amount  of  postoffice  business  transacted  in  1910  was 
$4,300.16.  The  following  have  served  this  office  as  postmasters:  Samuel 
Rich.  B.  F.  Wright,  William  Fisher,  Mrs.  Phoebe  Ludwick,  L  L.  Hammer. 
W.  P.  Coutts,  J.  W.  Burke,  E.  J.  Birchard,  the  last  being  the  present  incum- 
bent; 

Kellogg  has  been  visited  with  two  disastrous  fires,  one  in  Septem1>er, 
1909.  and  another  January  22,  191 1.  In  the  first  fire  the  entire  eastern  side 
of  the  first  business  block  was  totally  destroyed,  aside  from  a  residence  or 
two.  One  dealer,  IMr.  Bobzin,  lost  over  twenty  thousand  dollars  in  this 
fire.  This  was  occasioned  by  a  small  boy  burning"  scrap  papers  in  the  alley 
and  this  ignited  with  straw  in  a  livery  barn  across  the  alley  from  the  old 
bank  building. 

In  the  fire  of  last  spring  the  opera  hall  was  destroyed  and  with  it  a 
skating  rink  and  part  of  a  millinery  stock.  Total  loss  in  this  fire  was  said 
to  have  been  about  five  thousand  dollars. 


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CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

INDEPEXDEXCE   TOWNSHIP. 

That  portion  of  Jasper  county  described  as  congressional  township  8i, 
range  20  west,  is  known  as  Independence  civil  township.  It  is  bounded  on 
the  north  by  Marshall  county ;  on  the  east  by  Malaka  township ;  on  the  south 
by  Sherman  and  a  part  of  Poweshiek  townships;  on  the  west  by  Clear 
Creek  township.  It  contains  thirty-six  sections  of  mixed  timber  and  prairie 
land;  is  well  watered  by  numerous  small  streams  and  larger  creeks,  all  flowing 
southward,  emptying  into  the  waters  of  the  Skunk  river.  The  town  of 
Baxter,  a  station  on  the  Great  Western  railroad,  is  situated  at  the  exact 
center  of  the  township,  and  was  long  before  railroad  days  known  as  Baxter 
postoffice. 

Independence  township  was  organized  in  IMarch,  1858,  by  the  county 
judge  then  in  office.  This  was  one  of  the  later  townships  set  ofif  from  the 
original  precincts  of  Jasper  county. 

The  population  of  the  township  in  1905,  according  to  state  reports,  had 
reached  nine  hundred  and  twenty-nine. 

In  1878  the  value  of  personal  property  was  fixed  at  $52,909,  of  which 
sum  were  included  619  head  of  work  horses;  20  mules;  1.473  head  of  cattle. 

In  1878  the  total  amount  of  taxable  property,  personal  and  real,  in  In- 
dependence township  was  placed  at  $241,443,  and  the  tax  on  the  same  was 
turned  into  the  county  treasury  to  the  amount  of  $4,517.  See  present  valua- 
tion list  elsewhere  for  all  the  townships  within  the  county. 

A  TERRIBLE  REAPER  ACCIDENT. 

Among  the  terrible  accidents  of  this  township  may  be  recalled  that  of 
1874,  when  Alfred  Butler,  son  of  a  widow  Butler,  of  this  township,  was 
killed  by  a  reaper.  The  team  he  was  driving  became  frightened  at  a  terrific 
clap  of  thunder  and  started  to  run,  throwing  the  boy  from  his  seat  in  such 
a  manner  that  his  body  fell  in  front  of  the  cutting  bar  of  the  reaper,  by  which 
part  of  the  machine  his  right  foot  was  severed  and  his  left  leg  amputated  at 
(21) 


...  JASl'KK    COINTV,    IOWA. 

0  — 

the  groin,  the  parts  above  being  so  mangled  and  torn  that  death  ended  his 
sufferings  in  a  few  minutes,  and  before  the  men  at  work  binding  could  reach 
him. 

THE  TOWN    OF  BAXTER. 

What  was  originally  styled  "Baxter  Postoffice,"  on  section  22.  of  In- 
dependence township,  has  come  to  be  a  thriving  town  of  about  five  hundred 
and  fifty  population.  It  is  situated  on  the  Great  Western  railroad  and 
draws  trade  from  a  large  fanning  settlement,  it  now  being  the  most  business- 
like place  in  the  northern  part  of  Jasper  county.  It  had  in  1877  come  to  be  a 
small  hamlet  in  which  were  to  be  seen  a  postoffice,  a  physician,  a  public  hall 
in  which  public  meetings,  church  services,  etc.,  were  held,  and  near  at  hand 
was  a  good  frame  school  building. 

Baxter  has  made  its  great  growth  since  the  building  of  the  railroad,  first 
stvled  the  "Diagonal."  then  the  ''Maple  Leaf"  route  and  now  the  Chicago 
Great  Western  system.  This  railroad  reached  this  place  in  1883,  since  which 
date  the  town  has  made  much  growth. 

The  town  was  platted  October  24.  1883.  by  David  W.  and  Amy  Smith. 
It  is  within  Independence  township  and  is  a  part  of  section  24.  It  was  in- 
corporated in  1894,  and  the  191 1  municipal  officers  are  as  follows:  H.  Haz- 
lett.  mayor;  Carl  C.  Webb,  clerk:  Charles  Burdick,  treasurer;  H.  H.  Mag- 
gard,  marshal ;  councilmen,  J.  S.  Booth.  W.  T.  Thorp.  George  Diehl.  O.  E. 
Cunningham.  A.  C.  Rose. 

The  mayors  of  Baxter  have  been  as  follows:  J.  D.  Richards.  1894;  G. 
\\'.  Thompson,  1896;  J.  F.  Klise,  1897-1899,  inclusive;  W.  T.  Thorp,  1900 
to  1904;  C.  C.  Graham.  1904-05;  H.  Hazlett,  1906  to  the  present  date,  hav- 
ing served  well  and  faithfully  for  the  last  six  years. 

The  question  of  providing  some  adequate  water  works  for  Baxter 
comes  up  at  the  special  election  this  season.  It  is  designed  (if  the  people  so 
elect)  to  issue  bonds  in  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars. 

In  1904  the  town  erected  a  city  building  of  cement  blocks  at  a  cost  of 
one  thousand  six  hundred  dollars  and  in  connection  with  this  building  a 
gasoline  gas  plant  was  added,  costing  the  sum  of  four  thousand  five  hundred 
dr)llars.     The  bonds  run  ten  years. 

THE    POSTOFFICE    II  I.STORY. 

This  office  was  established  at  an  early  date  in  the  town's  history  and 
among  those  who  have  been  postmasters  are  the  following :  S.  B.  Higgins, 
Milo  T.  Burnett,  J.  F.  Klise,  George  T.  Hager,  F.  L.  Phipps.  D.  R.  Mann. 
Mrs.  J.  N.  Mann,  Carl  C.  Webb,  who  was  appointed  July  i,  1906. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  323 

A  twenty-six-mile  rural  route  was  established  a  few  years  since.  The 
receipts  of  this  office  in  1910  amounted  to  about  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  twenty-nine  dollars. 

191  I    BUSINESS   DIRECTORY. 

In  the  fall  of  1910  the  following  were  the  chief  business  and  professional 
factors  of  the  town  of  Baxter: 

Banking — State  Savings  Bank  and  People's  State  Bank. 

Baxter  Dairy  Company. 

Baxter  Roller  :\Iills — Hager  &  Noah. 

Baxter  Telephone  Company  (incorporated). 

Blacksmiths— O.  S.  Tipton,  H.  D.  Wilson. 

Baxter  JNIercantile  Company. 

Harness  Shop — C.  C.  Commack  &  Company. 

Implements — Baxter  Implement  Company. 

Newspaper — The  Neiv  Era. 

Pool  Room — C.  S.  Bishop. 

Cigar  Maker — August  Gouch. 

Clothing — H.  E.  Gould  &  Company.  j 

Coal — Denniston  &  Partridge  and  S.  E.  Squires. 

Dentist — \\.  R.  Crawford. 

Drugs — Downs  Drug  Company  and  C.  ]\I.  Forney. 

Furniture — Buckley  &  Noah. 

General  I>ealers — Miller  &  Klemme. 

Hardware — Buckley  &  Noah,  Hasiie  Hardware  Company. 

Hotels — The  Commercial,  by  G.  A.  Small,  a  dollar  hotel  by  Mrs.  Mar- 
garet Cool. 

Live  Stock — F.  W.  Scharmann,  J.  M.  Vansice.  Smith  &  Wiley. 

Meat  ^Market — Duncan  McKenzie. 

Millinery — Mrs.  H.  H.  Maggard. 

Photographs — J.  L.  Butler. 

Physicians — Drs.  H.  W.  Canfield.  C.  C.  Graham  and  Paul  Koeper. 

Planing  :\Iills— O.  O.  Tipton.  ; 

Poultry  and  Eggs — Thomas  Canfield. 

Real  Estate  Dealer— C.  C.  Webb. 

Insurance — C.  C.  W^ebb. 

Shoemaker — James  Trussel. 

Postal  Telegraph  &  Cable  Company. 


^24  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Klise's  Opera  House. 

Jewelry — G.  H.  Pease. 

For  the  Lodge  and  Church  history  of  Baxter  see  spteci^l  chapters. 

VILLAGE    OF    IRA. 

This  is  one  of  the  smallest  villages  in  the  county,  and  yet  much  business 
is  transacted  here.  It  was  platted  as  a  station  point  on  the  Great  Western 
railroad  about  1883-4  and  now  has  a  population  of  about  one  hundred  and 
fiftv.  It  had,  in  the  spring  of  191 1,  a  Christian  and  Methodist  Episcopal 
church ;  a  Modern  Woodman  of  America  camp  of  thirty  members  and  the 
Yeomen  also  had  a  lodge  at  this  place,  organized  about  1890.  Both  meet  in 
the  hall  on  the  second  floor  of  the  Ira  Building  Association's  building. 

The  business  interests  at  Ira  are  now : 

Lumber — The  Ira  Lumber  Company,  L.  F.  Richards,  manager. 

Grain — Rippey  &  Hanson. 

General  Dealers — G.  A.  Ruml3augh,  A.  H.  Campbell. 

Hardware — C.  C.  Barbee. 

Blacksmiths — F.  I.  Inglis. 

Barber — L.  I.  Harding. 

Bank — Farmers    Savings   Bank. 

Postmaster — A.  W.  Jeffries. 

Harness  shop — W.  W.  Mead. 

Restaurant — C.  L.  Palmer. 

Stock  dealer — Trammel  &  Jeffries. 

Railway  agent — W.  M.  Barber. 

Implements — F.  I.  Inglis,  Hurst  Hotel. 

A  |)ostoffice  was  established  at  Ira  in  1883  and  is  now  situated  on  lot 
No.  9,  block  5.  A  rural  free  delivery  route  was  established  here  April  i, 
1903.  The  amount  of  business  transacted  here  in  1910  was  five  hundred  and 
tw-elve  dollars  and  thirteen  cents.  Two  mails  are  sent  and  received  here  daily 
at  this  time.  It  is  a  fourth-class  postoffice.  The  postmasters  who  have 
served  here  have  been  in  the  following  order:  Salem  Jeffries,  ^^^  J.  Craw- 
ford. II.  A.  Jeffries.  ^\^  J.  Crawford,  H.  A.  Jeffries,  H.  R.  Lorimor,  A.  W. 
Teffries. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 


HICKORY   GROVE   TOWNSHIP. 


The  extreme  northeastern  subdivision  of  Jasper  county  is  known  as 
Hickory  Grove  township.  It  is  six  miles  square  and  comprises  township  8i, 
range  17  west.  It  has  but  few  streams  of  much  size  and  is  a  prairie  town- 
ship of  excellent  fertility  and  now  well  improved  and  the  abiding  place  of 
hundreds  of  magnificent  and  valuable  farm  homes.  The  only  village  within 
its  borders  is  Xfewburg,  on  the  eastern  line,  midway  north  and  south,  a  station 
point  on'  the  Iowa  Central  railway.  This  township  is  bounded  by  Marshall 
county  on  its  north ;  by  Poweshiek  county  on  the  east ;  by  Rock  Creek  town- 
ship on  the  south;  and  by  Mariposa  township  on  its  west.  In  1905  its  popu- 
lation was  placed  by  the  state  authorities  at  six  hundred  and  thirty-eight. 
It  was  organized  in  1864  and  was  among  the  later  ones  to  be  set  off  from 
the  original    townships  or  precincts  of  the  county. 

Among  the  earliest  land  entries  within  this  township  may  be  named 
Francis  Holyoke  and  Homer  Hamlin  in  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  20,  May  12,  1854;  John  Swigart.  the  southwest  (luar- 
ter  of  section  34,  on  May  15,  1854. 

The  amount  of  money  apportioned  from  the  school  fund  in  the  spring 
of  185 1  for  this  township  was  but  a  few  dollars:  the  amount  for  the  territory 
now  included  (the  township  not  yet  having  been  organized)  in  Hickory 
Grove  and  two  other  precincts  was  only  $28.10,  but  at  that  day  but  little  was 
needed  for  schools,  as  settlers  were  very  far  between. 

In  October,  1865.  William  R.  Skiff  was  appointed  agent  to  locate  swamp 
lands  scrip  for  Jasper  countv,  but  nothing  was  done  for  a  year  when  he  was 
ordered  to  dispose  of  the  scrip  for  cash,  on  the  best  possible  terms. 

UNUSUAL  ITEMS  OF  INTEREST. 

In  the  middle  of  August.  1876.  Harry  Ford,  a  lad  of  seven  years,  was 
bitten  by  a  rattlesnake  in  this  township.  The  fangs  of  the  reptile  struck  him 
in  the  hollow  of  his  foot  and  he  being  heated  at  the  time,  the  poison  was  ab- 
sorbed into  his  svstem  and  as  a  result  he  died  within  twentv-four  hours. 


jj()  JASPER    COl'XTV.    IOWA. 

In  June.  1875,  a  small  child  of  Scott  Aydelotte.  of  this  township,  was 
scalded  to  death.  Its  mother  had  placed  a  tub  of  boiling  hot  water  in  the 
middle  of  the  room,  and  had  stepped  to  a  nearby  well,  leaving  the  child  in 
the  room  alone.  The  child  approached  the  tub.  fell  in  and  was  so  badly 
scalded  that  it  yielded  up  its  innocent  young  life  the  day  following. 

In  1878  Hickory  Grove  township  had  an  assessed  valuation  of  personal 
property  amounting  to  $26,625  ;  of  this  was  included  527  horses.  47  mules 
and  asses  and  800  cattle. 

In  1877  the  total  valuation  of  all  property  in  this  township  was  $284,- 
450.  on  which  they  paid  into  the  county  treasury  the  sum  of  $4,487. 

The  schools  and  churches,  as  well  as  lodges  of  this  township,  are  de- 
scribed in  general  chai)ters  on  these  topics  elsewhere. 

The  Iowa  Central  railroad  touches  the  eastern  sections  of  this  township, 
with  a  station  point  at  Newburg,  a  small  platted  place  in  section ^24.  An 
other  branch  of  the  same  railroad  runs  to  the  northwest .  from  Newburg,  go- 
ing diagonallv  to  section  6  where  it  leaves  the  county. 

The  wagon  roads  in  this  township  are  situated,  as  a  rule,  on  section  lines 
and  are  well  worked. 

The  conveniences  of  modern  mail  service,  the  telephone  and  other  im- 
provements which  are  now  universally  enjoyed  by  all  up-to-date  farmers 
here  obtain  to  a  good  degree.  To  be  a  land  owner  in  this  goodly  portion  of 
the  ''kingdom  of  Jasper"  is  indeed  to  be  an  independent  citizen. 

VILLAGE  OF  NEWBURG. 

In  Hickory  Grove  township,  in  the  northeastern  corner  of  Jasper  county, 
is  situated  Newburg.  A  postoffice  was  established  at  this  point  in  1878.  It 
was  made  a  rural  delivery  station  in  July,  1902.  The  amount  of  business 
transacted  in  1910  was  only  sex'enteen  dollars  and  ten  cents.  This  office 
suffered  the  loss  of  fifty-three  dollars  by  a  robbery,  to  which  no  clue  was 
ever  obtained.  Two  mails  are  receixed  here  daily,  except  Sunday.  The  fol- 
lowing persons  have  served  as  postmasters  or  postmistresses :  E.  H.  Taylor, 
James  R.  Wood,  O.  V.  Kenaston,  ¥.  J.  Edelblite,  Miss  Sarah  J.  Clay,  served 
nine  years  and  six  months,  until  August  23,  1893.  when  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Craw- 
ford served  until  May  11.  1897,  or  three  years  and  eight  months,  when  Miss 
Sarah  J.  Clay  was  reappointed  and  is  still  serving. 

The  population  is  now  supposed  to  be  about  one  hundred  and  fifty. 

There  are  two  church  buildings  in  Newburg,  the  Church  of  God  and  the 
Congregational  denominations.     See  church  chapter. 


,  JASPKR    COUNTY,    IOWA.  327 

The  business  interests  of  Newburg  in  April,  191 1,  are: 

General  dealers — G.  D.  Alden,  Dale  Livingston. 

Banking — The  Newburg  Savings  Bank. 

Grain — Newburg  Farmers  lilevator  Company,  doing  almost  half  a  mil- 
lion dollars  worth  of  business  annually. 

The  Newburg  Creamery-  Company,  with  numerous  routes,  doing  an  an- 
nual business  of  $30,000. 

Implements  and  lumber — A.  C.  Newcomer. 

Blacksmiths — George  E.  Buck,  W.  T.  Richardson,  who  also  runs  a  ma- 
chine shop. 

Hotel — Shannon  House,  by  John  Shannon  and  wife. 

The  agent  for  the  Iowa  Central  Lines  at  this  station  has  l)een  for  the 
past  seventeen  years,  P.  S.  Howard. 

It  goes  without  saying  that  this  place  is  situated  within  one  of  Iowa's 
richest  farming  sections 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


LYNN  GROVE  TOWNSHIP. 


Lynn  Grove  township  is  one  of  the  original  precincts  of  Jasper  county, 
organized  by  the  commissioners  in  1846.  It  is  situated  in  the  extreme 
southeastern  corner  of  the  county ;  is  bounded  on  the  east  by  Poweshiek 
county,  on  the  south  by  ]\Iahaska  county,  on  the  west  by  Elk  Creek  town- 
ship. Jasper  county,  and  on  its  north  by  Richland  township.  It  comprises,  as 
now  constituted,  all  of  congressional  township  yS,  range  17  west.  The 
northeastern  portion  is  cpiite  rough  and  originally  heavily  timbered,  while 
the  balance  of  its  territory  is  fine,  rich  prairie  land,  the  cultivation  of  which 
has  made  it  among  the  richest  sections  within  Jasper  county.  The  enter- 
prising town  of  Lynnville  is  the  only  place  within  this  township,  a  history 
of  which  will  follow  the  general  history  of  the  township.  This  township 
originally  included  much  more  teriltorv    than  at  present. 

The  schools  and  churches  are  mentioned  under  their  respective  head- 
ings, in  the  general  chapters  of  this  volume. 

.\t  the  general  election  in  1852  this  township  gave  the  following  votes 
for  the  presidential  candidates :  For  Gen.  Winfield  Scott,  eighteen ;  for 
Franklin  Pierce,  twelve.     Scott  carried  Jasper  county,  but  was  not  elected. 

In  185^;  when  the  prohibition  cjuestion  first  came  up  for  solution  in 
Jasper  county,  the  voters  of  this  township  gave  thirty-one  votes  for  prohi- 
bition as  against  thirty-four  votes  against  it.  The  measure  carried  in  the 
county  by  thirty-five  majority,  and  saloons  then  had  to  pay  a  license  in  order 
to  sell  intoxicating  liquors. 

That  this  township  was  in  a  ]M-osperous  condition  in  1878  it  only  need 
be  said  that  the  county  records  show  that  there  was  at  that  date  $76,580 
worth  of  personal  property,  including  tlic  following  items:  747  horses.  210 
mules  and  asses  and  2,011  cattle  of  a  taxable  age.  The  previous  year  the 
record  is  that  this  township  paid  into  the  county  treasury  the  sum  of  $5,304.19. 
as  the  taxes  on  a  total  \aluation  of  all  pro])erty  of  $257,505. 

The  population  of  the  townshi]).  according  to  the  reports  compiled  by 
authority  of  the  state,  in  1905  was  eight  hundred  and  eighty-three. 

The  first  pioneers  in  this  goodly  township  were  original  land  entry  men 
— men  who  sought  out  this  section  of  the  famous  Iowa  countr\-  in  which  to 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  309 

build  for  themselves  homes.  Among-  the  earlier  land  entries  the  following 
named  are  now  recalled  after  consulting  the  records  of  the  county  and  the 
land  office  books :  John  R.  Sparks,  the  west  half  of  the  northwest  of  section 
10.  December  4,  1846;  William  ]\I.  Stallings;  Walter  Turner,  Jr.,  the  east 
half  of  the  southeast  of  section  36,  November  18,  1847;  Moses  Starr,  the 
northwest  of  section  35,  April  27,  1848. 

The  original  township,  or  territorial  precinct,  of  Lynn  (irove  included 
''all  that  part  of  Jasper  county  east  of  the  range  line  between  17  and  18." 
But  we  find  that  changes  were  made  and  that  on  September  4,  1854.  the 
territory  of  the  precinct  was  sub-divided,  throwing  Rock  Creek  into  a  terri- 
tory described  as  "congressional  townships  80  and  81,  range  17  west." 

In  1857  the  record  shows  that  Lynn  Grove  was  still  in  possession  of  all 
territory  within  congressional  townships  78  and  79.  range  ij  west. 

Richland  township  was  cut  off  in  i860,  since  which  date  Lynn  Grove 
has  been  as  now  seen  on  the  maps,  an  even  township  of  land. 

Some  time  in  the  fall  of  1846  a  saw  mill  was  constructed  and  started  in 
this  township  by  A.  T.  Sparks.  It  was  on  the  North  Skunk  river,  and  bv  the 
end  of  harvest  time,  in  1848,  he  had  a  good  flouring  mill  in  operation.  This 
was  a  superior  milling  plant  to  that  hitherto  put  up  with  by  the  pioneers, 
who  had  much  trouble  to  obtain  good  flour  at  the  illy-built  make-shifts  of 
mills  in  this  section  of  Iowa.  It  was  greatly  prized  by  the  people  of  the  en- 
tire county,  saving  as  it  did  three  days  drive  to  Oskaloosa  over  very  uncertain 
streams  and  poor  highways. 

Concerning  the  hardships  of  settlers  here,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the 
general  early  settlement  chapter  in  this  volume. 

In  March.  1851,  the  record  shows  that  the  apportionment  from  the 
school  fund  for  this  township  amounted  to  forty-two  dollars  and  sixty-one 
cents.  This  looks  small  to  the  residents  of  the  school  district  in  this  year  of 
the  world. 

ANOTHER    EARLY   .SETTLEMENT    ACCOUNT. 

Among  the  various  historical  writings  of  Joseph  Arnold  of  this  town- 
ship the  writer  has  gleaned  the  following  facts : 

In  the  spring  of  1844,  Wesley  Stallings,  his  son  W'illiam,  and  David 
Campbell  came  to  Lynn  Gro\e  to  establish  homes.  They  came  with  ox  teams. 
But  prior  to  these  pioneers  had  come  fi\e  men  and  taken  claims  and  two  had 
cabins  built  on  them  by  these  men.  But  all  alone  in  the  green  glad  solitude  of 
the  far  west,  these  men  tired  of  the  country,  believing  that  ilot  in  their  life 


3^0  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

time  would  this  couiitry  ever  be  settled  up.  hence  they  hunted  and  doubtless 
found  greener  pastures  more  to  their  liking. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  Campbells  and  Stallings  they  took  the  two  claims 
on  which  had  been  the  cabins  referred  to  above.  They  broke  out  twenty 
acres  of  the  virgin  sod  and  when  their  plow  became  too  dull  to  do  further 
work  in  the  sod  they  went  seventy-fne  miles  to  have  the  sharpening  done 
and  paid  for  the  work  in  breaking.  While  on  this  trip  they  chanced  to  meet 
\V.  T.  Mayfield  and  wife,,  Nancy,  with  a  family  of  six  children.  They 
begged  them  to  locate  in  this  section  of  Iowa  and  this  they  did  in  the  month 
of  August  following.  The  Stallings  returned  and  sowed  some  turnip  seed 
and  made  many  other  improvements  on  their  claims,  then  returned  to  their 
old  home  in  Illinois.  \\'hen  Mr.  Stallings  returned  he  had  his  wife  and  five 
children  and  one  dollar  and  seventy-five  cents  in  cash. 

In  the  spring  of  1845,  D'^vid  Campbell  and  family  returned  on  April  19. 
It  is  quite  certain  that  these  constituted  all  that  were  in  Lynn  Grove  in  1844. 

John  R.  Sparks  and  wife  with  eight  children  arrived  in  1845,  during  the 
month  of  March.  He  possessed  twenty-five  dollars  and  a  team  of  horses, 
two  yoke  of  oxen  and  two  yoke  of  steers.  They  located  on  section  10  and 
he  lived  and  died  on  that  claim.  He  used  to  relate  that  the  Indians  were  so 
thick  that  they  stuck  out  from  under  the  bed  frequently,  but  that  he  never  had 
any  trouble  with  them,  but  was  more  troubled  with  wild  animals  than  with  In- 
dians. Mr.  Sparks  died  August  17,  1886,  and  his  good  wife  passed  away  in 
June  of  the  same  year  and  they  were  liuried  in  the  Odd  Fellows  cemetery  near 
Old  Settler's  Park. 

Mathew  T.  Mathews  came  in  company  with  Mi\  Sparks.  He  had  a  wife 
and  five  children  at  the  time.  They  commenced  housekeeping  in  a  log  cabin 
without  doors  or  w  indow  s. 

J.  W.  Swan,  the  first  treasurer  of  Jasper  county,  located  here  in  1845. 
He  made  many  a  coftin  for  the  people  who  died  in  an  early  day  in  his  section 
of  this  county. 

FIRST     EVENTS. 

It  is  always  of  more  or  less  interest  to  know  the  first  hai)pcnings  in  the 
settlement  of  any  given  portion  of  a  county,  hence  the  following: 

The  first  township  election  was  held  when  all  was  primitive.  The  ballot 
box  consisted  of  a  tin  cup  with  a  si)elling  book  for  its  cover.  In  the  evening 
the  ballots  were  counted  out  fair  and  scjuare  and  the  number  was  fourteen 
and  Jabez  Starr  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  33^1 

The  first  couple  married  was  Alexander  Davis  and  Mercy  Shoemaker,  in 
the  winter  of  1848-9.    The  next  was  Jesse  Hammer  and  Margaret  Sparks. 
The  first  death  was  that  of  the  ten-year-old  daughter  of  Wesley  Stallings. 
The  first  sermon  in  the  township  was  preached  by  John  Cameron. 

LYNNVILLE. 

This  sprightly  town  is  located  on  section  11  of  Lynn  Grove  township, 
and  was  laid  out  by  John  and  Mary  Arnold  in  1856.  There  is  perhaps  no 
section  of  Jasper  county  more  replete  with  early  day  histor)',  in  many  ways, 
than  this  vicinity.  The  first  claims  to  land  in  what  afterwards  became  Lynn 
Grove  township  were  those  made  by  Wesley  Stallings  and  ''Tandy'"  May- 
field,  who  came  in  the  spring  or  summer  of  1844.  In  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  occurred  the  first  birth  in  the  neighborhood,  the  same  being  the  second 
in  Jasper  county.  This  was  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Mayfield,  and  the  child  was 
named  Xapoleon  B. 

John  R.  Sparks  and  several  others  whose  names  are  not  recalled  by  the 
old  settlers  now  settled  in  the  Grove  during  1845.  The  first  death  of  that 
year  was  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shillings,  aged  about  eleven  years.  Mrs. 
William  Sparks  passed  from  the  scenes  of  this  life  in  1846. 

In  the  autumn  of  1845  ^^^-  Sparks  began  the  construction  of  a  saw 
mill  and  completed  it  the  following  year.  This  was  doubtless  the  first  saw 
mill  in  Jasper  county,  hence  it  had  all  it  could  possibly  do  as  the  pioneer 
settlers  must  needs  have  lumber  with  which  to  aid  in  building.  Mr.  Sparks 
also  began  his  grist  mill  in  1847  and  completed  it  himself,  only  aided  by  Mr. 
Richards.  It  commenced  grinding  in  the  fall  of  1848.  This  was  the  first 
flouring  mill  completed  in  Jasper  county.  It  was  operated  many  years  by 
its  builder,  but  in  the  seventies  passed  into  the  hands  of  F.  &  J.  Arnold. 

A  school  house  was  built  in  the  autumn  of  1848  and  a  school  taught  by 
a  }oung  teacher  named  Foster.  The  following  spring  a  Sabbath  school  was 
started  by  Miss  Lizzie  Springer  as  its  supenntendent. 

Probably  the  first  camp  meeting  in  Jasper  county  was  held  by  the  Metho- 
dist Protestant  denomination  either  in  1850  or  185 1. 

Lvnnville  is  situated  on  the  right  bank  of  the  North  Skunk  river,  which 
here  is  a  very  rapidly  flowing  stream.  In  1878  the  town  had  a  population  of 
about  five  hundred  souls.  It  is  situated  also  about  four  miles  to  the  west 
of  Searsboro.  on  the  Iowa  Central  railway  line. 

A  creditable  local  newspaper  was  founded  at  Lynnville  in  1876  by  B.  F. 
Arnold,  who  later  removed  to  Kellogg. 


2^2  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Lvnnville  was  incorporated  in  1875  *"oi'  the  purpose  of  controlling  the 
liquoi'  traffic,  which  the  common  law  did  not  well  regulate.  The  first  council 
met  September  28.  1875.  and  was  composed  as  follows:  O.  C.  Meredith, 
mavor:  W.  W.  Dryden.  recorder;  Z.  F.  Cause,  Joel  Hyatt,  B.  F.  Arnold,  G. 
R.  \\'hite.  1.  j.  \\'hite.  trustees;  Joel  Hyatt,  treasurer;  J.  B.  Xaylor.  solicitor; 
D.  C.  Edwards,  marshal ;  Taylor  Brown,  street  commissioner. 

Ordinance  Xo.  i  was  for  prohibiting  the  sale  of  liciuor  in  the  corpora- 
tion. In  1876  a  pound  was  established  and  much  attention  was  given  to  the 
building  of  suitable  sidewalks. 

The  following  include  the  list  of  mayors  in  Lynnville  since  its  incorpora- 
tion :  O.  C.  Meredith,  then  in  their  order  came  Miles  Tahash,  Joseph  Arnold, 
R.  T.  English  (two  terms),  L.  H.  Bufkin,  G.  B.  McCoy,  E.  \V.  Jay.  E.  B. 
Macv.  C.  W.  Wildman,  the  present  mayor.  The  191 1  officers  are:  Mayor, 
C.  W.  Wildman;  clerk,  E.  M.  Gary;  treasurer,  G.  F.  Briggs ;  council,  S.  R. 
Alice.  M.  H.  Cause,  G.  H.  Xewby.  A.  T.  Gifford,  W.  A.  Cunningham. 

As  the  churches,  schools  and  lodges  have  been  made  topics  in  chapters 
bv  themselves,  for  all  the  towns  of  the  county,  no  reference  is  here  made  of 
them.  This  is  al.so  true  of  the  interesting  subject  of  the  old  slave  time  "Un- 
derground Railroad."  which  had  a  station  here.     See  general  chapters. 

The  population  of  Lynville  as  shown  by  the  state  census  reports  for  1905 
was  four  hundred  and  sixty-two. 

BUSINESS    INTERE.STS    IN     I9II. 

At  this  date  the  business  of  Lynnville  is  carried  on  successfully  by  the 
following  persons; 

General  dealers — J.  H.  Cause  &  Company,  Briggs  Brothers,  Rich  Rivers. 

Hardware — Ollie  Ladd,  F.  W.  Royden. 

Harness  shoi^ — Lynville  Harness  Company. 

Meats — W.  F.  Zimmerman,  V.  A.  Johnson. 

Milliner.s — Flora  X'^oah,  Cause  &  Garner. 

Furniture — A.  T.  Gifford. 

Livery — John  Thompson. 

Hotel — Mrs.  T.  .\.  Thompson. 

Photographs — Edith  Burnham. 

Roller  Mills — Fred  Wagman,  manager. 

l-'arm  Implements — Clertsma  (.K:  Renaud,  C.  B.  McCoy. 

Lumber — ]\[acy  Brothers. 

Grain  and  Stock — Macy  Brothers. 


I  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  333 

Brick  and  Tile — C.  H.  Xewby. 

Cement  Blocks — H.  C.  Alacy. 

Newspapers — The  Lynnvillc  Star,  C.  \V.  Wildman. 

Builders  and  Contractors — J.  C.  Trease  ^nd  S.  R.  Alice  &  Son. 

Blacksmith — J-  Noah. 

LVXXVILLE    POSTOFFICE. 

In  1901  Joseph  Arnold  wrote  concerning  this  postoffice  as  follows:  "At 
this  writing  Lynnville  is  supplied  with  a  branch  of  the  Iowa  Central  railroad 
running  from  New  Sharon  to  Newton.  It  affords  ample  means  of  trans- 
portation, and  the  mail  car  attached  to  the  passenger  train  drops  off  its  mail 
on  time.  This  is  a  wonderful  contrast  with  the  one-horse  carrier  in  the 
person  of  Mr.  Eli  Wolf,  who  in  the  year  1848,  and  on  into  the  fifties,  made  a 
weekly  trip,  or  a  'try'  weekly  trip  it  should  be  said,  for  when  the  roads  were 
impassable  he  abandoned  it  days  at  a  time.  John  R.  Sparks  was  appointed 
postmaster  when  the  office  was  first  established.  He  kept  it  in  a  small  building 
near  where  the  hotel  later  stood.  In  a  short  time  it  was  inconvenient  for 
him  to  attend  to  the  office  and  a  returned  ]\Iexican  soldier,  Sabin  Stanwood, 
was  appointed  in  his  place.  He  lived  a  mile  and  a  half  west  of  Lynnville.  In 
1853  Joseph  Arnold  was  appointed  postmaster  by  President  Franklin  Pierce. 
The  desk  turned  over  to  him  was  of  black  walnut,  three  feet  long  and  fifteen 
inches  wide  and  about  eight  inches  deep.  This,  with  a  roll  of  paper,  com- 
prised the  furniture,  and  was  carried  by  me  from  Stanwood's  house  to  Lynn- 
ville under  my  arm.  It  set  up  the  postoffice  in  the  claim  in  which  I  lived, 
which  was  located  on  what  is  now  lot  i;  block  3." 

The  postmasters  have  served  in  about  the  following  order :  Joseph 
Arnold,  Mattie  Cloud.  William  Drs'den,  Joseph  McConnell,  Jacob  Kitch, 
^N^^riett^  Dryden,  Ollie  ]\Iathews,  Marietta  Dryden,   Charles  W.  Wildman. 

In  1903  a  rural  route  was  extended  out  from  Lynnville  over  a  line  twenty- 
nine  miles  in  length;  T.  A.  Thompson  has  been  the  driver  four  years.  The 
receipts  of  this  office  are  about  one  thousand  dollars  a  year.  The  number  of 
mails  sent  out  each  week  is  fifteen  and  eighteen  are  received. 

VILLAGE  OF  SULLY. 

This  excellent  town  is  situated  on  section  8  of  Lynn  Grove  township,  on 
the  line  of  the  Iowa  Central  railroad  from  Newton  to  New  Sharon,  four 
miles  west  of  Lynnville,  and  in  1900  had  a  population  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  and  a  good  bank,  lumber  yard,  large  general  store,  a  newspaper  and  an 
implement  house.     At  present  it  has  the  following : 


:^i>_j.  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Bank  of  Sully. 

Hotels — The  Sully  House,  by  Airs.  Rusa  Hammer;  and  the  house  con- 
ducted near  the  railroad,  by  Mrs.  A.  J.  Ouinn. 

General  Stores — C.  E.  Haan,  Boat  &  Verdencamp. 

Drugs — C.  y.  Shipman. 

Restaurant — R.  Burnham. 

Harness  Work — Holdsworth  &  Company. 

Livery — Eldridge  Brothers. 

Hardware — Vangenderen  &  Luberden,  who  are  also  blacksmiths ;  Holds- 
worth  &  Company. 

Lumber — D.  S.  Jardema. 

Grain — Emmet  Awtry. 

Contractors — N.  J.  Edwards,  Henry  Willets. 

Garage — H.  Welle. 

Dressmaker — Mrs.  Everett  Eldridge,  Miss  Neva  Edmundson. 

Barber — Lee  Perry. 

Butcher — E.  Austin. 

Railroad  Agent— H.  B.  Lane. 

Physicians — Drs.  O.  O.  Carpenter,  J.  C.  Smith. 

Sully  was  incorporated  as  a  town  late  in  the  nineties  and  the  following- 
have  served  as  mayors  in  the  order  here  named :  H.  Welle.  Robert  Willets, 
C.  Burnham,  W.  H.  Holdsworth,  S.  G.  Sherman. 

The  191 1  town  officials  are:  Mayor.  S.  G.  Sherman,  J.  G.  Huigen, 
treasurer;  D.  Sjaardema,  clerk;  councilmen.  Henry  Welle,  A.  C.  Boat, 
E.  Awtry.  J.  P.  Brunner.  Peter  Lubberden. 

In  the  month  of  April.  191 1,  at  the  spring  election,  the  matter  of  voting 
on  the  question  of  providing  water  and  fire  protection  was  up,  and  resulted 
in  the  casting  of  sixty-two  votes.  There  were  forty-five  cast  for  voting  and 
selling  bonds  to  the  amount  of  eight  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  and  seven- 
teen voted  against  the  enterprise.  At  this  election  the  ladies  who  were  en- 
titled to  a  vote  cast  forty-four  votes,  of  wliich  all  were  favorable  but  seven. 
The  bonds  will  be  floated  and  the  work  of  construction  begun  this  season. 
The  tower  for  the  tank  will  be  one  hundred  and  eight  feet  high  and  the  tank 
will  hold  thirty  thousand  gallons.  Gasoline  engines  will  be  installed  to  pump 
w  ith.  This  movement  upon  the  part  of  the  enterprising  people  of  Sully  will 
never  be  regretted. 

The  postoffice  was  established  here  in  the  nineties  and  the  following 
have  served  as  the  postmasters:  Lew  Mather,  C.  Phelps,  T.  H.  Thomson, 
L.  H.  Sherman,  appointed  1890;  L.  M.  Doani,  1893;  Cornelius  Boat,  1897; 
Henry  DeWit.  1899;  John  Varenkamp.  1903,  and  still  in  office. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  335 

A  rural  free  delivery  was  extended  from  this  point  in  February,  1903, 
and  is  twenty-six  miles  in  length.  The  first  carrier  was  R.  E.  White  and  the 
present  one  is  E.  S.  Haines.  It  was  made  a  money  order  point  in  August, 
1902.  The  receipts  of  this  postoffice  (outside  of  money  order  business)  in 
1910  was  eight  hundred  and  seventy-seven  dollars  and  eight  cents. 

The  churches  at  Sully  in  the  spring  of  191 1  are  Congregational,  "Christ- 
ian Holland  Dutch,"  Methodist  Protestant  and  Dutch  Reformed. 

The  lodges  are  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  its  various 
auxiliaries. 

The  churches  and  lodges  are  mentioned  in  their  respective  chapters  in 
the  general  chapters  of  this  volume. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


RICHLAND   TOWNSHIP. 


Richland  township  is  situated  in  the  south  and  eastern  portion  of  the 
county,  comprising  all  of  congressional  township  79,  range  17  west,  hence  is 
six  miles  square  and  contains  thirty-six  sections  of  choice  land.  Its  chief 
stream  is  the  Skunk  river,  which  courses  through  the  territory  from  north  to 
south,  with  a  heavy  body  of  natural  timber  growing  in  the  south  part  of  the 
township.     In  the  east  part  is  Sugar  creek,  a  small  stream. 

Richland  is  situated  south  of  Rock  creek,  west  of  Poweshiek  county, 
north  of  Lynn  Grove  township  and  east  of  Buena  Vista  township.  The 
correction  line  runs  on  the  southern  boundary  of  Richland  township. 

Richland  was  organized  in  i860.  The  population  of  this  township  in 
1905  was  placed  by  state  reports  as  being  seven  hundred  and  thirty-nine. 

The  property  valuation — personal  and  real — in  1877  ^^'^^  $244,569,  on 
which  the  taxes  amounted  to  $4,816.  The  assessed  valuation  of  all  personal 
property  in  1878  was  $43,141,  inclusive  of  537  head  of  horses,  40  head  of 
mules  and  1,108  head  of  taxable  cattle.  See  table  of  various  townships  for 
1910,  in  the  chapter  on  County  Government. 

At  this  date  there  are  laid  out  and  well  improved  highways  on  almost 
every  section  line  in  this  township.  The  chief  business  of  the  people  in  this 
section  of  Jasper  county  being  agriculture,  the  lands  are  well  tilled  and  farm- 
ers are  in  a  prosperous  condition.  There  are  no  towns  within  Richland 
township,  but  the  modern  advantages  of  both  telephones  and  free  rural  mail 
delivery  makes  farming  a  pleasant  task  instead  of  a  hum-drum  life  as  it  was 
in  the  fifties,  sixties  and  seventies. 

Richland  has  its  full  cjuota  of  well  conducted  public  schools  which  are 
mentioned  in  the  Educational  chapter  of  this  volume. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

POWESHIEK   TOW  XSHIP. 

Powesliiek  township  was  named  in  honor  of  that  very  intelhgent  and 
"good  Indian"  chieftain  of  the  Sac  tribes  of  Iowa  Indians. 

It  is  situated  on  the  western  line  of  Jasper  county,  second  from  the 
northern  border,  with  Polk  county  to  the  west,  Clear  Creek  township  to  the 
north,  Sherman  township  on  the  east  and  Mound  Prairie  and  Washington 
townships  on  the  south.  Indian  creek  is  its  eastern  border  most  of  the  dis- 
tance north  and  south,  which  fact  caused  it  to  be  set  over  into  another  con- 
gressional township  a  part  of  one  tier  of  sections  from  the  one  it  is  chiefly 
composed  of.  Its  main  territory  is  within  township  80,  range  21  west. 
However  its  southwestern  corner  is  taken  off  from  what  would  be  a  right 
angle,  by  reason  of  its  line  at  that  point  going  only  to  the  banks  of  the  South 
Skunk  river,  leaving  two  sections  of  township  80  on  the  south  side  of  the 
river  in  Washington  township. 

Poweshiek  has  considerable  native  timber  within  its  borders  and  coal  is 
found  in  paying  mining  quantities.  This  is  said  to  be  one  of  Jasper  county's 
banner  townships,  and  w  ith  its  excellent  coal  lands  and  fertile  surface  it  has 
come  to  be  looked  upon  as  among  the  most  valuable  realty  within  this  section 
of  the  state. 

This  township  was  organized  in  January,  1847,  by  the  county  commis- 
sioners, who  then  were  the  sole  rulers  of  the  county,  this  being  prior  to  the 
establishment  of  the  old  county  judge  system,  which  obtained  from  1851  to 
1868,  but  more  properly  a  one-man  power  up  to  1861,  when  the  supervisor 
system  was  established  in  Iowa. 

The  commissioners"  record,  relative  to  this  township,  reads :  "January 
5,  1847 — To  provide  for  the  needs  of  the  growing  population  of  this  county, 
be  it  ordered  that  there  be  a  precinct  laid  off  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Jasper 
county,  to  be  called  Poweshiek  precinct,  said  precinct  to  commence  as  fol- 
lows :  On  the  county  line,  at  a  supposed  line  so  as  to  include  the  Slaughter 
Grove,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Skunk  river,  at  the  east  end  of  said  grove, 
thence  north  to  the  county  line  so  as  to  include  all  the  Indian  creek  timber 
and  its  tributaries. 
(22) 


:^^S  JASPER    COrXTV.    IOWA. 

"Ordered,  that  the  place  tor  hokhni;-  electicms  in  Poweshiek  precinct  he  at 
the  house  of  John  McDonald. 

"Ordered,  That  Lenuiel  Perrin,  C.  H.  i  lanilin  and  Joseph  Kint/.  he  ap- 
pointed as  judges  of  elections  in  Poweshiek  precinct." 

The  population  of  this  townshi])  in  1003,  according  to  the  state  census, 
was  one  thousand  thirty-two. 

It  is  now  thickly  settled  and  lands  are  held  at  high  prices.  Init  when 
sold  or  exchanged  the  one  leaving  goes  much  farther  and  fares  no  hetter 
than  to  have  remained  the  possessor  of  a  fine  farm  in  Poweshiek,  in  which 
township  the  old  Indian  chieftain  made  his  last  home,  as  the  good  head  of  the 
Sac  tribe  of  Indians.  Indeed  great  has  been  the  transformation  in  these 
parts  since  the  dusky  warrior  took  his  farewell  look  at  the  beautiful  plains 
and  hillsides,  his  last  hunting  grounds. 

Among  the  first  to  enter  government  land  in  this  goodly  section  of 
Jasper  county  were:  Seth  Richards,  who  claimed  the  east  half  of  the  south- 
east quarter  and  the  southeast  cjuarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  i. 
June  29,  1849:  Levi  Plummer.  the  north  fractional  half  of  section  2,  Septem- 
ber 17,  1849. 

The  school  history  of  this  townshij)  will  be  found  in  the  chapter  on 
luiucation.  It  may  be  well  in  passing,  howe\er,  to  mention  the  fact  that  the 
school  fund  apportionment  in  this  township  in  185 1  was  but  eighteen  dollars 
and  twenty-fi\'e  cents. 

At  the  1852  presidential  election  the  \'ote  in  Poweshiek  township  re- 
sulted in  gi\ing  (ien.  W'infield  Scott  eighteen  \otes  as  against  eight  cast  for 
l-'ranklin  Pierce.     Pierce  was  elected,  but  Scott  carried  Jasper  county. 

When  the  xote  on  prohibition  was  taken  in  Jasper  coimty  in  the  spring 
of  1855.  the  vote  stood,  "for  license  eighteen,  and  thirt\"-one  against"  in  Pow- 
eshiek township. 

TOWXS   AXD  VILLAGES. 

In  this  township  ha\e  been  platted  four  towns.  Greencastle,  on  section  14. 
Mingo,  on  section  3.  Valeria,  on  section  20.  and  Oswalt,  on  section  33. 

Greencastle — a  name  almost  ol)Solete  now — was  a  \illage  nestled  down 
in  the  midst  of  a  fine  farming  section  of  this  county.  The  first  w  hite  man  to 
settle  in  this  vicinity  was  pioneer  Joseph  Slaughter  and  a  few  who  came  in 
about  the  same  time  in  1846.  A  school  district  was  located  near  Slaughter's 
settlement  in  1849.  showing  the  character  of  the  few  who  braved  the  new 
country  hardships. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  339 

A  successful  Independence  Day  celebratifni  was  hel<l  there  Julv  4.  1859. 
at  which  tlie  throng-  assembled  at  the  school  house,  formed  in  gay  procession 
and  marched  to  the  music  of  the  CJreencastle  String  Band  to  seats  in  the 
western  part  of  the  village.  George  E.  Baker  was  presiding  officer;  Revs. 
Carr  and  E.  M.  II.  Flemming  made  short  addresses;  also  Rev.  Murray.  After 
the  picnic  dinner  was  o\er.  short  speeches  were  made  by  Rev.  W.  Schaffer 
and  H.  S.  Winslow. 

In  1866  Dr.  J.  II.  Knox,  a  homeopathic  doctor,  located  there. 

In  1875  a  flouring  mill  was  erected  ])y  bishcr  &  Pfieffer.  the  same  having 
a  capacity  daily  of  one  hundred  barrels. 

The  Methodist  society,  early  in  the  field  at  Greencasde.  Imilt  a  good 
church  building. 

With  the  construction  of  the  railroad — the  Great  Western — the  village 
of  Greencastle  went  down  and  now  there  is  but  litle  if  anv  business  carried 
on  there  and  the  mail  is  delivered  by  rural  carrier. 

VILLAGE   OF    MINGO. 

^lingo  is  situated  on  section  3,  on  the  line  of  the  Chicago  Great  Western 
railroad,  sixteen  miles  to  the  north  and  west  of  Xewton.  For  its  platting  see 
^Miscellaneous  chapter  on  'A'illage  Plats."  This  is  an  enterprising  little  place 
of  about  two  hundred  and  eight\-  people,  it  is  an  incorporated  place — one 
of  the  smallest  incorporations  in  this  county.  Commencing  with  its  first 
mayor  in  1903.  the  list  of  mayors  is:  L.  C.  Westfall,  Jacob  Stiers.  W.  W. 
Goodrich,  R.  D.  Armstrong,  L.  C.  \\'estfall.  W.  F.  Hayes,  L.  C.  Westfall. 

The  present  town  officials  are:  L.  C.  Westfall,  mayor;  W.  E.  Witmer, 
clerk;  Charles  idansen.  treasurer;  councilmen.  W.  E.  Hayes.  D.  McKeever, 
C.  C.  Black.  D.  B.  Adams.  F.  1-^.  Baldwin:  town  marshal.  Martin  Xeal. 

The  town  has  a  lively  Odd  Fellows'  lodge  and  also  a  Woodmen  of 
America  camp,  mentioned  in  the  Secret  Society  chapter.  Its  churches  are  the 
Methodist  and  Christian  denominations. 

The  two  railroads  at  Mingo  are  the  Great  Western  and  the  Xewton  & 
Xorthwestern  routes. 

Of  the  postoffice  history  it  should  here  be  stated  that  Mingo  was  named 
for  the  town  of  like  name  in  Ohio,  by  the  present  i)ostmaster.  R.  C.  Everett. 
and  the  original  name  was  derived  from  that  noble  old  Indian  chieftain.  "The 
Mingo  Chief,"  so  familiar  to  all  .school  l)oys.  The  postmasters  have  served 
in  the  following  order:  \\'.  H.  Penquite,  1'.  W.  Rumbaugh,  Dr.  W.  W. 
Hawk.  Ira  Cummings,  R.  C.  Everett.  A.  E.  Rees.  Jasper  Watt.  R.  C.  Everett. 


340  .lASl'ER    COLNTV.    IOWA. 

About  1907  a  rural  route  was  established  from  this  point,  with  C  E.  Baker 
as  carrier.  There  are  two  mails  each  way  daily  from  Mingo.  The  office 
receipts  in  19 10  were  eight  hundred  and  fourteen  dollars  and  seventy-five 
cents,  including  box  rents. 

The  business  interests  in  Mingo  in  April,  191 1,  were  as  follows: 

Banking — ]\Iingo  Savings  and  Trust  Company. 

Lumber — The  Adams  Lumber  Company, 

Grain  Dealer — A.  \V.  Frey. 

Stock — Berkley  &  Ivnotsnian. 

Meats — Xeal  &  Franklin. 

Hotel — Mingo  House. 

Millinery — Mrs.  S.  E.  Harter. 

Barbers — Joseph  Pitcock  and  E.  C.  Kelley. 

General  Dealers — \V.  A.  Witmer,  H.  M.  Baker,  Mingo  Mercantile  Com- 
pany. 

tlardware — E.  C.  Southern  Hardware  Company  and  G.  L.  Rumbaugh. 

Drugs — Charles  Hansen. 

Implements — Black  Brothers. 

Produce — Des  Aloines  Poultry  Company. 

Livery — Albert  Kerns. 

Physician — Dr.  D.  C.  Garner. 

Wagon  Shoi) — David  McKeever, 

VILLAGE    OF    VALERIA. 

This  is  another  town  created  by  the  building  of  the  Chicago  Great  West- 
ern railroad  through  this  township.  It  also  became  a  junction  point  with 
the  road  named  and  the  Colfax  &  Northern  line.  Its  population  in  1900  was 
one  hundred  and  tifty.  A  bank  was  established  there  in  1901  by  Benjamin 
Falen,  but  it  has  closed.     Its  present  business  consists  of  the  following: 

General  Dealers — C.  J.  Ryan  and  J.  Y.  Fiddler. 

Restaurant-hotel — H.  Stiers. 

Barber  Shop — W.  M.  Keever. 

Hardware — J.  A.  Radley. 

Lumber — H.  E.  Stoke. 

Livery — J,  C.  Stanley.  , 

Millinery — Miss  Doha  Vernocom. 

Grain  Dealers — Gannon  Brothers. 

Drugs — Charles  Worrick. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  34I 

With  the  coal  deposit  running  out  hy  being  worked  many  years;  by  the 
great  cyclone  through  the  township  in  May,  1896,  and  several  disastrous  fires, 
the  town  has  gone  down  instead  of  advancing.  One  fire  in  April.  1894.  burned 
on  both  sides  of  the  main  street,  causing  much  damage. 

The  population  is  now  less  than  one  hundred  souls.  The  churches  of 
Valeria  are  the  Catholic  and  Methodist  Episcopal.  The  latter  is  served  by 
the  pastor  at  Mingo. 

The  following  have  served  as  postmasters  at  Valeria:  C.  A.  O'Brien, 
J.  W.  Walters,  Mr.  Bushard,  Frank  Woods,  F.  G.  Pease,  B.  Anderson,  J.  B. 
Hessinus,  C.  Jones,  C.  J.  Bryan,  who  was  appointed  in  1910.  It  is  a  fourth- 
class  and  a  money  order  office.  It  was  robbed  in  July,  1910,  of  four  dollars 
and  sixty-three  cents.  Under  postmaster  Anderson  a  fire  in  March,  191 1, 
visited  the  office,  but  little  was  lost,  but  in  the  sweeping  fire  of  1894  the  entire 
office  effects  were  lost. 

OSWALT. 

This  is  now  a  mere  station  point  on  the  Colfax  &  Northern  railroad, 
midway  between  Colfax  and  Valeria.  At  one  time,  in  the  palmy  coal  ship- 
ping days,  it  had  considerable  local  business. 


CHAPTER  XXXIll. 

PALO   ALTO   TOWNSHIP. 

Talo  Alto  township  is  iinniediately  south  of  Newton  city  and  township, 
west  of  Buena  X'ista  and  Elk  Creek,  north  of  Elk  Creek  and  Eairview  town- 
ships and  to  the  east  of  the  Fairview  and  Sherman  townships.  It  is  of  irregu- 
lar shape  owing  to  its  domain  taking  the  territory  to  the  northeast  of  South 
Skunk  river  in  its  southwestern  part.  Its  territory  comprises  parts  of  con- 
gressional townships  yS  and  79,  in  range  19  west.  It  contains  about  thirty- 
live  sections  of  land  and  is  eight  miles  from  north  to  south  and  live  miles  wide 
from  east  to  west  in  the  main  part  of  its  territory,  following  the  meander- 
ings  of  Skunk  river  in  the  southwest. 

]t  is  largely  a  prairie  section,  aside  from  the  large  body  of  timber  found 
growing  three  miles  or  so  to  the  south  of  Newton,  known  as  Hixon's  Grove, 
and  that  growing  along  the  valley  of  the  Skunk  river. 

The  Newton  &  Marion  railroad  runs  through  this  township  from  north 
to  south,  with  siding  station  points  at  various  points  and  at  Reasoner. 

The  earliest  entries  of  government  land  were  made  as  follows :  William 
Hanshaw.  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  northeast  cjuarter  of  section  4, 
November  29.  1847;  Thomas  Rees,  the  southeast  cpiarter  of  the  southeast 
(juarter  of  section  15.  Januarv  3,  1848. 

J^alo  Alto  township  had  a  population  of  one  thousand  ninety-six  in  1905, 
according  to  the  state  census. 

The  township  was  organized  in  the  spring  of  1857  by  the  county  judge. 
His  order  for  the  formation  of  a  new  township  reads  as  follows  :  "Commenc- 
ing at  the  quarter  section  stake  on  the  east  side  of  section  12,  township  79, 
range  19  west;  thence  west  on  the  line  through  the  center  of  the  section  to 
the  quarter  section  stake  on  the  west  side  of  section  12,  township  79,  range  20 
west;  thence  south  on  the  section  line  to  the  southwest  corner  of  section  36, 
said  township  and  range:  thence  east  to  the  township  line  to  the  northwest 
corner  of  section  4,  township  yS,  range  19;  thence  south  to  the  southwest  cor- 
ner of  said  section;  thence  east  to  the  southeast  corner  of  section  i,  same 
township  and  range;  then  north  with  the  range  line  to  the  place  of  beginning." 

The  above  was  the  original  territory  of  Palo  Alto  township  which  was 
named  for  the  Mexican  name,  which  had  been  made  famous  by  the  war  with 
Mexico  alxnit  the  date  of  the  formation  of  this  sub-division  of  Jasper  county. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  343 

THE    BEGINNINGS    IN    I'ALO    ALTO. 

'J'homas  Rees  and  family  were  the  tirst  to  estal)lish  lor  themselves  a 
home  in  what  is  now  known  as  Palo  Alto  township.  Mr.  Rees  located  on 
section  22,  township  79.  range  19  west,  in  November,  1848.  Xut  until  four 
years  had  passed — long  ones  too — did  they  enjoy  the  society  of  a  neighbor 
nearer  than  four  miles  distant.  Months  at  a  time  ]\irs.  Rees  never  saw  the 
face  and  form  of  a  woman,  except  the  dusky  Jndian  women.  They  were  on 
good  terms  with  the  Indians  and  frequently  the  latter  were  entertained  and 
even  allowed  to  sleep  in  the  house  in  bad  weather  and  enjoy  the  huge  fireplace 
and  crackling  fire,  always  at  a  bright  glow. 

]n  the  simimer  of  1852  Shelby  Baker  came  in  and  located;  later  still 
came  a  man  named  Finwick.  Joshua  Guessford,  Jacob  and  George  Elmanty, 
E.  B.  Sloan,  Wesley  W'atkins,  and  Wakefield  Trotter  came  in  1854  to  in- 
crease the  little  settlement  in  the  wilds  of  the  township.  In  1856  came  David 
D.  Prior,  Joel  Guessford,  Stephen  Guessford,  Allen  T.  Drake,  James  Early, 
Riley  Ashley  and  LeRoy  Livingston.  In  i860  the  township  had  a  population 
of  not  far  from  five  hundred. 

The  first  wedding  was  over  the  marriage  of  Henry  Adamson  and  Mary 
Jane  Baker,  February  10,  1853.  The  shoes  worn  by  the  bride  were  borrowed 
from  Mrs.  Rees  (shoes  were  scarce  articles  then  in  this  township). 

I'he  first  birth  in  the  township  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  daughter  born 
to  Thomas  and  Mary  A.  Rees.  March  25,  1849. 

The  first  death  recorded  was  an  infant  son  of  the  same  family,  July  26, 

1854. 

School  No.  I  in  the  townsliip  was  taught  as  a  subscription  school,  in 
1857.  Hattie  Bain  was  the  teacher.  The  first  public  school  was  taught  in  the 
Wild  Cat  school  house  by  Miss  Eliza  Henderson  in  the  summer  of  1858. 

The  first  religious  ser\'ice  was  held  by  Rev.  Thomas  Merrill  and  Rev. 
Ami  Shaffer,  who  conducted  serxices  at  the  school  house  last  mentioned. 

Palo  Alto  township  sent  forth  twenty  soldiers  to  the  front  during  the 
days  of  the  Civil  war,  a  good  record  of  patriotism. 

INTERESTING   PARAGRAPHS. 

National  Independence  Day  was  celebrated  in  this  township  July  4,  1874. 
at  or  near  the  Presbyterian  church  in  the  native  grove.  An  oration  was  lis- 
tened to  by  Hon.  John  Meyer,  and  responses  to  toasts  by  Capt.  M.  W.  Atwood. 
Samuel  Reasoner.  William  Brown,  Rev.  E.  S.  McMichael,  Miss  S.  E.  Hill 
and  W.  A.  Li\ingston. 


:^44  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

By  reference  to  the  records  of  the  county,  made  in  1878,  it  will  be  dis- 
covered that  the  total  amount  of  personal  taxes  paid  from  this  township  in 
1878  (for  the  previous  year's  taxes)  was  $69,193,  including  the  items  of  710 
head  of  horses,  44  mules  and  1.556  head  of  taxable  cattle. 

The  total  of  personal  and  realty  property  taxes  was  $6,112,  on  a  Aalua- 
tion  of  $318,467  in  the  township.  Compare  this  with  a  table  found  in  the 
chapter  on  County  Government  and  see  how  the  township  has  advanced  finan- 
cially. 

Quite  a  portion  of  this  township  is  underlaid  with  paying  quantities  of 
an  excellent  coal  which  is  being  mined  to  a  good  profit  to  its  owners.  The 
chapter  on  the  topography  and  natural  features  of  the  county  will  speak  more 
at  length  of  these  mining  interests. 

THE   TOWN    OF    REASONER. 

Reasoner  is  a  small  village  on  the  Xewton  &  Marion  railroad  in  the 
southern  part  of  Palo  Alto  township,  twelve  miles  due  south  of  Newton.  It 
takes  its  name  from  several  large  land-owners  by  that  name  in  that  immediate 
vicinity.     Its  plat  was  surveyed  in  the  summer  of  1877. 

James  Allen  had  constructed  a  building  there  before  the  town  site  stakes 
had  been  set.  A  dozen  buildings  sprung  up  as  if  by  magic  and  two  grain 
elevators,  one  by  Arnold  &  Johnson  and  one  by  Mr.  Adamson.  Two  general 
stores  were  at  once  opened  up  for  trade  and  the  station  agent,  James  Allen, 
was  the  first  to  serve  as  postmaster.  This  place  is  in  the  heart  of  the  coal 
district  of  Jasper  county,  yet  surrounded  by  a  rich  agricultural  country. 

PRESENT  BUSINESS  INTERESTS. 

In  the  month  of  April,  191 1,  the  following  persons  carried  on  their 
respective  business  in  Reasoner : 

General  Dealers — Hinshaw  &  Saunders,  J.  W.  Edwards  and  F.  J.  Coffee. 

Meat  Market  and  Lunch  Room — B.  R.  Cardon. 

Hardware  Dealer — Frank  B.  Ross. 

Farm  Implements — Reasoner  Implement  Company. 

Drugs— C.  B.  Walsh. 

Lumber  and  Grain — Denniston  &  Partridge. 

Elevator,  Poultry  and  Hogs — E.  Bean. 

Blacksmith — J.  M.  Carnahan. 

Barber — Will  Wasson. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  345 

Boarding  House — 'Sirs.  Andrew  French. 

Stock  Dealers — Coker  &  Warring. 

Justice  of  the  Peace — Charles  Saunders. 

Reasoner  Savings  Bank. 

Reasoner  Mutual  Telephone  Company. 

The  town  has  one  of  the  finest  mineral  water  flowing  wells  in  the  countv, 
it  gushing  out  near  the  center  of  the  business  part  of  the  place. 

The  religious  element  is  cared  for  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
\\hich  denomination  has  a  good  frame  building. 

POSTOFFICE    HI.STORY. 

An  office  was  established  here  about  1879.  In  February,  1904,  it  was 
made  a  rural  route  station.    The  present  carrier  is  J.  E.  Sipe. 

Outside  of  the  money  order  business,  the  receipts  of  the  office  in  1910 
was  six  hundred  and  sixty-five  dollars  and  eighty-five  cents.  There  were 
during  the  same  period  sent  out  sixty-two  pieces  of  registered  mail  matter. 
Two  mails  are  received  each  way  daily,  north  and  south. 

The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  postmasters  at  Reasoner :  James 
Allen,  J.  F.  Wheeler,  Will  Caldwell,  J.  W.  Edwards,  1894-97;  James  F  Wil- 
son, 1897-1907;  (Miss)  Mary  J.  Wilson,  1907-07;  (Miss)  Fern  Bean.  1908 
and  the  present  postmistress. 


CHAPTER  XXXIW 


NEWTON    TOWNSHIP. 


Xewton  township,  in  wliich  the  city  of  the  same  name  is  situated,  is  al^out 
in  the  geographical  center  of  the  county,  and  as  now  constituted  comprises 
twenty-four  sections  of  congressional  township  80,  range  19  west.  At  its 
north  is  found  JMalaka  township,  on  its  east  is  Kellogg,  on  the  south  is  Palo 
Alto  township  and  on  the  west  is  Sherman  township.  Cherry  creek  and 
smaller  streams  drain  and  water  this  part  of  the  county.  There  are  beautiful 
groves  of  native  timber,  once  heavy,  large  forest  trees  in  the  west  and  north- 
western part  of  Xewton  township,  l)ut  much  has  been  cut  off  with  the  passing 
of  years  and  the  development  of  the  county. 

N^ewton  was  organized  in  185 1  by  County  Judge  Jesse  Rickman,  who  de- 
cided the  boundaries  of  Xlewton  township  should  be  as  follows :  "Commenc- 
ing at  the  northeast  corner  of  township  81,  range  18  west,  and  run  twelve 
miles  west  to  the  northwest  corner  of  township  81,  range  19;  thence  south  six 
miles  to  the  southwest  corner  of  said  township  and  range;  thence  west  two 
miles  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  2,  township  80,  range  20;  thence 
south  to  Skunk  ri\er;  thence  east  to  the  range  line  18;  thence  north  to  the 
place  of  beginning." 

It  will  be  seen  that  originally  this  township  took  in  much  more  than  its 
present  territory,  including  Kellogg  township  of  today.  In  1857  it  took  its 
present  form  and  size. 

The  population  of  this  township,  outside  of  the  city  of  X^ewton,  in  1905. 
when  the  state  census  was  taken,  was  nine  hundred  and  two. 

At  the  presidential  election  in  1852,  when  (ien.  Winfield  Scott  and 
l">anklin  Pierce  ran  for  the  presidency,  Xewton  township  ga\"e  the  former 
sixty-eight  votes  and  the  latter  tliirty-two  \-otes. 

In  April,  1855,  in  voting  on  the  prohibition  cpiestion,  this  township 
gave  the  measure  of  prohibition  one  hundred  and  eighty-eight  votes  and  fifty- 
three  against  the  measure. 

In  1878  the  records  show  that  there  was  personal  propertv  valued  at 
$22,308  in  Newton  township,  outside  the  city.  This  included  324  head  of 
hor.ses,  1 1  mules  and  274  head  of  cattle  of  taxable  age. 


JASlMiK    COUNTY.    IOWA.  347 

At  the  above  date  the  total  valuation  of  property  in  the  township  was 
$252,425,  on  which  was  paid  a  total  tax  of  $4,559.46. 

For  the  first  five  or  six  years  the  history  of  Newton  t<jwnsliip  is  partly 
summed  up  by  the  following  extracts  from  the  records  now  on  file : 

1848 — The  record  for  this  year  shows  that  William  \[.  Springer  was 
sworn  in  as  township  clerk,  by  T.  J.  Adamson,  a  justice  of  the  peace.  William 
C.  Smith  was  school  inspector.  The  township  trustees  were  Charles  C.  Thorp, 
Ballinger  Aydellotte  and  Henry  Hammer.  In  .\pril  the  same  year,  Lewis 
Herron  and  James  Pearsons  qualified  as  fence  viewers  and  o\erseers  of  the 
poor.  In  June,  Moses  Lacy  was  appointed  constable,  while  in  August,  Hart 
Spring  was  made  another  constable  for  Newton  township. 

1849 — '^  he  trustees  were  Evan  Adamson,  Seth  Hammer  and  John  B. 
Hammack.  It  was  during  that  year  that  the  township  was  divided  into  four 
road  districts. 

1850 — The  trustees  ordered  twenty-eight  dollars  and  twenty-five  cents 
to  be  paid  for  "the  l^enefit  of  John  Sewell."  On  March  30th  the  order  read  to 
"call  out  all  the  'respectful'  hands  in  the  road  districts,  and  open  up  the  county 
road  laid  from  Newton  to  the  Marion  county  line,  in  the  direction  of  Red 
Rock." 

1852 — Joseph  Dodd  and  J.  N.  Edgar  were  elected  justices  of  the  peace; 
Jesse  Hammer  and  T.  J.  Densmore,  constables. 

1853 — Tliree  new  road  districts  were  established  in  this  township.  At 
the  April  election  were  elected  Edwin  White,  Ezekiel  Shipley  and  T.  J. 
Allen  as  trustees.  W.  M.  Springer  was  clerk  and  Lawson  D.  Sims,  assessor. 

1856 — The  sum  of  fifty-one  dollars  was  voted  to  defray  the  sick  and 
burial  charges  of  Mary  Jane  ]\IcConkey,  a  pauper.  William  R.  Davis  was 
assessor  that  vear.  The  same  year  ten  dollars  was  allowed  for  defraying  the 
expense  of  caring  for  Mary  Johnson,  a  pauper,  and  a  like  amount  for  a  ''sick 
man." 

The  history  of  the  city  of  Newton  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work,  it 
being  given  a  chapter  by  itself. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 


WASHINGTON    TOWNSHIP. 


Washington  township,  on  the  western  border  of  Jasper  county,  the 
second  from  the  south  Hne,  comprises  nearly  all  of  congressional  township  79, 
range  21  west,  and  about  two  sections  in  its  northwestern  corner  belonging" 
in  township  80  of  the  same  range.  Its  total  territory  is  about  thirty-six  sec- 
tions. The  South  Skunk  river  forms  its  northern  border  line.  It  is  bounded 
on  the  west  by  Polk  county,  on  the  north  by  Poweshiek  township,  on  the 
east  by  Mound  Prairie  and  on  the  south  by  Des  Moines  township. 

The  Rock  Island  railroad  crosses  the  township  from  east  to  west,  enter- 
ing the  township  on  section  i  and  leaving  it  from  section  7. 

The  old  Des  Moines  Valley  line  (Des  Moines  &  Keokuk  railroad)  passes 
through  the  southwestern  portion  of  the  township,  traversing  secions  18.  19, 
20,  21.  27,  28.  34  and  35,  with  a  station  at  Prairie  City  on  section  36  of  Des 
Moines   township. 

Squaw  Creek  and  lesser  streams,  all  flowing  into  the  South  Skunk  river, 
are  the  streams  of  the  township.  Watkins  creek  takes  its  rise  in  section  20, 
of  Washington  township,  and  flows  to  the  southeast.  This  is  a  prairie  town- 
ship for  the  most  part. 

In  the  \icinity  of  Colfax  the  bituminous  coal  industry  has  come  to  be 
one  of  much  magnitude  in  recent  years. 

The  only  town  or  city  within  the  township  is  Colfax,  mentioned  at 
length  in  this  chapter. 

The  population  of  the  townshij)  in  1905,  according  to  the  state  census, 
was  eight  hundred  and  fifty-two  outside  the  city  of  Colfax,  which  had  at  that 
date  about  2,600. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  TOWNSHIP. 

Washington  township  was  organized  at  the  June  session  of  the  board  of 
county  supervisors,  in  1861,  upon  a  petition  presented  by  the  citizens  of 
Mound  Prairie  township.  The  record  of  such  proceedings  reads  as  follows: 
"Commencing  at  the  northwest  corner  of  section  i,  township  79  north,  range 
21  west,  and  running  thence  south  on  the  line  dividing  sections  i,  2,  11,  12, 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  349 

I3>  M.  ~3>  -4,  -5.  ^^)^  35.  36  until  it  strikes  the  southwest  corner  of  section 
36,  in  the  same  township  and  range,  so  that  all  west  of  said  division  line  may 
constitute  and  become  a  new  township  for  voting  and  school  purposes,  and  to 
do  and  to  transact  all  other  business  as  required  by  law  in  such  case.'' 

The  first  polling  place  for  holding  elections  was  fixed  by  the  lx)ard  as  at 
the  Tyler  school  house. 

In  1877  the  township  paid  a  total  tax  of  $6,351.  on  an  assessed  valuation 
of  $412,348. 

In  1878  the  abstract  of  assessment  shows  that  the  personal  tax  at  that 
period  was  $58,105,  including  the  items  of  615  head  of  horses.  33  head  of 
mules  and  1,570  head  of  taxable  cattle.  These  figures,  compared  with  those 
found  in  the  chapter  on  County  Government,  for  the  various  townships  in  19 10 
will  show  the  progress  and  growth  made  by  this  township. 

For  the  educational  interests,  as  well  as  the  church  and  lodge  historv  of 
the  townshij),  the  reader  is  referred  to  such  topics  found  in  the  general  chap- 
ters under  proper  index  headings. 

THE   CITY   OF    COLFAX. 

Colfax  is  known,  far  and  near,  as  "Spring  City,"  owing  to  its  numerous 
mineral  springs,  which  are  of  great  medicinal  \irtue  in  the  treatment  of  many 
diseases.  It  is  situated  on  high  rolling  land  for  the  most  part  and  has  many 
fine  building  sites  and  beautiful,  well  improved  homes.  Its  abundant  supply 
ol  excellent  water,  taken  from  the  gravelly  springs,  affords  one  of  the  most 
delightful  and  healthful  places  in  all  Iowa.  Its  beautiful  groves  of  native 
timber,  its  large  hotels  and  charming  pul)lic  park-grounds  calls  thousands 
here  annually,  for  both  pleasure  and  health.  They  come  from  all  the  states  in 
the  Union. 

Its  churches  and  schools  are  something  to  l^e  proud  of.  The  denomina- 
tions having  comfortable,  though  not  extravagant,  edifices,  are  the  Metho- 
di.st  Episcopal,  Baptist,  Christian,  Presbyterian.  Catholic  and  Christian 
Science. 

The  public  school  buildings — two  large,  fine,  modern  brick  structures — 
are  centrallv  located.  The  older  was  erected  in  1896  and  the  last  one  in  191 1. 
For  more  detailed  account  of  churches  and  schools  the  reader  is  referred  to 
chapters  on  these  special  topics  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  For  the  history  of 
the  ^lasonic.  Odd  Fellows  and  Knights  of  Pythias  orders,  see  Civic  Society 
chapter. 


-^;0  JASl'EK    COrXTV,    IOWA. 

Colfax,  named  in  honor  of  Hon.  Schuyler  Colfax,  X'ice-President  with 
President  Grant  during  his  first  term,  is  situated  in  section  i  of  Washington 
civil  township  and  near  the  edge  of  the  Ijotloiii  land  through  which  meanders 
the  waters  of  the  Skunk  river.  It  was  platted  in  1866  by  A.  Kimball,  almost 
one  vear  before  the  completion  of  the  Rock  Island  railroad  through  Jasper 
county.  In  the  autumn  of  1866  Xew  ton  &  Richey  started  in  the  dry  goods 
trade  at  this  point,  while  West  tS:  Kennedy  opened  a  good  sized  general  mer- 
chandise store.  Mr.  i^arker  opened  the  hrst  grocery  store  in  the  place.  In  1867 
Dr.  j.  G.  Ryan  established  himself  in  the  drug  business.  Such  was  the  be- 
ginning at  Colfax  which  for  many  years  has  been  well  advertised  and  widely 
known  as  one  of  the  fine  towns  of  which  Iowa  may  well  boast  of  many, 
where  business,  society,  health-giving  mineral  waters  and  harmony  prevail  as 
elements  sought  by  those  desiding  to  lead  a  quiet  life.  It  will  be  remembered 
that  Colfax  is  but  a  short  run  on  the  steam  or  electric  cars  to  Des  ]\Ioines, 
hence  the  place  is  well  patronized  as  a  summer  resort,  owing  largely  to  the 
surroundings  and  the  fine  spring  water,  w  ith  ample  hotel  accommodations. 

It  is  a  first  class  market  point  for  a  large  and  wealthy  farming  section.  But 
perliaps  its  greatest  natural  advantage  is  derived  from  its  famous  springs  and 
ihe  numercjus  hotels  and  sanitariums  using  the  medicinal  waters  which  gush 
from  the  lx)wels  of  the  earth  at  different  points  in  and  near  the  city  proper. 

The  town  was  started  solely  as  a  railroad  station  of  the  ordinary  charac- 
ter, but  in  the  autumn  of  1875  ^  mineral  spring  was  happily  discovered  and 
samples  of  it  were  sent  to  James  H.  Blaney,  a  celebrated  cliemist  of  Chicago, 
who  after  testing  its  cpialities,  declared  that  it  contained  chloride  of  sodium, 
sulj)hate  of  .soda,  sulphate  of  potassa,  sulphate  of  lime,  sulphate  of  magnesia, 
bicarbonate  of  magnesia,  bicarbonate  of  iron,  alumina,  silica,  and  only  a  small 
per  cent,  of  organic  matter. 

It  should  be  recorded  that  here,  as  in  most  cases,  great  things  are  the  work 
of  accident,  for  the  water  found  to  be  of  so  much  \alue  to  the  public  at  Colfax 
was  discovered  by  a  firm  wh(j  were  boring  for  coal,  and  found  the  flow  of 
water  greatly  hindering  them,  and  while  working  the  uneducated  workmen 
(|uenched  their  thirst  from  this  water  and  pronounced  it  fine  water  and  the 
attention  was  called  to  it  by  others  who  l)elieved  it  more  than  common  spring 
water.  Invalids  .soon  ])tgan  to  seek  it  and  finally  a  hotel  had  to  lie  erected  to 
provide  entertainment.  It  was  not  long  before  the  medicinal  qualities  of  this 
water  attracted  large  numbers  from  far  and  near  and  the  name  of  "Colfax 
Springs"  and  "Colfax  Water"  was  known  from  one  end  of  the  land  to  the 
other.  A  hotel  was  erected  for  the  accommodation  of  gue.sts  and  in\alids  in 
1876  and  in  January,   1877,  a  three-story  building  was  erected  by   Messrs. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  35! 

Dixon,  Leighton  &  Gray,  which  was  thirty-six  feet  by  one  hundred  and  fifteen 
feet  in  size.  The  main  springs  are  a  mile  to  the  east  of  the  city,  proper,  and 
there  are  a  number  of  hotels  both  there  and  in  the  city,  all  having  mineral 
water  connected  therewith.  In  the  summer  of  1901  there  were  seven  hotels  in 
Colfax  and  all  well  filled  with  people  afflicted  with  various  diseases,  including 
rheumatism,  dyspepsia.  Bright's  disease  and  other  kidney  complaints  and 
digestive  derangements.  Immense  amounts  of  this  water  are  shipped  to  all 
parts  of  the  United  States  in  botdes.  jars  and  casks.  This  is  carried  on  largely 
by  three  bottling  works  which  carfcyonate  the  water  for  shipping  purposes.  Two 
large  coal  companies  have  their  headquarters  in  Colfax  and  their  pav  rolls  are 
of  great  value,  commercially,  to  the  city. 

Another  feature  by  which  the  city  is  known  is  its  beautiful  Chautauqua 
grounds,  the  Epworth  League  Park,  that  is  situated  but  a  short  distance  from 
the  eastern  city  limits.  Here  are  assembled  immense  throngs  with  the  return 
of  each  season  to  li.sten  to  the  best  talent  in  the  country. 

MUNICIPAL    GOVERNMENT. 

Colfax  was  incorporated  as  a  town  and  its  first  council  met  September  9, 
1873.  when  J.  R.  Rodgers  took  the  oath  as  its  first  mayor;  J.  T.  West  its  re- 
corder; R.  Price.  R.  F.  Fullington.  William  Kelsey.  John  Logston  and  W.  L. 
West  its  trustees;  M.  B.  Coe.  assessor.  The  town's  first  marshal  was  H. 
Sumpter. 

The  first  year's  receipts  in  the  incorporation  was  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
four  dollars ;  disbursements,  one  hundred  and  three  dollars  and  twenty-five 
cents.  It  became  a  ""city"  in  February,  1901.  and  contains  one  square  mile  of 
territory. 

The  following  have  served  Colfax  as  mayors:  J-  R.  Rodgers.  1875-6; 
P.  H.  Cragan,  1877;  L.  J.  Labour.  1878;  T.  J.  Doane.  1879;  M.  P.  Doud, 
1880;  B.  F.  Sanders,  1881  :  H.  L.  Weston.  1882;  F.  W.  Carey.  1883  to  1886; 
J.  A.  Mattern.  1886:  W.  T.  Dart.  1887;  H.  L.  Weston.  1888;  ].  A.  Mattern. 
1889  to  1892;  G.  M.  Tripp.  1892;  W.  M.  Croft.  1893;  J.  A.  Mattern.  1894: 
P.  H.  Cragan.  1895;  ^V.  M.  Croft,  1896;  G.  M.  Tripp.  1897;  P.  H.  Cragan. 
1898  to  1901  ;  J.  B.  Weaver.  1901  :  J.  H.  Hahn.  1903  to  1909;  M.  E.  Penquite. 
1909.  and  is  now  on  his  second  term. 

The  present  officers  are:  M.  F.  Penquite.  mayor:  W.  S.  Cutler,  clerk; 
F.  E.  Kendig.  chief  of  police;  O.  Morgan,  deputy  police;  J.  E.  Penquite. 
water  and  street  commissioner:  Harry  Xoble  was  elected  treasurer,  but  on 
account  of  leaving  for  another  state,  the  council  elected  another  in  his  stead 


T^z^2  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

in  the  month  of  May.  The  present  ( 191 1 )  council  is  as  follows:  Ray  Lyons, 
N.  T.  Weston,  J.  H.  Hahn,  F.  L.  Evans,  C.  J.  Burnett.  The  city  assessor  is 
\V.  B.  Wells. 

In  the  last  two  or  three  years  the  city  has  taken  up  the  important  matter 
of  paving  and  sewerage.  It  now  has  eight  miles  and  more  of  cement  walks 
and  is  in  all  ways  coming  to  the  front  as  a  small  city.  It  has  more  than  two 
thousand  dollars  invested  in  a  public  library  and  its  furniture.  It  had  in  1910 
three  and  one-half  miles  of  water  mains,  forty-three  hydrants  and  many  other 
les.ser  improvements. 

FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 

The  fire  department  is  such  as  is  usually  found  in  towns  and  cities  of 
this  class  in  Iowa.  It  is  provided  with  hose  carts,  hook-and-ladder  appliances, 
engines,  etc..  and  is  manned  by  a  volunteer  fire  company. 

WATER  WORKS. 

The  city  is  possessed  of  a  most  excellent  water  works  system.  It  derives 
its  water  supply  from  a  series  of  springs  seated  within  a  bed  of  gravel,  and 
the  purity  of  the  water  thus  obtained  is  appreciated  by  the  populace  and  by 
the  stranger  within  the  gates  of  the  city.  It  is  forced  to  the  high  water  tower 
and  tank  on  a  very  high  eminence  to  the  east  of  the  city,  proper,  by  means  of 
steam  pumps.  The  direct  pressure  from  this  elevated  tank  gives  one  hundred 
and  twenty  pounds  down  in  the  business  center  of  the  place — ample  for  all 
fire  protection.  The  water  rates  are  from  ten  to  thirty  cents  per  thousand 
feet.  The  water  works  fund  is  sustained  by  a  five  mill  tax  annually.  These 
water  works  are  valued  at  twenty-five  thousand  dollars. 

POSTOFFICE   HISTORY, 

The  history  of  the  Colfax  postofiice  dates  from  the  construction  of  the 
railroad  through  the  place.  Its  earliest  histor}'  seems  a  little  obscure  in  the 
minds  of  the  present-day  residents  of  the  city.  Among  the  postmasters  who 
have  served  here  are  well  remembered  the  following :  William  \\' est,  "Vance" 
Wilson,  Jacob  F.  Weaver,  Adella  V.  Weaver,  J.  M.  Topper,  H.  W.  Robinson, 
and  the  present  incumbent,  W.  W,  Hawk,  who  was  commissioned  in  1908, 

In  1910  it  was  made  a  second-class  office,  having  passed  the  eight  thou- 
sand dollar  mark  of  business  transacted  annually.  It  has  two  rural  routes 
extending  out  from  Colfax. 


JASPER    COUXTY.    lUWA.  353 

FIRST   IMPORTANT    EVENTS. 

In  the  month  of  August,  187O,  the  town  was  provided  with  a  suitable 
calaboose  and  about  the  same  date  the  town  voted  on  the  saloon  license  ques- 
tion and  it  resulted  in  thirty-ti\e  votes  l>eing  cast  for  license  and  thirty-two 
against  it. 

The  independent  school  district  of  Colfax  was  organized  in  1876  (see 
Educational  chapter). 

The  first  religious  society  to  organize  in  Colfax  was  the  Presbyterian 
body:  their  first  action  was  taken  April  6,  1868,  and  a  church  was  erected  in 
1868  at  a  cost  of  one  thousand  two  hundred  dollars. 

A  steam  flouring  mill  was  built  here  about  1877  and  this  drew  trade 
from  a  large  farming  community. 

BUSINESS   INTERESTS    OF    I9IO-I9II. 

It  will  be  interesting  in  future  years  to  look  back  to  this  page  and  note 
who  was  engaged  in  the  various  business  and  professional  callings  in  Colfax 
in  the  years  in  which  this  history  is  being  compiled.    The  list  is  as  follows : 

Agricultural  Implements — Lovolleus  &  DeLong.  A.  A.  Penquite  Hard- 
ware Company. 

Banks — Citizens'  State,  First  National. 

Blacksmiths— Ball  &  Hibbs,  D.  D.  Briggs. 

Books  and  Stationery — H.  ^\^  Wood. 

Boots  and  Shoes — H.  E.  Gould  &  Company. 

Brick  &  Tile  Co. — Colfax  Brickyard  Company. 

llothing — The  Bargain  Store,  Davis  &  Davis.  H.  E.  Gould.  i 

Dentists— F.  G.  Blake,  \\'.  P.  Cain. 

Drugg-ists — F.  A.  ^larquis,  C.  G.  W'eirick.  H.  A.  W'eirick.  X.  T.  Weston. 

Dry  Goods — Colfax  Mercantile  Company. 

F'lour  and  Feed — S.  H.  Dunton.  James  E.  Goodman. 

I-'urniture — The  Forsythe  Hardware  Company,  .\.  A.  Penquite  Hard- 
ware Company. 

General  Dealers — Ed.  Bellehoefer.  Colfax  Mercantile  Company,  W.  E. 
Fenner. 

Grain  Dealer — S.  M.  Brown  &  Son. 

Groceries — W.  L.  Porter,  C.  E.  Sullenl^erger,  Walter  Thompson,  George 
H.  York  and  Luther  Brothers. 

(23) 


354  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Hardware — A.  A.  Penquite  Hardware  Company,  Forsythe  Hardware 
Company. 

Hotels — European,  Grand  Hotel,  Colfax,  Mason  House,  Mills  House, 
Oriental,  Victoria,  Sanatorium  House. 

Tee  Dealer — Cieorge  ]Myers. 

jewelry — \\\  S.  Johnson,  H.  W.  Wood. 

Laundry — Colfax  Steam  Laundry. 

Lawyers — P.  K.  Johannsen,  James  B.  Weaver,  Trip  &  Trip  and  Cragan 
Brothers. 

Live  Stock — George  \V.  Kintz. 

Livery — Main  &  Robinson,  C.  C.  Plummer,  Star  Livery. 

Lumber — S.  M.  Brown  &  Son,  Colfax  Lumber  Company. 

!Meats — Colfax  Mercantile  Company,  Sharp  &  Tespstra. 

Millinery — Miss  K.  G.  Mahoney.  Miss  Emma  Wheeler. 

Newspapers — Colfa^v  Tribune,  Baptist  Messenger  (monthly)  and  the 
Clipper. 

Photographs — Robert  Dawson. 

Physicians — Drs.  R.  G.  Anspach,  Frank  E.  Boyd,  T.  A.  Burke.  J.  C. 
Corselius,  Alex.  Hall.  W.  W.  Hawk.  M.  AL  Knowles,  F.  W.  Stewart,  J.  E. 
Traister,  Alice  Turner,  L.  C.  S.  Turner,  H.  A.  Weirick,  N.  T.  Weston. 

Sanitariums — The  Centropolis,  Grand  Hotel  and  Mineral  Springs,  Vic- 
toria, and  Rest  House. 

L'ndertakers — W.  S.  Cutler  &  Company. 

Colfax,  in  no  large  sense,  can  be  styled  a  factory  town.  It  has,  how- 
ever, three  extensive  bottling  works  which  sterilize  the  mineral  spring  waters 
and  ship  in  all  sorts  of  ])ackages  to  distant  points  in  the  United  States.  These 
concerns  work  full  time  and  usually  ship  a  carload  apiece  each  twenty-four 
hours. 

The  electric  light  plant  has  long  been  in  operation.  It  is  owned  by  pri- 
\ate  individuals  and  beautifully  illuminates  the  city  and  environments. 

The  latest  industry  in  Colfax  is  one  of  its  best  in  many  ways,  for  it  has 
established  a  factory  the  product  of  which  will  certainly  be  in  great  demand 
as  the  years  come  and  go.  This  is  the  plant  that  manufactures  the  "Close 
To  Nature"  incubator  and  brooder  and  kindred  goods  employed  in  the  arti- 
ficial hatching  of  chickens  and  the  care  of  the  same.  Its  factory  is  near  the 
depots  and  is  good  sized  and  well  regulated.  It  has  its  base  in  the  invention 
patented  by  its  manager,  W.  H.  IVIonroe,  who  several  years  since  invented  a 
line  of  devices  for  the  purposes  already  stated  and  then  formed  a  stock  com- 
pany of  chiefly  Colfax  men.     It  is  known  as  the  "Close  To  Nature"  Manu- 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  355 

facturing  Company.  In  the  incubator  which  they  make  warm  water  is  em- 
ployed for  heating  the  machine.  They  also  manufacture  an  improved  "green 
feed"  producer,  by  which  green  wheat,  oats,  corn,  etc.,  may  be  (juicklv  brought 
forth  in  mid-winter  and  early  spring  for  feeding  poultry.  These  goods  find 
ready  sale  in  all  sections  of  the  United  States  and  the  enterprise  is  constantlv 
spreading  out  w  ith  its  increase  of  orders. 


LllAiTKR    XXXVl. 


SHERMAN  TOWNSHIP. 


Sherman  township,  in  the  northwestern  quarter  of  Jasper  cuunty,  is  lo- 
cated to  the  south  of  Intlependence  township,  to  the  west  of  Malaka,  Newton 
and  Palo  Alto  townships,  to  the  north  of  Mound  Prairie  and  Fairview  town- 
ships and  east  of  P'oweshiek  township.  For  the  most  part  the  western  border 
line  is  the  meanderings  of  Indian  creek,  a  branch  of  the  Skunk  river,  which 
also  forms  the  southwestern  line  of  the  township,  thus  making  the  township 
one  of  wedge  shape.  It  contains  about  forty  sections  of  land.  This  town- 
ship is  somewhat  broken,  with  numerous  small  creeks  and  a  lake  within 
its  borders.  The  natural  groves  are  confined  to  the  banks  of  these  streams. 
Highways  run  on  almost  all  section  lines,  however,  and  the  township  is  one 
of  much  value,  lying  near  to  the  county  seat  as  it  does.  There  are  no  towns  or 
\illages  \\  ithin  its  borders. 

It  has  an  excellent  lot  of  common  schools  and  as  these  are  included  in 
the  Educational  chapter  they  need  not  here  be  referred  to. 

One  of  the  earliest  land  entries  in  this  township  is  shown  by  the  public 
records  to  have  been  Samuel  K.  Parker,  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  the 
southeast  cpiarter  of  section  32.  on  June  14,  1849;  ^^  iHiam  Rickey,  in  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  20,  on  Alay  15,  1849. 

Much  of  the  land  in  this  townshij)  is  underlaid  with  a  good  grade  of 
bituminous  coal,  which  has  l)een  nu'ned  in  paying  quantities  for  many 
years. 

The  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  railroad  crosses  the  southern  point 
of  this  township  from  east  to  west,  the  mileage  in  the  same  being  about  four 
miles. 

ORG.XNIZATION,   ETC. 

Sherman  to\\nshi[)  was  organized  in  1868. 

According  to  the  state  census  reports  of  1903.  tlie  population  of  Sherman 
township  was  five  hundred  and  seventy-fi\'c. 

As  far  back  as  1877  ^^""6  total  valuation  of  i)roi)erty  in  this  township 
amounted  to  $359,326,  on  which  the  people  owning  it  paid  into  the  county 
treasury  the  sum  of  $5,475. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  357 

In  1878  the  personal  tax  was  levied  upon  property  valued  at  %y^Xy22,  in- 
clusive of  793  head  of  horses.  29  mules  and  asses  and  1.785  head  of  taxable 
cattle.  By  comparing  these  figures  with  those  contained  in  the  item  of  town- 
shi])  \aluations,  found  in  the  County  Ciovernment  chapter  of  this  volume,  the 
reader  will  note  the  advancement  in  the  last  quarter  of  a  century  of  the  town- 
ship's history. 


CHAPTER   XXXVII. 


CLEAR   CREEK   TOWNSHIP. 


Clear  Creek  township  is  situated  in  the  extreme  northwestern  part  of 
Jasper  county,  bounded  on  the  north  by  Story  county,  on  the  east  by  Inde- 
pendence township,  on  the  south  by  Poweshiek  township,  on  the  west  by 
Polk  county.  It  is  six  miles  square  and  comprises  congressional  township 
8i,  range  21  west.  It  was  organized  by  order  of  the  county  board  in  the 
month  of  August.  1849,  ^^^  ^^'^-'^  described  later  as  it  now  stands. 

Indian  creek  courses  through  this  township  on  its  southeastern  course, 
and  together  with  its  tributaries  drains  and  waters  the  township  well.  Con- 
siderable nati\e  timber  is  found  in  this  portion  of  Jasper  county.  In  1905 
the  state  census  gave  this  township  a  population  of  seven  hundred  and  eighty- 
seven.  *Its  schools  and  churches  will  be  treated  in  the  general  chapters  on 
such  topics.  Among  the  first  to  take  up  government  land  in  this  township 
were  jose])h  Kintz.  two  tracts  in  sections  24,  25  and  26,  July  2,  1849;  Adam 
W.  Alaggart  in  section  25,  July  9,  1849. 

The  school  fund  apportionment  for  this  township  in  185 1  was  nineteen 
dollars  and  ninety-seven  cents.  At  the  presidential  election  in  1856  General 
Winfield  .Scott  received  nine  votes  and  Franklin  Pierce  twenty-three  votes 
in  this  township. 

In  April.  1855.  the  people  of  Jasper  county  voted  on  the  ever-present 
intoxicating  li(|uor  problem  and  in  this  township  the  vote  stood  eleven  for 
and  forty-eight  against  the  measure. 

In  t8-8  the  records  show  that  there  was  a  total  assessment  on  personal 
property  in  this  township  amounting  to  $61,206.  This  included  the  615 
horses.  30  mules  and  1.388  head  of  cattle  in  the  township. 

The  tax  levy  for  1877  shows  this  township  to  have  had  a  total  valuation 
of  property  of  $249,980  and  on  this  they  paid  into  the  county  treasury  the 
sum  of  $3,757.26. 

THE   VIEL.XGE  OF   CLYDE. 

This  litde  hamlet  was  for  many  years  a  useful  adjunct  to  the  people  of 
this  township.  It  is  situated  on  section  u  of  a  small  branch  of  Indian  creek, 
less  than  two  miles  from  the  north  line  of  the  county.  It  is  al)out  fifteen 
miles  from  Newton  and  twelve  from  Colfax,  while  it  is  but  twelve  miles  south 
of  Colo.  Story  county. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  359 

Maxwell  &  Company  started  a  general  store  here  in  1868;  in  the  autumn 
of  1874  the  Methodist  Episcopal  denomination  erected  a  church  here  at  a 
cost  of  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  In  1878  the  hamlet  had  a  dry 
goods  store  and  three  shops,  with  about  fifteen  or  twenty  dwelling  houses. 

It  was  at  this  point  in  February,  1875.  that  during  a  fearful  storm,  the 
residence  of  Charles  B.  Maxwell  caught  fire  and  was  totally  destroyed,  caus- 
ing a  loss  of  four  tliousand  four  hundred  dollars,  one  half  of  which  was 
covered  by  insurance.     Clyde  is  still  only  a  small  trading  point. 


CHAPTKR   XXXVJ]!. 


:miscklLam-:()L"s   ite:ms. 


Within  this  chapter  will  be  found  many  interestin"-.  valuable  accounts 
of  the  doings  of  men  and  \\H)men  who  have  participated  in  the  development 
of  Jasper  countv.  from  its  earliest  settlement  to  this  date.  The  editors  have 
sought  to  publish  ()n]\  tliat  which  is  l)elie\e(l  to  lie  accin-ate.  and  as  such  it 
will  be  valuable  to  the  reader  of  local  history. 

\1LI.AGE    PLATS    OF    TTIE    COUNTY. 

The  following  is  believed  to  be  an  account  of  the  plattings  of  all  of  the 
villages,  towns  and  cities  within  Jasper  county  up  to  May,  191 1.  Only  the 
'"originals"  are  here  named : 

Amboy.  i)latte(l  January.  1872.  by  David  B.  Gotschall  and  wife  on  the 
west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  17,  township  80,  range  18.  The 
Rock  Island  road  runs  through  this  village  plat.  It  is  in  Kellogg  civil  tow'n- 
ship. 

Baxter,  platted  October  24,  1883.  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  14,  township  81.  range  20,  by  David  ^^^  and  Amy 
Smith.  It  is  situated  in  Independence  ci\il  township  and  is  a  station  point 
on  the  (ireat  Western  railroad. 

Colfax  was  platted  by  Abel  Kimball,  of  Scott  coimty.  Iowa,  on  the 
north  half  of  the  scnithwest  (juarter  of  section  1.  township  79.  range  21,  in 
July.   1867. 

Clyde  was  platted  Septeml^er  18,  1857,  on  the  northeast  ((uarter  of  the 
southwest  quarter  of  .section  ii.  township  81.  range  21,  by  V.  M.  Heller  and 
Joseph  West  and  their  wives. 

b^arniersN-illc  was  ])latted  by  Anderson  X'owcll  and  wife,  Lettv.  in  Maw 
1876.  on  the  southwest  (|uartei'  of  the  northwest  (|uarter  of  section  12,  town- 
shi])  79,  range  20. 

b^airmount — Xo  record  of  brst  platting.  Boles  addition  \\as  made 
March  21,  1876.  This  is  a  station  jioint  on  the  old  Des  Moines  \'alle\'  rail- 
road  (now  Keokuk  &  Des  Moines),  l)etween  Prairie  City  and  Monroe. 

Greencastle.  on  section  14,  township  80,  range  21.  was  i)latted  bv  .\ll)ert 
Sbi])p  and  wife.  August  30,  1855.  This  plat  is  situated  in  Poweshiek  civil 
township,  southeast  from  Mingo. 


JASPER    GOLNTV,    IOWA.  361 

Galeshurg.  on  section  i6.  townshij)  78.  ran.qe  18.  was  platted  by  William 
Burton  and  wife.  August  22,  1855.  and  is  situated  in  Elk  Creek  township. 

Ira.  which  was  platted  as  "Millard"  originally.  December  3.  1883.  bv 
William  F.  Rippey  and  wife,  is  on  section  32.  townshij)  81,  range  20.  It  is 
situated  within  Independence  civil  township. 

Jasper  City  (now  Kellogg)  was  platted  on  section  26.  township  80. 
range  18.  Sei)tenil)er  12.  1863.  by  Imios  Blair  and  Absalom  Adair  and  their 
wi\es.      It  is  in   Kellogg  civil  township. 

Kellogg  (first  known  as  Jasper  City)  was  incorporated  August  12.  1873. 
after  which  it  took  the  name  Kellogg. 

Killduff  was  platted  January  5.  1884.  l)y  Timothy  Killduff  and  wife,  on 
the  east  half  of  the  southeast  (|uarter  and  east  third  of  the  west  lialf  of  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  35,  township  79,  range  18.  Februarv  21,  1883. 

Lynnville  was  platted  July  23.  1856.  by  John  and  ^fary  .\rnold.  on  the 
northwest  fpiarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  11.  town.ship  78.  range 
17,  and  is  witlun  the  ci\il  township  of  L}nn  Grox'e. 

Monroe  was  j)latted  December  18.  1856.  on  the  northwest  (piarter  of 
section  31.  townshij)  j?^,  range  19,  by  Daniel  Hiskey  and  wife.  This  is  within 
the  ci\il  township  of  Fairview. 

Mingo  was  jjlatted  May  ij.  1884.  on  the  northeast  half  of  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  3.  townshij)  80.  range  21.  by  Thomas  A.  and  Da\id 
Baker  and  is  w  ithin  the  trritory  of  Poweshiek  townshij). 

Metz  was  j)latted  Julv  2^:^.  1883,  on  the  southeast  (piarter  of  the  north- 
east cjuarter  of  section  it.  townshij)  79.  range  20.  b\  William  Hitchler  and 
is  within  Mound  Prairie  township. 

Xewburg  was  j)latted  Sei)tember  30.  1878.  on  the  east  half  of  the  north- 
east cjuarter  of  the  northwest  (juarter  of  section  24.  townshij)  81.  range  17. 
by  Horace  and  Margaret  Palmer,  in  Hickory  drove  civil  township. 

Xewton  (original)  was  j)latted  by  the  county  commissioners  of  "Jasj)er 
county.  Territory  of  Iowa."  July  7.  1846. 

Prairie  Citv  (first  called  Flliott)  was  platted  June  7.  1856.  by  James 
Elliott  and  wife,  on  section  2.  township  yd',  range  21.  This  is  in  De>  Moines 
township  and  a  j)art  runs  over  into  Washington  tow nshij). 

Rushville,  in  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  9. 
townshij)  80.  range  18.  was  j)latted  by  Jesse  and  Jane  Young.  March  24.  1857. 
and  is  situated  in  Kellogg  civil  township. 

Reasoner  was  i)latted  August.  1877.  l)y  Samuel  and  Mary  Reasoner.  on 
the  northeast  (juarter  of  section  10.  township  78.  range  19.  and  is  situated  in 
Palo  Alto  ci\il   townshij). 


^02  JASPER    COUNJV.    IOWA. 

Sully  was  platted  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  8.  township  78,  range  17.  August  3,  1882,  by  Robert  Ryan,  trustee. 
This  is  in  Lynn  Grove  civil  township. 

Tools  Point  was  platted  and  filed  for  record  May  13,  1850,  by  pioneer 
Adam  Tool,  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  31,  township  70.  range  19. 

Turner  was  platted  April  19,  1899,  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  34,  township  80,  range  17.  and  is  within  Rock  Creek 
civil  township. 

X^andalia  was  platted  on  section  36,  township  78,  range  18.  by  josei)h  W. 
Buffington.  Februaiy  25,  1853. 

Valeria  was  platted  October  24,  1883,  by  N.  W.  Johnson  and  wife,  on 
section  20,  township  80,  range  21.  in  Poweshiek  civil  township. 

Wittemberg  was  platted  by  John  Carey,  president;  T.  Failor,  secre- 
tarv  of  the  Wittenil>erg  IManual  Labor  College,  on  the  east  half  of  section  3. 
township  80.  range  19,  Decemlier  15,  1856,  and  the  same  was  recorded  Janu- 
arv  12.  1858.  This  was  in  Newton  civil  township.  It  was  vacated  in  1878 
and  in  1890. 

•Another  village  was  platted  at  Oswalt,  in  Poweshiek  township,  but  little, 
save  a  railway  station  has  ever  been  built  there.  It  is  midway  between  Col- 
fax and  \'aleria,  on  the  Colfax  &  Northern  railroad,  in  Poweshiek  townshi]). 

CALIFORNIA  GOLD  SEEKERS. 

During  the  great  California  gold  fe\er  days,  and  in  1850,  Jasper  county 
was  caught,  as  was  many  another  Iowa  county.  A  party  was  formed  in- 
cluding the  following  gentlemen :  David  and  William  Edmundson,  John  E. 
Copp  and  son,  Nathan  Williams,  William  Smith,  Curtis  Dooley,  Jesse  Wilton 
and  Peter  Miller.  Williams  and  Miller  died  in  California.  Dooley  returned 
and  a  few  years  later  went  to  Oregon.  This  party  crossed  the  great  plains, 
then  styled  the  "Great  American  Desert."  As  a  rule  none  were  but  little 
more  advanced,  financially,  when  they  returned  than  when  they  left  Iowa. 
Some,  however,  did  (|uite  well. 

EARLY  ST.VGE  ROADS. 

In  h'cbruary,  1847,  ^^'^  '^^t  was  approved  by  the  Iowa  Legislature,  by 
which  E.  G.  Hanfield,  of  Marion  county,  and  Rufus  Williams  and  Joab  Ben- 
nett, of  Jasper  county,  were  authorized  to  lay  off  a  road  known  as  the  "State 
Road,"  commencing  at  Knoxville,   and   running  by   Red   Rock  to   Newton. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  363 

These  men  were  to  meet  thirty  days  later  and  have  their  expenses  all  paid 
jointly  by  the  two  counties. 

On  the  1 2th  of  the  same  month  Edward ,  of  Iowa,  Nathan  Will- 
iams of  Jasper,  and  A.  D.  Jones,  of  Polk  counties,  were  appointed  to  es- 
tablish a  road,  beginning  at  James  McCrea's  in  township  79,  range  6,  and 
running  by  the  way  of  Newton  and  Fort  Des  Moines  to  the  county  seat  of 
Dallas  county,  Iowa. 

Provisions  were  also  made  for  running  a  road  from  Iowa  City,  bv  the 
way  of  Marengo,  to  Newton,  David  Edmundson  being  the  locating  commis- 
sioner. 

February  18,  1847,  ^lanly  Gifford,  of  Jasper.  John  Hamilton,  of  Marion, 
and  Thomas  H.  Napier,  of  Polk  county,  were  appointed  to  lay  out  a  state 
road  from  Lake  Prairie,  in  ]Marion  county,  to  Fort  Des  Moines,  running  on 
the  north  side  of  the  Des  Moines  river.  These  commissioners  were  recjuired 
to  meet  l:>efore  September  of  that  year,  to  execute  their  duties. 

Joint  resolution  No.  9.  of  the  first  General  Assembly,  calls  for  the  rep- 
resentatives in  Congress  to  use  their  influence  to  obtain  the  establishment  of 
a  mail  route  from  Iowa  City,  by  the  way  of  Newton,  to  Fort  Des  Moines,  and 
to  secure  the  establishment  of  a  postoffice  at  Newton  City.  Resolution  No. 
12  called  for  the  representatives  in  Congress  to  use  their  best  exertions  to 
obtain  an  appropriation  for  the  establisliment  of  a  military  road  from  Iowa 
City  to  Fort  Des  Moines,  and  from  thence  on  to  the  Missouri  river.  The 
preamble  states  that  the  route  would  conduce  greatly  to  the  public  interest,  and 
that,  passing  through  a  region  remote  from  the  navigable  waters  of  any 
stream,  it  would  thereby  tend  to  facilitate  the  sale  of  large  tracts  of  the  public 
domain,  which  would  otherwise  remain  unsettled  for  a  long  time. 

MARRIAGE   RECORD. 

As  long  as  people  "are  married  and  given  in  marriage"'  in  this  world, 
if  not  in  the  world  to  come,  it  may  be  of  some  interest  to  the  reader  of  this 
historic  volume  to  know  something  of  the  first  and  subsequent  marriages  in 
Jasper  county,  as  discovered  in  the  records  of  the  county. 

It  appears  of  record  that  the  first  marriage  in  the  county  was  that  which 
united  Sergt.  James  Hill.  United  States  Army,  of  Fort  Des  2^Ioines.  and  the 
bride.  Miss  Susan  A.  Tool,  daughter  of  the  first  pioneer  in  this  county.  This 
marriaee  is  not  recorded  here,  but  in  Marion  countv.  as  this  dates  back  earlier 
than  the  organization  of  this  county.     The  marriage  was  performed  in  the 


-^(34  lASl'ER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

niunth  of  l-'ehrnary.  1845.  the  ceremony  being  pertonned  1)y  Re\-.  Pardoe,  an 
illiterate  minister  who  had  frequently  preached  as  a  missionary  to  Keokuk 
and  his  tribe. 

It  is  related  of  this  eccentric  minister,  that  he  talked  to  the  Indians  and 
told  them  that  if  they  loved  to  do  right  and  believed  in  the  word  of  life,  that 
when  thev  died  thev  would  go  to  a  land  "flowing  with  milk  and  honey." 
whereupon  old  chief  Keokuk  replied  that  he  would  much  prefer  to  have  it 
whisky  and  corn ! 

The  first  entrv  found  in  tlie  jasper  county  marriage  register  reads 
tlui>  : 

"The  L'nited  States  of  America.  Greeting:  This  may  certify  that  James 
F.  Xew  has  presented  the  [evidence]  of  being  a  regularly  licensed  minister 
of  the  gospel,  in  connection  with  the  ^lethodist  Episcopal  church;  therefore, 
know  ve  that  the  said  James  F.  Xew  is  hereby  authorized  to  solemnize  the 
rites  of  matrimonv  in  said  county  so  long  as  he  maintains  his  standing  in  said 
church,  and  no  longer. 

"In  testimon\  whereof.  I  ha\c  hereunto  set  m\'  hand  and  affixed  the 
seal  (jf  said  court,  at  Monroe,  this  4th  da\-  of  Deceml)er.  A.  D.   1846. 

"Peter  Mileer.  Clerk." 

The  credentials  of  l-'dder  Claiborne  Hall,  a  minister  of  the  Christian 
church,  were  recorded  in  1849.  and  also  the  credentials  of  Rev.  John  Crill 
and  R.  H.  Brooks,  preachers  of  the  Methodist  church. 

X^o  marriages  prior  to  1849  are  to  be  found  recorded.  Those  consum- 
mated during  that  \ear  were:  Jesse  Hammer  and  ^Margaret  Sparks,  by  Rev. 
J.  I"".  Xew:  .\lexander  McCollum  and  Amanda  Tice.  by  Elder  Hall;  Alex- 
ander Davis  and  Mrs.  Mercy  Shoemake.  bv  Jabez  Starr,  justice  of  the  peace: 
Jacob  Trulinger  and  Mrs.  Catherine  W'enn.  b\-  !>.  1".  P)ro(l}'.  justice  of  the 
l)eace. 

From  January,  1870.  to  January.  1879.  there  were  990  marriages  re- 
corded in  the  county's  books  in  the  clerk's  office;  from  1880  to  January.  1890. 
the  marriages  numbered  j.ooi  in  the  ten-year  ])eriod  :  frcjm  1890  to  1898  the 
number  was  1.832:  froiu  J898  to  1907.  the  total  was  -'.392  for  the  decade,  an 
average  of  236  annually.  From  1907  to  January  i.  191 1,  the  numl)er  of 
marriages  was  680.  This  makes  a  grand  total  of  7,895  since  January  i, 
1 870.  forty  years. 


.|Asn:u  ^.()L^l^.   iowa.  365 

IXTOXlCATIXC    l-IyrORS,    I'KOIIiniTlOX,    KTC. 

l-'roiii  the  cavlicsi  date  in  the  history  of  this  county,  as  well  as  in  the 
entire  state  of  Jowa,  there  has  been  a  division  of  iniblic  opinion  regarding  the 
sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  as  a  beverage.  As  a  rule  the  river  towns  on  the 
east  and  west  ])orders  of  the  commonwealth  have  been  the  locations  where 
the  idea  of  ])rohi]jition  lias  l)een  hooted  at  and  fought  the  hardest.  This  is 
natural,  for  at  such  points  the  worst  of  our  population  have  always  resided, 
the  l)etter  element  having  chosen  the  prairie  lands  farther  out  from  the  con- 
taminating inthiences  of  river  traffic  and  boatmen's  life. 

The  record  of  this  county  shows  that  in  April,  1855,  the  question  of 
prohibition  was  submitted  to  the  people,  and  resulted  in  defeat  bv  a  vote  of 
three  hundred  and  se\en  to  three  hundred  and  forty-two,  thirty-fiveniajority 
for  proliibition.  At  that  election  Xewton.  as  a  precinct,  gave  one  hundred 
and  eighty-eight  votes  against  the  sale  of  liciuor.  and  had  it  not  been  for  this 
large  majority  (more  than  one  hundred)  the  county  would  have  gone  for 
"free  whisky."' 

]n  July,  1855.  't  is  recorded  that  at  the  town  of  Monroe.  Bennett  Put- 
nam was  appointed  by  the  judge  as  agent  for  the  purchase  and  sale  of  intoxi- 
cating li(|uors  for  that  town,  and  that  on  the  loth  of  the  same  month  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  worth  of  liquors  to  be  kept  in  his 
stock  for  "legitimate  uses."  Even  this  was  a  better  regulation  than  many 
of  the  liquor  laws  enacted  on  b»\\a  soil,  by  which  the  "de\il  has  been  whip))ed 
around  the  bush." 

UNIQUE  TP:MrERANCE  ELECTIOX. 

The  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union,  in  Xewton,  was  organ- 
ized in  June.  1876.  with  Mrs.  Reynolds  as  its  president:  Mrs.  A.  C.  Gardner, 
secretary:  ]^Irs.  Golding.  treasurer.  In  1878  it  reported  sixty-eight  mem- 
bers. 

Perhaps  the  most  noted  thing  ever  attempted  and  carried  to  completion 
was  that  of  holding  a  separate  election,  on  the  same  day  of  the  regular  elec- 
tion held  bv  the  men  eligible  to  vote  in  Newton.  The  women  had  their  own 
ballot  \x)x  and  rallied  their  forces  strong,  early  and  late,  and  when  the  bal- 
lots were  counted  out  by  the  men,  it  was  found  that  the  town  had  gone  "dry" 
by  one  hundred  and  fifty  majority.  The  ladies  polled  over  four  luuKlred  bal- 
lots at  their  voting  place.  This  was  over  whether  Xewton  should  grant  license 
to  saloons  or  not.  In  this  case  the  ladies,  no  doubt,  had  much  influence  on  the 
casting  of  the  ballots  of  their  husbands  and  the  reader  can  judge  as  to  the 
proprietv  of  letting  women  vote  as  a  purifier  of  elections  in  this  country. 


366 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 


VOTE  ON   THE  CONSTITUTIONAI-  AMENDMENT, 


On  June  i-j,  1882.  the  prohibition  question  in  Iowa  was  voted  on.  the 
question  being  whether  or  not  an  amendment  should  be  added  to  the  state 
constitution  prohibiting  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors,  including  "ale,  wine 
and  beer."     The  vote  in  Jasper  cninty,  l)y  precincts,  was  as  follows: 

For  Against 
Amendment.     .Amendment. 

J.ynn    Grove    township 234  t^t^ 

Buena   Vista   Township 136  45 

Independence    Township    117  42 

Colfax  precinct    171  24 

Elk   Creek   Township 1 19  127 

Monroe   precinct    299  143 

Prairie  City    42  7 

\'andalia   precinct    40  65         ' 

Sherman   township    90  39 

Palo   .\lto   township 152  58 

Poweshiek  township    185  28 

Mound   Prairie  township 90  36 

Xewton  township    533  196 

Kellogg  township    185  in 

Clear   Creek   township 146  7 

\\'ashington    i)recinct    68  14 

AFalaka  township 43  63 

Mariposa  township    43  75 

Richland  township 92  34 

Rock  Creek  township 29  53 

Hickory  Grove  township 92  40 

T<jtal 3.148  1.360 

Majority   for  amendment 1,788 

Total  vote 4.508 

Newton  and  Jasper  county,  generally  speaking,  have  always  disapproved 
of  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors,  and  until  recent  years  have  not  tolerated 
"boot-legging,"  but  now  it  is  common  for  such  outlaws  to  get  their  work  in, 
in  certain  parts  of  the  county.  But  saloons  have  never  found  a  home  at  Xew- 
ton.    As  early  as  1855,  Andrew  Insley  was  engaged  in  the  illegal  sale  of 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  367 

liquor  at  Newton,  and  the  citizens  took  the  matter  in  hand,  and  finallv  pur- 
chased his  stock  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  gallons  of  pure  whisky  and 
nineteen  gallons  of  good  brandy  which  they  took  to  the  court  house  and  de- 
stroyed. Insley  agreed  to  (juit  the  business,  but  soon  resumed  his  illegal  work 
at  peddling  whisky.  This  being  made  known,  the  brave,  true-hearted  women 
of  the  little  hamlet  gathered  together  and  in  a  meeting  resolved  to  destroy 
the  "vile  stuff."  This  was  accomplished  under  the  leadership  of  Mrs.  Lamb, 
Mrs.  Walker  and  ]\lrs.  I'ettetish.  The  grand  jury  failed  to  find  a  true  bill 
against  the  man  or  he  nn'ght  have  l>een  severely  punished.  He  had  also  sued 
the  ladies  for  destroying  his  "property."  but  the  case  would  not  stand  in 
Judge  ?vIcFarland's  district  court. 

During  1836  the  women  of  Xewton  visited  the  liquor  shop  kept  bv  San- 
ford  Porter  and  completely  destroyed  his  stock  in  trade.  Porter  was  greatly 
enraged  and  had  the  ladies  arrested,  but  the  case  amounted  to  nothing,  for  he 
had  no  redress  l:>efore  the  courts,  as  his  was  then,  as  now.  looked  upon  as 
an  illegitimate  business. 

LOCAL  LITERATURE  AND  AUTHORS. 

Since  the  pioneer  days  in  Jasper  county  there  have  been  several  literary 
characters,  those  who  have  penned  many  beautiful  jx^ems  and  framed  many 
fine  sentences  and  pages  of  ])rose  writings.  These  can  not  all  be  reviewed  in 
a  work  of  the  nature  of  this,  but  mention  must  be  made  of  those  that  have 
come  within  the  personal  knowledge  of  the  writer. 

Miss  Carrie  L.  Early,  daughter  of  George  Early  and  wife,  of  Newton, 
will  be  long  cherished  by  those  who  have  read  her  fine  poems  and  other  com- 
positions. She  passed  from  earth's  shining  circle  all  too  young  to  have  made 
herself  known  to  the  nation,  as  she  would  have  done  had  she  been  spared  to 
old  age.     She  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven. 

Tn  a  book  of  her  rare  gems  of  poetry,  she  had  one  poem  entitled  "Suc- 
cess." the  last  ver.se  of  which  is  here  given.  It  really  shows  that  her  own  sweet 
life  was  a  success  in  and  of  itself. 

"If  tliou  hast  striven  to  make  clean 

Thyself  and  build  a  life  of  good 
To  others,  while  thyself  shall  glean 

From  wheat  or  tares  a  sheaf  of  good — 
If  thou  hast  given  thy  l)est  life's  blood 

To  gain  the  cause  thou  didst  think  best. 
If  ever\'  day  thou  didst  an  act  of  good. 

Then  thou  hast  truly  gained  success." 


j^()S  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Miss  Ciulillnia  Zollinger  was  a  recent  year  contributor  to  periodicals. 
•'Dan  Druniniond."  "The  Widow  O'Callihan's  Boys"  (1908).  "The  Route 
of  the  Foreigner"  (1910),  "A  Boy's  Ride""  (1909),  and  "Alaggie  AlcLane- 
han"  (1910).  etc.,  are  all  from  her  winning  pen. 

Dr.  Perrv  Engle  has  wntten  many  beautiful  things  of  sentiment  and 
deep  philosophy,  both  in  p^'ose  and  poetry. 

Dr.  I.  n.  Gorrell  has  written  many  good  things  along  various  lines, 
including  scientihc.  professional  and  also  religious  and  political.  His  recent 
work  on  his  religious  faith  is  said  by  good  judges  to  be  a  work  of  rare  merit 
as  a  compilation  on  religious  subjects. 

As  a  local  writer  for  the  press  none  excels  "Tommy"  'SI.  Rodgers,  as  he 
is  known.  He  has  long  served  on  various  papers  and  gets  down  to  the  bot- 
tom of  one's  heart  when  he  tries  to  be  sentimental.  Some  of  his  writings 
along  down  the  vears  are  rare  gems,  in  beautiful  English  word  settings.  He 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war  and,  w  ith  another  youth,  established  the  first 
daily  in  this  county. 

^Ir.  Rinehart,  who  conducted  the  Herald  many  years,  was  a  brilliant 
writer  in  both  prose  and  poetry,  some  of  which  may  be  seen  in  this  work. 

Mrs.  T.  G.  Springer,  of  the  north  part  of  this  county,  wrote  fine  verse 
in  Civil  war  days.  One  poem  was  dedicated  to  the  Jasper  V^olunteers  in  1861 
and  proved  to  be  prophetic. 

Another  lady  whom  Jasper  justl\'  claims  was  Xettie.  daughter  of  Air.  and 
Skiff,  later  known  as  Xettie  Sanford-Cha])in,  through  her  two  marriage 
unions,  the  last  being  to  the  veteran  journalist,  E.  C.  Chapin,  of  the  Marshall 
County  Xczvs.  She  wrote  mostly  prose.  She  resided  at  W^ashingtoti  several 
winters  and  wrote  much  concerning  society  and  fashionable  ^^'ashington 
circles.  She  lo\ed  history  also  and  w  rote  much  of  interest  and  \alue  on  Iowa 
history.  She  pul)lished  se\eral  small  books  herself.  She  has  been  dead  a 
number  of  years. 

The  following  is  a  campaign  ode  written  man\-  \ears  ago  bv  William 
Burne_\-.  then  editor  of  the  Xcwtoii  IlcraUl.  now  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
Collins  Cazcltc.  the  occasion  being  the  congressional  campaign  of   1888: 

Friend  of  the  ])eo[)le.  wise  and  just. 
l-'aithful  to  country,  and  to  trust, 
Xor  shyster,  nor  deceiver; 
Straightforward  in  debate  and  vote. 
A  gallant  chief  niongst  men  of  nt)te, 
We  hail  thee.  General  \\'ea\er. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  369 

Brave  soldier  'mid  the  j^ory  rtght 
For  freedom,  union,  and  the  right. 

Undaunted  'til  the  close; 
Now.  "mid  the  fight  for  equal  laws 
For  rich  and  poor — a  holy  cause — 

Thou  bearest  on  thv  foes. 

And  truth  and  justice  must  prevail; 
And  sore  o])pression.  and  the  wail 

From  many  a  burdened  life. 
Shall,  by  thine  efforts,  disappear, 
"Till  o"er  the  land,  afar  and  near, 

Shall  cease  the  cause  of  strife. 

God  bless  our  country — may  her  boys 
Have  every  blessing,  and  may  joys 

Find  none  their  non-recei\er ; 
And  blessings  crown  thee,  statesman  true. 
]\ larch  on  to  conquer,  we  renew 

Our  pledges.  General  Weaver. 

THE  TOTAL  ECLIPSE  OF    1 869. 

Jasper  county,  in  common  ^\  ith  others  in  this  portion  of  this  country, 
had  a  rare — once  in  a  life-time  chance — in  the  month  of  .August,  1869.  to 
view  the  sublimit v  of  a  total  eclipse  of  the  sun.  It  had  been  foretold  by 
astronomers  and  the\'  hit  the  \ery  minute  in  which  it  appeared.  It  appeared 
as  total  within  a  stretch  of  country  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles 
in  width  through  Iowa.  The  bodv  of  the  moon  completely  hid  the  sun  from 
view.  When  the  disk  of  the  sun  was  almost  covered  and  the  light  began  to 
diminish,  a  chilliness  crept  into  the  air.  which  during  the  earlier  part  of  the 
day  had  been  extremely  hot  (it  being  August  7th).  and  a  coolness  not  ex- 
perienced even  of  a  summer  evening  hour  seemed  to  envelop  the  earth.  This 
approach  of  cold  was  instant  and  almost  alarming.  Birds  and  domestic  fowls 
sought  their  roosts,  dogs  and  horses  manifested  much  uneasiness  and  in  some 
instances  positive  terror.  Cattle  huddled  together  in  fear  at  the  swiftly  ap- 
proaching darkness  and  vet  it  was  scarcely  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.     The 

(24) 


370  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

total  w  iilth  i)t   the  corona  was  fifjured  by  scientists  at  one  million  six  hun- 
dred thousand  miles. 

Every  person  of  an\-  considerable  as^e  in  this  county  who  was  not  un- 
fortunate euiius^h  to  he  blind,  \iewed  this  wonderful  ])henomenon  in  the 
heavens.  It  was  a  sight  never  to  be  forgotten  1)\-  old  ov  young.  Some  had 
one  impression,  some  another.  It  was  a  wonder  to  all.  Many  hundreds  hav- 
ing prepared  for  the  sight,  had  smoked  glasses,  and  with  tliese  were  enabled 
to  clearlv  view  the  eclipse  from  start  to  finish.  The  coming  on  was  beautiful 
in  the  e.xtreme.  Little  bv  little  the  light  of  the  brilliant  summer's  sun  was 
shut  off  bv  the  shadows  of  the  silveiw  moon  in  its  majestic  march  onward. 
A  few  seconds  of  expectancy  and  the  light  was  gone  entirely.  Then  came 
an  interval  of  absolute  silence — total  darkness  covered  the  earth.  Upward, 
the  sight  was  charming,  yet  strange  to  behold.  The  larger,  brighter  stars 
could  be  seen  overhead  plainly,  as  if  it  were  night  time.  The  chickens 
crowed  in  man\'  neighborhoods  and  all  business  was  for  the  time  suspended. 
All  were  quiet  and  awestruck.  The  astronomer  was  at  his  glory.  The  su- 
perstitious feared  an  impending  calamity.  The  religious  were  thoughtful  and 
knew  that  Clod  in  hea\en  reigned  o\  er  all.  .\fter  a  few  seconds,  the  rift  of 
light  began  to  make  its  appearance  and  slowly  the  sun  commenced  again  to 
send  forth  its  warm  summer  rays.  It  was  said  that  this  eclipse  would  not 
again  occur  within  four  hundred  years.  Tt  was  the  subject  of  much  thought. 
discussion  and  speculation  at  the  time. 

ITONEEIi   wo  .MAX   CALEEI)  ""COOO  SQU.VW." 

The  wife  of  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Jasper  county.  Mrs.  \\'illiam  High- 
land, the  first  white  woman  in  this  county,  felt  timid  when  visited  by  her  coi>- 
per-colored  sisters  and  brothers  in  the  absence  of. her  husband.  Frequently  a 
dozen  braves  would  enter  her  cabin  home  at  one  time.  They  made  quite 
fashionable  calls  and  seemed  interested  in  her  housekeeping  and  the  house- 
hold affairs  in  general.  They  talked  on  \arious  topics,  but  wound  up  gen- 
erally with  a  hint  that  some  (jf  the  w  bite  woman's  food  would  suit  their  taste 
pretty  well.  In  winter  their  clothing  was  none  too  ample  for  covering  them, 
and  in  summer  it  was  still  more  lacking  in  close  structure.  .\t  first  she  tried 
to  cut  short  these  calls,  and  they  knew  full  well  the  cause — because  they  were 
not  wanted.  When  they  had  tea.sed  her  to  their  heart's  content,  they  would 
compliment  her  by  saying  she  was  a  "good  scpiaw,"  and  then  offer  to  leave  if 
she  would  shake  hands  with  them.  When  she  comi)lied.  they  silently  left  the 
place  and  did  no  mischief. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  37 1 

There  was  a  certain  sympathy  and  pity  extended  toward  these  wander- 
ing: Indians,  who  had  just  recently  been  bont^ht  off.  or  dri\en  off  from  their 
lands  by  the  antiiority  of  government.  Uut  the  law  of  the  survival  of  the 
fittest  had  tn  I)e  broui^ht  into  play  in  such  cases  that  civilization  mij^ht  lx;ttcr 
be  established  in  this,  the  .garden  spot  of  Iowa. 

STATE  CAPITAL  ONCE  LOCATED   LV   JASPER  COUNTY. 

There  are  but  few  of  the  citizens  living-  within  Iowa  now  who  are  aware 
of  the  fact  that  one  time  the  capital  of  Iowa  was  legally  fixed  to  be  built  in 
Jasper  county,  but  such  is  the  fact. 

After  Iowa  territory  had  been  admitted  as  a  state,  in  1846.  and  its  first 
session  of  Legislature  was  held  in  Iowa  City,  then  the  capital  of  the  ter- 
ritory, the  state  treasurer  reported  the  building  at  Iowa  City  very  unsafe. 
subject  to  being  injured  by  storms,  etc..  and  asked  the  Legislature  to  do 
something  about  it.  Hence  the  General  Assembly  responded  to  his  appeal 
and  appropriated  the  sum  of  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  for  the  com- 
])letion  of  the  old  building.  The  question  of  the  western  boundary  of  Iowa 
ha\ing  then  been  settled,  a  discussion  arose  regarding  the  relocation  of  the 
capital,  as  Iowa  City  was  known  by  all  reasonable  minds  to  be  too  far  to  the 
east.  So  the  General  .\ssembly  appointed  a  commission  to  locate  a  seat  of 
government,  and  to  select  five  sections  of  land.  I)eing  the  amount  granted  by 
Congress  for  the  erection  of  public  buildings:  and  granted  the  untlnished 
buildings  at  Iowa  City  to  the  newlv  created  State  L'niversity.  to  be  used, 
however,  by  the  Legislature  until  other  provisions  could  be  made.  The  said 
locating  commissioners  at  once  selected  four  sections  and  two  half  sections 
in  Jasper  county.  Two  of  these  sections  were  located  in  what  is  n(nv  Des 
Moines  township  and  the  remainder  in  Fairview  township.  These  lands  were 
situated  between  Prairie  City  and  Monroe,  on  the  Keokuk  &  Des  Moines 
railroad  of  later  survey.  A  sale  of  lots  took  place  there,  a  town  having  been 
platted  and  given  the  name  of  "Monroe  City."  Four  hundred  and  fifteen  of 
these  lots  were  sold  at  cheap  prices.  The  cash  payment,  one-fourth,  yielded 
.Si. 797.34;  while  the  expense  of  the  sale,  and  claim  of  the  commission  for  ser- 
vices, exceeded  that  amount  by  $409.14.  When  this  glowing  bit  of  financier- 
ing was  made  known  in  the  report  to  the  Legi.slaturc.  he.  later  known  as 
Iowa's  most  eccentric  district  judge.  McFarland.  who  was  then  a  member 
of  the  House,  moved  that  a  committee  of  five,  forming  a  select  committee, 
should  be  a])])ointed  to  investigate  and  show  how  much  of  "Monroe  City" 
was  under  water  and  how    much  had  been  burned  u]>!     The  report  was  re- 


l^yZ  JASPER    COIXTV.    IOWA. 

ferred,  without  the  instructions,  however.  The  result  was  that  Iowa's  new 
capital  at  Monroe  City  ceased  to  be.  llie  lots  were  vacated  and  most  of  the 
lot  owners  received  their  money  back.  Chapter  71  of  the  laws  of  the  first 
General  AssembK   will  give  about  the  above  facts. 

But  there  are  still  more  interesting  points  to  be  brought  to  the  attention 
of  the  reader,  in  this  singular  case.  Samuel  B.  Shelladay,  a  United  States 
marshal,  one  of  more  than  ordinary  influence  in  Iowa,  and  also  a  large  land- 
uuncr  in  Jasper  county,  was  engaged  by  the  citizens  of  the  southern  part  of 
Jasper  county,  to  go  to  the  Legislature  that  w  inter,  at  Iowa  City,  and  lobby 
for  the  new  seat  of  justice  for  Iowa.  It  may  be  stated,  on  good  authority, 
that  through  his  scheming  the  commissioners  were  induced  to  select  ''Monroe 
City"    (to  be)    for  the  new  capitol  location. 

After  the  commissioners  had  fully  agreed  upon  this  location,  a  pledge 
was  given  that  no  members  should  divulge  the  secret,  until  the  fact  had  been 
made  known  at  Iowa  City  to  the  Governor  and  through  him  made  generally 
public?.  But  it  is  claimed  that  one  Joseph  D.  Hoag,  of  the  Friends  religious 
faith — a  genuine  Quaker — after  having  agreed  to  this,  was  so  dishonorable 
that  he  went  to  his  home  in  Henry  county,  near  Salem,  and  there  let  the  news 
out  among  his  brethren,  giving  them  e\  en  the  exact  spot  where  the  commis- 
sion had  located  the  new  capital.  At  once  the  scheme  was  set  on  foot  to 
claim  and  purchase  all  the  land  in  and  around  the  newly-made  seat  of  justice. 
The  Quakers  were  seen  in  great  numbers,  traveling  on  foot,  on  horseback  and 
in  wagons  from  Henry  county,  northward,  through  Oskaloosa,  until  the  peo- 
ple there  mistrusted  something  unusual  was  going  on  and  when  they  followed 
on  after  them,  in  a  few  days,  it  was  learned  that  these  Friends  had  literally 
gobbled  up  much  of  the  a\-ailable  lands  in  the  vicinity  of  'Monroe  City" — in 
short  nearly  all  Ijetween  tlie  Skunk  and  Des  Moines  rivers. 

Manly  Gifford,  of  Jasper  county,  was  a  large  lot  purchaser  in  the  em- 
bryo city.  So  great  was  the  ill  feeling  toward  the  man  who  had  thus  l>etra\ed 
a  sacred  pledge,  that  it  was  not  until  the  lapse  of  more  than  fifteen  vears  that 
H(jag  was  able  to  get  his  fees  as  commissioner  from  the  state  of  Iowa,  which. 
after  the  older  meml)ers  were  forgotten,  did  in  1862  finall\-  ])a\-  him  for  sucli 
services. 

"Monroe  City"'  ne\"er  was  platted  ruid  recorded  in  a  legal  manner — it 
existed  only  in  the  minds  of  a  few  schemers  and  upon  paper  of  little  size  and 
value.  Xot  even  a  cabin  was  ever  raised  there ;  the  stakes  denoting  the  lot 
corners  soon  disappeared  with  the  prairie  fires  of  1850.  Where  the  proud  dome 
of  the  new  state  capitol  was  to  rear  its  head  heavenward,  the  prairie  grass, 
frostbitten  and  brown,  stood  in  (hy  and  decaying  waves.  ^Fhc  wild  animals 
made  their  snug  homes  where  the  executive  mansion  was  to  have  been  erected. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  T^yT^ 

THE  UNDERGROUND  RAILROAD. 

To  the  present  generation,  especially  t(j  those  who  have  not  read  up  on 
the  history  of  the  country  before  the  Civil,  war,  as  touching  the 
workings  of  the  fugitive  sla\e  law,  by  which  all  citizens  of  the 
United  States,  whether  living  South  or  North,  whether  believing 
in  the  justice  of  slavery  or  opposed  thereto,  were,  according  to 
that  law  of  Congress,  obliged  to  help  capture  and  return  to  their  "own- 
ers" such  negro  slaves  as  might  escape  from  their  masters.  This  was  a  hard 
provision  for  the  anti-slavery  men  to  live  up  to  and  keep  good  and  clear  their 
consciences.  Hence  there  was  organized  a  secret  society  of  men,  and  women 
too,  who  were  ready  to  thwart  the  plans  of  such  an  unjust  law,  by  assisting 
in  every  possible  manner  a  sla\e  who  might  come  through  the  country,  want- 
ing to  make  his  escape  to  Canada,  where  he  would  be  looked  upon  as  a  free 
man,  black  though  he  was.  It  will  be  understood  also  that  this  was  happening 
just  at  a  time  when  steam  railroads  were  first  engaging  the  minds  of  the 
masses  and  hence  they  very  naturallv  used  the  term  "underground  railroad," 
for  the  line  over  which  these  runaway  slaves  were  sent  from  one  part  of  the 
north  to  the  other.  Many  of  the  patriotic  anti-slave  songs  also  had  titles 
such  as  "Old  Dan  Tucker,""  the  "Car  of  Emancipation,"  etc.  Then  it  will  be 
understood  that  "underground  railroad"  had  no  real  significance,  in  the  light 
of  its  being  a  real  highway,  as  we  now  speak  of  railroads  and  of  "under- 
ground railroads'"  in  cities,  etc.,  which  do  exist,  in  fact,  but  usually  styled  as 
"subways." 

During  those  anti-slavery  times  there  were  many  in  this  county  who 
took  an  active  part  in  helping  negroes  escape  to  Canada  over  this  supposed 
"underground""  line,  for  most  of  its  trains  were  operated  at  night-time,  in 
order  not  to  be  detected  by  the  slave  hunters  and  their  hounds.  The  following 
is  from  the  pen  of  "Old  Shady"  (Joseph  Arnold),  who  was  a  "conductor" 
on  this  railroad  and  these  lines  were  not  written  until  after  the  four  years  of 
Civil  war  had  freed  the  slaves : 

"On  the  4th  day  of  November,  ICS57,  while  returning  from 
Newton  in  company  with  Matthew  Sparks,  they  overtook  three 
negroes  about  one-half  mile  out  from  Newton  on  the  road  leading 
to  Lvnnville.  Mr.  Arnold  spoke  to  them,  assuring  them  that  he  and  his  com- 
panion were  their  friends,  and  told  them  to  get  into  the  wagon  and  ride. 
They  seemed  glad  of  the  opportunity,  and  after  getting  in,  asked  them  where 
they  were  going.     Their  repl>-  was  Lynn  Grove.     The  darkies'  eyes  began  to 


274  JASPER    COUISTV,    IOWA. 

enlarge  and  show  plenty  of  white.  They  then  imiuired  if  either  of  us  knew 
Arnold  or  Sparks.  Upon  being  informed  that  the  two  gentlemen  to  whom 
thev  were  talking  were  the  persons  asked  for,  the  poor  fellows  were  over- 
joyed at  tile  announcement.  One  of  them  look  a  ragged  and  soiled  piece  of 
paper  from  his  pocket.  On  this  slip  was  the  names  of  Arnold  and  Sparks 
which  they  said  was  furnished  them  by  a  certain  party  who  had  formerly 
lived  in  this  neighborhood,  but  now  a  resident  of  the  Territory  of  Kansas.  He 
had  instructed  the  colored  gentlemen  that  Arnold  and  Sparks  were  safe  con- 
ductors on  the  underground  railway.  They  were  taken  to  C.  B.  White's 
house  in  Lynnville.  Soon  after  a  good  many  local  stockholders  in  the  line 
assem])led.  a  meeting  having  been  called  by  Arnold  and  Sparks.  About  nine 
o'clock  one  of  the  darkies  made  a  speech  in  which  he  said  :  T  have  never 
saw  so  many  friends  in  all  ni}-  life  and  would  not  be  anything  but  a  "nigger" 
tonight  if  J  could.  God  bless  you,  I  am  gwine  to  de  norf,  sah.'  After  furnish- 
ing the  darkies  with  means  and  proper  passage,  they  were  taken  on  to 
Grinnell.  Their  names  were  James  F.  ]\Iiller,  Henry  May  and  John  Ross, 
and  were  from  the  Cherokee  nation.  The  same  year,  a  darkey,  his  wife  and 
child,  the  latter  about  one  year  old,  were  br<jught  to  Joseph  Arnold,  who 
kept  them  until  about  daylight,  ferried  them  across  the  North  Skunk  ri\er 
and  took  them  to  Jarvis  Johnson,  where  they  were  secreted  until  the  next 
night,  and  sent  on  to  the  next  station,  Grinnell.  That  station  was  then 
superintended  bv  Hon.  J.  B.  Grinnell  himself.  On  one  occasion  a  slave 
catcher  met  Arnold,  and  after  having  noticed,  veiy  particularly,  the  co\'ered 
wagon  he  was  then  driving,  the  Missourian,  a  rough,  profane  man,  stO]:)ped 
the  team  and  in  an  abrupt  manner  said :  'You  haint  seen  nuthin'  of  no  nig- 
gers along  here  lately,  ha\e  you?'  Arnold  soon  saw  the  defect  in  this  man's 
grammar,  and  answered  him  'Xo\'  He  said  his  niggers  were  in  here  some- 
where and  that  he  would  catch  them  as  sure  as  h .     He  didn't  though." 

Other  instances  include  the  following  narrated  in  a  former  history  of 
this  section  of  Iowa : 

"John  R.  Si)arks,  Es(|..  employed  several  fugitives  for  a  short  time  about 
his  saw-mill.  On  another  occasion  he  came  narrowly  out  of  a  'fix.'  During 
his  absence,  his  father,  a  good  old  Kentucky  Democrat,  entertained  se\eral 
dusky  travelers  northward  IxDund.  These  fellows  were  trailed  by  pursuers 
<lirectly  to  Mr.  Sparks'  house,  and  bad  it  not  been  for  the  fact  that  the  shelter 
was  gi\en  as  stated  it  would  ha\e  been  a  certain  case.  As  it  was.  the  pm-suers 
grumbled  a  good  deal  toward  the  old  gentleman. 

"August  13,  i860,  two  covered  wagons  passed  through  Xewton  contain- 
ing fifteen  negroes  from  Missouri  and  Kansas,  makin"-  tlieir  way  toward  tlie 


JASPER    CO  UN  TV,    IOWA.  3J5 

North  star.  The  wagons  were  accompanied  by  some  twelve  or  fifteen  white 
men  on  horseback,  and  all  were  heavily  armed,  presenting  a  very  warlike  ap- 
pearance. Among  the  whites  was  Barclay  Coppoc,  who  had  accompanied  John 
Brown  on  his  ill-starred  expedition  into  \irginia.  and  had  barely  escaped  the 
fate  meted  out  to  his  comrades,  one  of  wliom  was  his  brother.  Edward.  His 
flight  was  characterized  by  great  nerve  and  daring.  He  returned  at  once  to 
his  home  in  Cedar  county,  this  state.  Soon  after,  the  sheriff  at  Tipton  was 
visited  by  a  Virginia  officer  with  a  requisition  for  Barclay.  The  sheriff 
volunteered  to  serve  the  papers,  \isited  Coppoc's  home,  and.  not  finding  him, 
left  a  message  requesting  Coppoc  to  be  at  home  next  day,  as  he  had  a  warrant 
for  him.  Another  of  the  party  was  Ball,  of  the  Brown  invasion,  and  still 
another.  Doyle,  of  Kansas  note.  Coppoc  and  his  company  declared  thev  were 
able  to  cope  with  a  hundred  persons,  if  attacked.  They  camped  a  short  dis- 
tance from  town  for  several  hours,  and  then  resumed  their  journev.  A  squad 
of  nineteen  passed  a  few  miles  south  of  Xewton  the  same  dav.  Three  other 
negroes  passed  through  Xewton  on  their  way  north  in  A])ril  of  the  pre- 
ceding year." 

OLD   settlers'    society. 

January  8.  i88j.  an  old  settlers*  organization  was  perfected.  Joseph 
Arnold  drew  up  the  preamble,  constitution  and  by-laws,  and  they  were  re- 
corded in  book  3,  page  382,  in  the  recorder's  office  at  Newton.  There  had 
been  several  annual  meetings  of  the  old  settlers  held  in  the  groves  previous 
to  this,  but  no  organization  had  been  effected  or  any  record  of  the  proceed- 
ings kept.  John  R.  Sparks  was  chosen  president  and  Joseph  Arnold  secre- 
tary. In  1884  five  acres  of  land  was  selected  and  purchased  by  the  society, 
which  is  one-half  mile  southwest  of  Lynnville  and  is  called  the  ''Old  Set- 
tlers' Park."  On  this  ground  annual  meetings  were  held  and  usually  at- 
tended bv  the  thousands.  They  are  still  kept  up  and  at  one  occasion  there 
was  estimated  to  have  been  ten  thousand  people  in  attendance.  They  came 
from  Maine  to  the  Pacific  coast — friends  who  had  one  time  lived  in  Jasper 
county.  These  gatherings  are  held  on  the  third  Thursday  of  each  August, 
and  are  greatlv  enjoved  1)v  all.  Tt  is  the  event  of  all  the  year  in  and  about 
Lynnville.  The  present  (  191  i  )  officers  of  the  association  are:  W.  J.  Adams, 
president:  Charles  W.  Wildman,  secretary:  W.  P.  Robertson,  \  ice-i)resident : 
C.  H.  Potter,  treasurer. 

JASPER  county's   FIRST   CELEBRATION. 

The  first  Fourth  of  July  celebration  in  this  county  was  held  at  the  log 
cabin  home  of  pioneer  15.  Aydekjtte.  in  Buena  X'ista  townshi]).  and  in  1894 — 


376  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

just  fortv-eight  years  later — Mr.  Aydelotte  was  invited  to  attend  a  celebra- 
tion in  that  township  again,  but  was  unable  to  be  present,  so  wrote  the  fol- 
lowing letter  to  his  old-time  friend,  j.  \\\  Murphy,  who  still  resides  in  Buena 
\'ista  township.  The  letter,  which  describes  the  pioneer  celebration,  reads 
as  follows : 

"Newton,  Iowa,  July  2,  1894. 
"].  W.  Murphy.  Esq. 

"Dear  Sir :  1  was  pleased  to  hear  you  was  going  to  celebrate  the  4th 
at  r^Iurphy.  It  reminds  me  of  a  little  celebration  we  had  at  my  home  in 
1 84(1 — if  it  could  l^e  called  a  celebration.  It  was  a  small  affair,  but  we  done 
the  best  we  could  under  the  circumstances.  Well ;  the  eight  families  that 
settled  on  Elk  Creek  in  1845  concluded  to  meet  at  my  cabin  (you  know  where 
it  stood,  near  where  the  Herring  House  stands  now)  and  spend  the  day  in 
celebrating.  All  furnished  the  best  they  had  on  hand  to  help  out  the  dinner. 
The  families  were  AI.  D.  Springer.  William  AI.  Springer,  Joab  Bennett, 
James  Pearson,  Moses  Lacy,  Fool  Bill  Smith,  B.  Aydelotte  and  John  H. 
l-'ranklin.  We  got  together  early  and  the  women  went  to  cooking  the  dinner. 
We  did  not  have  a  great  variety,  but  plenty  such  as  it  was.  Lacy  had  killed 
a  deer  a  day  or  so  ago,  so  we  had  fresh  venison.  Bennett  found  several 
bee  trees  and  we  had  plenty  of  honey.  Bill  Smith  had  been  to  Oskaloosa  a 
few  days  before  and  brought  home  a  little  flour.  He  furnished  the  pie  crust. 
I  had  gathered  a  lot  of  wild  gooseberries,  so  we  had  gooseberry  pie  and  plenty 
of  it  and  the  dear  old  crabapple  pie  of  those  days.  We  had  new  potatoes  and 
garden  beans,  so  our  principal  meal  was  corn  bread,  beans  and  potatoes.  For 
sweetening,  my  wife  had  made  four  gallons  of  maple  molasses  and  lifty 
pounds  of  sugar  in  an  Indian  AVickeup'  that  stood  just  above  where  the 
railroad  crosses  Elk  creek  (west  of  Murphy).  I  had  made  troughs  and 
tapped  thirty  trees  that  stood  around  the  AVickeup,'  so  with  Bennett's  honey 
we  had  plenty  of  sweetening.  \\'illiam  M.  Springer  read  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  and  we  spent  the  balance  of  the  day  in  talking  of  the  Mexican 
war  and  the  good  countiy  of  Iowa  and  whether  it  would  ever  be  settled  up — 
not  in  our  day,  we  all  thought.  1  would  be  glad  to  be  with  vou.  but  can't  this 
time.  I  have  jotted  this  down  as  things  came  to  my  remembrance — did  not 
think  I  would  write  half  so  much. 

'AVishing  you  a  successful  celebration 

"I  remain  yours, 

''B.  Aydelotte." 


JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 


}>7. 


POPULATION. 

The  total  jjopulation  of  Jasper  ccninty.  from  1847  to  igo^.  was  as  fol- 
lows : 

1847 560  1867 16.116 

1849 1.223  1870 22. 116 

1 850 1 .280  1 875 24, 1 28 

1852 1,647  1880 23.963 

1854-  • 3456  1890 24.891 

1856 7,490  1895 25.948 

i860 9.883  1900 26.976 

1863 10,590  1905 27.156 

1865 12,239 

In  1905  the  state  census  report  gave  Jasper  county  a  total  of  27.156 
population.  di\icled  among  the  \arious  townships  as  follows: 

Buena  ^'ista  township 873  ^^ari])osa  township 612 

Clear  Creek  township 787  Mound  Prairie  township i'393 

Des  Moines  township 1,080  Xewton  township 902 

Elk  Creek  township 909  Palo  Alto  township 1.096 

FairAiew  township 1.258  Poweshiek  township 1.032 

Hickory  Grove  township 638  Richland  township 739 

Independence  township 608  Rock  Creek  township 724 

Kellogg  township 608  Shemian  township yt^ 

Lynn  Grove  township 883  \\'ashington   township 852 

^Falaka  township 624 

The  population  of  cities,  towns  and  villages  in  1905  was:  Baxter.  520: 
Colfax.    2.-^^T,\   Prairie   City.    756:   :\Ionroe.   836:   Kellogg.   592:   Lynnville. 

462:  .'^ullv.  262:  AFingo.  262:  Xewton.  4.398- 

THE   I9TO  UNITED  STATES  CENSUS. 

The  official  census  returns  for  19 10  show  that  Jasper  county  has  made 
but  a  slight  gain  in  population  during  the  past  ten  years,  but  a  review  of  the 
table  given  below  will  show  that  the  retardation  in  gain  is  due  to  the  falling 


T^jS  JASI'EK    COUNTY,    IOWA. 


off  of  the  rural  districts  for  the  towns  in  all  instances,  but  three  show  a  good 
per  cent,  of  gain.     The  cities  of  Xewton  and  Colfax  both  made  good  gains 

over  the  1900  census.  Xewton  making  a  gain  <it  25.43  per  cent  and  Colfax 
J2.94  per  cent.  Lynnville,  Sully  and  Baxter  also  made  good  gains  in  per  cent., 
but  the  towns  of  Monroe,  Prairie  City  and  Kellogg  show  a  decided  falling  off 
in  population.  During  the  past  ten  years  the  county  made  a  gain  of  but  58 
inhabitants,  or  al)Out  one-fifth  of  one  per  cent. 

Jasper  County 27,034 

Buena  Vista  township   896 

Clear  Creek  township    796 

Des  Moines  township,  including  Prairie  City  town i'993 

Prairie   City   town    764 

Elk   Creek   township    904 

Fairview  townshij).  including  Monroe  town 2,028 

Monroe  town    800 

Hickorv   CJro\e   tow nship    656 

Indei)endence  township,  including  Baxter  town 1,361 

Baxter  town    527 

Kellogg  township,  including  Kellogg  town 1.255 

Kellogg  town    610 

Lynn  Grove  township,  including  Lynn\ille  and  Sully  towns i'49'2 

Lynnville   town    370 

Sully   town    282 

Malaka  townshij)    601 

Mariposa   township    635 

Mound  Prairie  township   : 1-383 

Newton   township,   including   Xewton   City 5oi8 

Xewton   city    4,616 

Ward    1     1.55- 

W'ard    2    1 .769 

Ward  3    1.295 

Palo  Alto    township • i.035 

Poweshiek  township,  including  Mingo  town 1.259 

Mingo  town    246 

Richland  township    j~^z^ 

Rock  Creek  township    631 

Sherman  tf)wnship    ^y^ 


JASPER    COUNTV,    IOWA.  379 

Washington  t(n\ns]iip.   including  Colfax  City 3<-^^3 

Colfax  City   -i.^S4 

Ward    I    727 

Ward  2    744 

Ward  3    1 ,033 

JASPER    COUNTY    POSTOFFICES. 

In  19 r  I  the  county  had  the  advantages  of  the  following  postoffices.  be- 
sides numerous  free  rural  delivery  routes  almost  networking  the  entire  countv : 
Baxter,  Colfax.  l'"airmount.  Ira.  Kellogg.  Killduff.  Lynnville.  Metz.  Mingo. 
Monroe,  Newburg.  Reasoner.  Severs,  Sully.  Turner,  Murphy  and  Xewton. 

The  history  of  these  postoflfices  will  be  found  in  the  township  and  vil- 
lage history  chapters  of  this  work. 

VILLAGE  PLATS  AND  POPULATION. 

In  1900  Jasper  countv  had  the  following  \illage  plats,  a  more  detailed 
description  of  which  will  be  found  in  the  chapter  on  "County  Organization:"' 

Newton,  population  3,475:  Monroe,  917;  Kellogg,  633:  Lynnville.  347: 
V^andalia.  89;  Colfax.  2,500:  Prairie  City,  808:  Greencastle,  92;  Clyde: 
Reasoner.  89:  Galesburg:  Baxter,  427:  Fairmount,  40:  Metz,  50:  Mingo; 
Ira,  130:  Xewburg,  100:  Sully,  150:  Kilduff.  70;  Murphy:  Oswalt:  Valeria, 
150. 

At  that  date  eight  of  these  places  were  incorporated  towns,  and  fourteen 
villages. 

EARLY-DAY    MOB    LAW    SPIRIT. 

Perhaps  in  the  settlement  of  all  of  the  first  counties  in  Iowa  there  were 
cases  wherein  Judge  Lynch  took  law  into  his  own  hands  and  thus  sought 
to  get  free  from  objectionable  characters.  In  Jasper  county.  I>e  it  said  to 
the  credit  of  her  citizens,  not  manv  such  cases  blacken  the  pages  of  its  his- 
torv.  but  there  were  a  few  times  when  men's  lives  were  hanging  between 
eartli  and  skv  in  an  awful  suspense.  In  some  instances  innocent  men  and 
again  guiltv  rmes  were  thus  treated  for  some  crime,  or  supposed  crime,  com- 
mitted in  this  county. 

One  such  case  is  as  here  narrated:  In  1848  and  during  the  month  of 
August,  right  in  the  midst  of  sultry  dog  days,  a  man  named  William  Knisely 
had  made  a  claim   in   township  81.  range  21.  north  of  present  Greencastle 


o 


80  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 


site.  He  had  broken  out  a  small  tract  of  land  and  planted  out  some  nursery 
stock.  He  was  a  single  man.  a  very  filthy,  dirty  person  in  personal  appear- 
ance and  not  well  understood  or  liked  1)\'  his  near  neighbors,  the  Hamlin 
families.  All  of  a  sudden  Knisely  was  missing  and  no  one  seemed  to  know 
of  his  immediate  whereabouts.  Days  went  by  and  he  did  not  return  to  im- 
pro\e  his  claim.  Finally  the  whole  county  was  aroused  about  his  sudden 
disappearance  and  began  to  look  the  matter  up.  Charles  H.  and  David  B. 
1  lamlin.  with  two  other  men.  were  arrested.  Nathaniel  Hamlin  was  also 
arrested,  but  he  was  acc|uitte(l  in  a  short  time.  It  was  known  that  the  Ham- 
lins  had  some  property  once  l)elonging'  to  the  man  Knisely.  and  one  of  the 
familv  had  l)een  seen  at  the  claim  shack  the  day  before  the  strange  settler 
had  last  been  seen.  Information  was  sworn  out  by  John  Harp  and  John 
B.  Hammack  lie  fore  T.  J.  Adamson.  and  the  murder  was  alleged  to  have 
been  committed  June  27th.  The  complaint  was  made  August  nth.  The 
Hamlins  were  to  have  a  preliminary  hearing  on  the  nth  and  the  other  men 
on  the  14th  of  August.  All  but  the  Hamlins  were  acquitted.  To  convict 
even  the  Hamlins  more  e\"idence  must  be  found,  so  the  mob  having  the 
matter  now  in  hand  set  out  to  procure  evidence  sufficient  to  pro\"e  the  guilt 
of  the  parties.  First  they  took  Nathaniel  Hamlin  in  hands  and  coming  to 
a  small  tree  hung  him  U])  by  the  thumbs.  Soon  he  w'as  lowered  and.  believ- 
ing as  he  did,  the  poor  fellow  thought  best  to  confess  to  almost  anything  they 
asked  him  to.  Half  beside  himself,  and  fearing  l\nch  law,  he  admitted  that  they 
had  killed  Knisely  and  offered  to  show  where  the  body  had  been  buried  in 
a  sand  bar  on  the  South  Skunk.  The  crowd  took  the  young  man  to  the  river, 
who  selected  the  spot  alleged ;  but  no  trace  of  the  remains  of  Knisely  could 
be  discovered  there.  Then  the  mob  coaxed  Hamlin  to  another  confession, 
when  he  stated  the  body  of  the  murdered  man  had  l^een  thrown  into  the 
Skunk  river.  He  conducted  the  violent  mob  to  the  river's  edge,  and  by  this 
time  he  was  in  danger  of  being  torn  to  pieces  by  angry,  liquor-crazed  men. 
Tie  claimed  the  spot  was  on  section  33  and  that  it  was  doubtless  b\-  a  pWe  of 
drift  wood.  They  now  feeling  they  might  be  on  the  correct  clue,  allowed 
Hamlin  to  strip  and  dive  for  the  supposed  body  of  the  corpse.  He  did  this, 
but  doing  so  failed  to  come  up.  One  of  the  guard  plunged  in  after  him  and 
found  Hamlin  holding  fast  to  a  root,  under  water,  no  doubt  intending  to 
drown  himself.  His  grip  was  loosened,  and  he  was  brought  to  the  surface 
nearly  strangled  to  death. 

As  soon  as  he  had  recovered  sufficiently  to  resume  liis  "trial"  it  has 
been  related  that  he  was  severely  flogged.  The  young  man  Hamlin,  again 
fearing  sudden  death  at  the  mob's  hands,  had  a  new  idea — he  claimed  that 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  381 

the  murdered  man  had  probably  been  buried  in  tlie  Indian  burying  ground 
on  section  25.  township  80,  range  21,  near  his  father's  claim,  the  remains  of 
a  Fox  Indian's  grave  having  been  disturbed  for  that  purpose. 

A  rope  was  then  attached  to  the  prisoner,  his  hands  pinioned  and  the 
rope  fastened  to  the  saddle's  horn,  after  which  he  was  literally  dragged  by 
a  horse  ridden  by  ^^'illiam  Rickey,  across  the  prairie  to  the  Indian  grave 
yard.  He  pointed  to  the  spot  and  the  earth  was  opened,  but  no  corpse  was 
discovered. 

It  was  an  anomalous  condition  of  affairs.  The  mob  had  casilv  ex- 
torted a  confession  from  Nathaniel,  but  each  point  in  his  story  was  shown 
to  be  untrue  by  actual  inspection.  It  would  be  supposed  that  the  people 
ought  to  have  been  satisfied  with  these  acts  of  violence,  but  thev  had  now  l)e- 
come  bloodthristy.  Accordingly  a  crowd  again  gathered,  all  of  whom 
it  is  said,  l^eing  heroic  with  li(|uor.  and  took  the  other  two  Ilamlins  out  of 
the  custody  of  the  sheriff,  and  strung  them  up  by  the  neck  until  they  were 
found  to  be  unconscious,  when  the\'  were  let  down  and  allowed  to  revive. 
But  this  bold  and  wicked  act  on  the  part  of  the  mob  elicited  nothing  more 
satisfactoiT  than  the  experiments  made  upon  Nathaniel.  The  men  told  af- 
terward that  the  pain  of  hanging  was  trifling,  but  that  the  return  to  con- 
sciousness was  terrible. 

That  night  the  Hamlins,  through  the  exertions  of  David  Edmundson 
and  John  R.  Sparks,  Avere  returned  to  custody,  and  were  guarded  by  Mr. 
Sparks  and  John  E.  Copp  in  Copp's  store:  Copp  was  absent  for  awhile,  and 
before  he  returned  a  tliunder-storm  broke,  ^^'hen  Copp  returned  the  noise 
of  his  entrance  startled  Sparks,  who  clutched  him  by  the  coat  collar  ready 
to  strangle  him  before  he  recognized  him.  supposing  for  an  instant  that  he 
was  leading  the  returning  mob..  The  poor  Hamlins  were  then  discovered 
in  one  corner  of  the  room,  whimpering  with  fear,  and  begging  to  be  saved 
from  the  mob. 

During  the  day's  cruel  business.  Edmundson.  who  had  followed  the 
crowd,  held  down  the  sapling  to  which  one  of  the  men  was  stretched,  in  hoi)e 
of  pre\-enting  mischief,  but  was  pulled  a\\a\-  l)y  the  crowd.  Sparks,  who  had 
accompanied  Edmunson.  ran  foul  of  the  malevolent  Prouty.  who  said  to  him 
that  he  believed  he  (Sparks)  knew  as  much  about  Knisely's  disappearance 
as  the  Hamlins.  Sparks'  Kentucky  blood  was  up  as  soon  as  the  words  were 
out  of  Proutv's  mouth.  He  seized  the  latter  by  the  throat  and  demanded  a 
retraction,  which  Prouty.  who  was  a  thorough  coward,  gave  at  once.  It  is 
difficult  to  find  words  suitable  to  express  the  honorable  conduct  of  Messrs. 


^S2  JASPER    COINTV,    IOWA. 

Edmundson  and  Sparks  in  endeavorini;-  to  maintain  the  law.  Shakesix-are's 
"so  shines  a  i^ood  deed  in  a  wicked  world"  is  appropriate  here. 

The  people,  thus  haftled,  were  more  excited  than  e\er.  The  Hamlins 
were  carefullv  i^narded  tor  several  weeks  hefore  any  new  developments  took 
place. 

Meantime.  William  Smith,  wilhont  statini;-  his  ])nrpose,  decided  to  em- 
bark in  the  delecli\e  business  on  his  own  account.  Tie  knew  that  Knisely 
had  a  brother  li\int;-  in  Missouri,  and  he  proceeded  thither  to  l>egin  his  in- 
c|uiries.  haviui^  been  informed  by  the  Hamlins  that  Knisely  had  gone  to  that 
state.  .\s  he  had  surmised,  he  found  that  Knisely  had  been  to  visit  his 
brother  since  his  disappearance  from  this  county.  Smith  reurncd  home  and  re- 
lated what  he  had  heard. 

This  was  almost  more  than  the  county  could  stand,  and  the  feeling  was 
such  that  Smith  himself  was  in  danger  of  being  lynched,  or.  at  least,  ar- 
rested. Thev  had  become  convinced  that  the  Hamlins  could  not  by  any  pos- 
sibilitv  be  innocent,  and  here  was  Smith,  just  from  Missouri,  claiming  to 
show  that  they  could  not  possibly  be  guilty.  1'o  sohe  the  dilemma  and  es- 
tabli.sh  bevond  dispute  the  truth  or  falsity  of  Smith's  statements,  a  committee 
of  three  su])stantial  citizens  was  selected  to  \-isit  Kliisely's  brother.  They 
started  forthwith  and  found  to  their  astom'shment — most  likely  to  their  dis- 
gust, also — that  Smith's  story  was  literally  true.  Knisel}''s  brother  and  a 
neighbor  returned  with  the  committee,  and  brought  with  them  several  afifi- 
daxits  showing  that  the  nurseryman  had  been  seen  l)v  all  the  signers  of  the 
affidavit  subse(|uent  of  the  supposed  murder.  Nothing  could  be  done  but  to 
release  the  two  Tlamlins;  yet  it  is  certain  that  no  apologies  were  offered  them 
for  the  auno\ance  and  terror  they  had  experienced  through  seventy-eight 
anxious  da\s.  Some  of  those  concerned  in  the  abo\'e  transaction  believe  to 
this  day  that  Knisely  was  killed  by  the  Hamlins.  It  is  stated  to  be  a  fact, 
in  connection  with  the  above,  that  Knisely  ne\er  appeared  again  to  any  of 
his  acquaintances  after  he  \isited  his  brother. 

It  transi)ired  al)out  the  time  the  prisoners  were  released,  that  the  Ham- 
lins had  told  Knisely  the  neighbors  were  about  to  mob  him  (^n  account 
of  his  filth\-  habits  of  living,  but  whether  this  was  a  joke  on  their  i)art,  or 
whether  tlicx'  thought  the}'  could  work  on  his  fears  and  get  him  to  run  awav. 
thereby  to  get  possession  of  his  yoke  of  oxen  and  other  property,  or  whether 
this  came  of  his  own  imagination,  can  not  now  be  stated  with  certainty,  but 
it  i>  probable  he  made  this  statement  himself  while  staying  with  his  brother. 

Th(jse  who  had  a  part  in  this  strange  matter  owe  William  Smith  a  debt 
of  conscience  they  can  never  re])ay ;  for.  had  it  not  been  for  his  forethought. 


JASPER    COUNTV.    IOWA.  383 

it  is  almost  certain  the  poor  Hamlins  would  lia\e  been  hanj^ed,  either  by  or- 
der of  Jiidge  Lynch,  or  by  authority  based  upon  circumstantial  evidence.  It 
was  a  hai^py  escape  from  a  legalized  murder  that  would  have  been  a  blot  on 
the  records  of  Iowa  for  all  time.  As  it  was.  the  i)eople  of  jasper  county 
found  that  the  news  when  spread  abroad  worked  to  their  detriment,  for  peo- 
ple were  afraid,  for  two  years,  to  settle  in  the  county,  Ix^lieving  its  inhal)itants 
were  a  set  of  heathens. 

JASPER   COUNTY   SAFE   ROBBERY. 

The  conviction  of  two  men.  Rose  and  L'dell.  in  1868,  for  breaking  into 
the  Jasper  county  treasury  and  robbing  it  of  its  effects  not  only  created  great 
excitement  here,  making  an  unparalleled  chapter  in  the  criminal  records  of 
this  county  and  state,  l^ut  also  broke  up  a  gang  of  thieving  outlaws  whose 
members  stretched  over  Indiana.  Illinois  and  Iowa  at  the  close  of  the  Civil 
war.  This  forever  ended  the  work  of  the  Reno  robbers  of  Indiana  and  like 
cases  in  the  other  two  states  named.  The  Pinkerton  detective  agency  of  Chi- 
cago figured  in  this  noted  case,  as  well  as  did  J.  W.  Wilson,  Esq.,  of  this 
county,  who  liad  charge  of  the  prosecution.  The  county  and  commonwealth 
owe  a  debt  of  lasting  gratitude  to  these  several  gentlemen  for  the  genius  and 
legal  skill  exhibited  in  breaking  up  this  nest  of  violators. 

Bad,  bold  men  have  lived  in  all  old  as  well  as  newly  settled  countries  and 
Iowa  has  had  her  full  share  of  such  outlaws  and  some  are  still  serving  time  in 
the  prisons  of  the  state  for  tlie  crimes  committed,  while  still  others  went  un- 
punished, and  still  more  have  served  their  sentences  and  died,  leaving  but 
a  dark  spot  upon  the  pages  of  the  history  of  the  county  in  which  they  lived 
and  operated.  In  the  more  eastern  states  these  crimes  commenced  way  back 
in  the  years  after  the  war  of  1812-14  in  Kentucky  and  other  states.  In  1835 
this  element  sought  newer  fields  in  fair  Iowa,  then  a  territory,  by  the  organi- 
zation known  in  historv  as  the  "Banditti  of  the  Prairies."'  who  were  re- 
sponsible for  the  assassination  of  that  good  frontiersman.  Col.  Ceorge  l)a\- 
enport.  for  whom  the  city  of  this  name  was  named. 

The  settlers  in  these  states  and  territories  only  found  Judge  L\nch 
available  in  meting  out  justice  to  these  noted  characters.  In  1837  coun- 
terfeit monev  was  j)ut  into  circulation  in  large  quantities  and  was  often 
l)razenly  offered  at  the  United  States  land  offices.  Hor.se  stealing  was  a 
common  thing  for  many  years  and  was  carried  on  to  such  an  extent  that 
"Horse-thief  Societies"  were  organized  under  one  name  or  another  to  pro- 
tect  citizens    from   losing   their   teams.      These   gangs   of   outlaws   were    well 


^$4  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

organized,  too,  and  nothing  but  Jvidge  Lynch  could  reach  their  cases,  courts 
being  too  slow  in  action. 

Early  in  the  forties  such  gangs  made  their  appearance  in  Cedar,  Linn, 
Clayton  and  I'^ayette  counties.  Their  chief  business  was  stealing  live  stock 
and  driving  it  to  market  and  selling  it.  But  as  the  country  settled  up  more, 
this  type  of  men  turned  theiv  attention  to  bank  robbery  and  county  seat 
treasury  safes,  from  which  they  frecjuently  picked  many  thousands  of  dol- 
lars. Then  after  the  Ci^■il  war  came  the  James,  and  Youngers  and  Renos, 
and  a  dozen  more  noted  bands.  Jasper  county,  however,  escaped  the  dev- 
iltry of  these  men  until  in  1868  the  county  treasury  was  boldly  robbed  by 
descendants  (doubtless)  of  these  same  gangs  of  outlaws — for  blood  will 
tell ! 

The  safe  belonging  to  Jasper  county,  and  the  one  used  for  temporary 
funds,  was  broken  into  on  the  night  of  February  25,  1868,  and  rohbed  of 
about  three  thousand  hve  hundred  dollars  in  current  funds.  The  evening 
before  the  robbeiy,  Josiah  B.  Eyerly,  county  treasurer,  was  at  the  court- 
house on  business,  in  company  with  a  man  from  the  country.  The  treas- 
urer was  very  careful  upon  leaving  to  see  that  all  was  securely  locked. 

At  the  time  of  this  robbery  Newton  was  the  scene  of  a  very  exciting 
religious  debate  between  J.  Y.  Atchison,  a  celebrated  Baptist  minister,  and 
Rev.  King,  a  Universalist  preacher,  well  known  in  Iowa  as  a  debater  on 
universal  salvation  for  all  mankind.  Nearly  all  the  adult  population  of 
Newton  had  assembled  at  old  Union  Hall,  facing  the  court  house  scjuare. 
The  debate  did  not  cease  until  almost  midnight.  Snow  was  falling  and 
footsteps  were  thus  well  muffled.  From  the  fact  that  no  footsteps  were 
seen  in  the  snow  when  the  robbery  was  discovered,  it  is  thought  the  robbery 
must  ha\e  l)cen  effected  while  the  debate  was  going  on  in  the  well-packed 
hall,  as  the  falling  snow  would  easily  cover  such  tracks  as  must  ha\e  been 
made  by  the  robbers. 

The  following  morning,  Albert  Piper,  an  assistant  of  the  treasurer, 
upon  entering  the  office  first,  discovered  the  books  and  pajjers  strewn  about  on 
the  floor.  He  at  once  gave  the  alarm  to  the  treasurer,  who,  with  liis  friends, 
went  to  the  scene  of  the  night  robbery,  and  there  found  the  tloor  covered 
with  ])apers  and  books  of  great  value,  carefully  preserved  and  placed  on 
file  by  the  county  officials.  Some  were  mutilated  and  torn  and  others  en- 
tirely destroyed,  while  others  were  yet  of  value  and  carefully  collected  to- 
gether. Powder  had  been  placed  in  an  opening  in  the  safe  and  bv  the  ex- 
plosion the  bolts  and  doors  had  been  1)lown  apart.  The  robbers  had  chosen  a 
time  wlien  the  treasurv  did  not  contain  nearlv  so  much  cash  as  mi<2ht  have 


JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA.  385 

been  found  a  day  or  so  earlier  or  even  later.  Among  the  articles  left  behind 
were  wedges,  bars  and  tools  used  in  effecting  an  entry ;  a  part  of  a  wax  candle 
and  fuse  were  also  found  on  the  floor.  At  the  time  the  safe  stood  in  a  very 
much  exposed  place,  as  compared  to  treasuries  of  today,  which  are  housed 
within  very  safe,  fire-proof  vaults. 

The  county  officers  concerned  in  ferreting  out  the  robbery  were  J.  M. 
Rodgers.  sheriff;  J.  B.  Eyerly,  treasurer;  M.  A.  McCord.  prosecuting  at- 
torney. W'inslow  &  Wilson  were  employed  as  special  attorneys  for  the  county. 
Silas  Axtell,  a  constable  and  detective,  was  engaged  at  once  to  work  up  the 
case.  The  officers  lost  no  time  in  instituting  a  search.  I'Tom  among  the  mul- 
titudes uf  rumors  they  gathered  enough  to  satisfy  themselves  that  the  rob- 
bers were  not  local  parties,  and  that  no  grounds  existed  for  suspecting  anv- 
one  in  the  town  or  county.  It  was  soon  learned  that  strangers  had  l)een 
seen  coming  into  town  the  evening  before  from  the  direction  of  Kellogg.  A 
school  teacher  had  observed  the  men  carrying  a  case  or  package,  coffin- 
shaped,  as  he  descril^ed  it.  It  seemed  \ery  heavy,  as  the  men  kept  changing 
hands  in  conveying  it  along  the  highway.  This  served  as  clue  number  one 
for  the  officers.  It  Avas  soon  learned  that  five  men  got  ofif  the  Rock  Island 
train  at  Kellogg  the  evening  before  the  robbery.  It  was  also  found  that  five 
men  got  ofif  the  train  at  Mitchellville.  the  morning  after  the  robbery  had  been 
committed. 

Search  was  then  made  all  over  Xewton  and  in  a  lumber  yard  the  "coffin- 
shaped"  box  was  discovered.  A  blacksmith  shop  on  the  west  side  o'f  the 
square  had  been  forced  open  and  from  it  a  sledge  had  been  taken.  This  was 
found  near  the  safe  in  the  court  house.  A  banker  in  Xewton  was  at  once 
engaged  to  wire  a  detective  in  Chicago  and  at  once  one  of  Pinkerton's  best 
men.  DaAe  Ise.  appeared  on  the  scene.  He  soon  learned  from  railway  men  that 
the  five  men  had  each  flashed  a  ten-dollar  bill  to  pay  fare  to  Des  Moines, 
and  that  they  had  jumped  the  train  at  Mitchellville,  before  entering  Des 
Moines.  The  men  were  soon  spotted  as  having  hired  a  famier  to  carry  them 
to  Nevada  and  there  they  boarded  a  train  for  Chicago.  The  detective-,  hot 
on  their  trail,  went  to  Chicago.  There  he  changed  clothing  in  disguise  and, 
with  the  farmer,  visited  the  low  dives  of  the  city  a  few  days  and  finally  found 
what  the  farmer  said  was  his  men  and  he  still  carried  out  the  plot  by  playing 
cards  with  them  and  letting  on  that  he  was  intoxicated.  He  had  stationed 
two  policemen  at  the  saloon  door  and  when  the  time  was  ripe  the  men  wan- 
dered out  and  fell  easilv  into  the  hands  of  the  officers.     They  being  on  I  Hi- 

(25) 


386  lASl'ER    COLNTV.    IOWA. 

nois  soil,  they  had  .to  l^e  spirited  away  by  force  in  a  sled  and  taken  to  a  train 
which  Pinkerton  had  wired  to  be  stopped,  where  they  were  placed  in  irons 
and  broug^ht  to  Davenport,  where  they  tried  at  meal  time  to  make  their  escape, 
but  after  a  few  shots  were  as^ain  captured  and  broui:;'ht  on  west.  On  their 
person  were  found  the  gold  pen  and  a  padlock  stolen  from  the  lumber  yard 
in  Kewton,  alreadv  mentioned:  also  pieces  of  fuse  of  the  same  sort  found 
in  the  Xewton  court  house. 

At  the  sprini^"  term  of  district  court,  at  Xewton,  that  same  }ear,  the 
two  captured  men,  Charles  LMell  and  Abraham  Rose,  were  arraigned  for 
the  crime.  They  pleaded  not  guilty.  The  case  did  not  come  off.  at  once, 
and  to  make  sure  of  their  game,  the  authorities  had  the  prisoners  sent  to 
a  safer  place,  Oskaloosa  jail,  to  await  the  November  term  of  court.  Allan 
Pinkerton  had  l>ecome  convinced  that  these  men  l)elonged  to  a  great  gang — 
possibly  the  famous  outlaws,  the  Renos,  and  he  it  was  who  insisted  on  hold- 
ing the  case  over  in  order  to  get  more  of  the  gang,  which  pro\-ed  a  very 
wise  thing,  too.     A  scheme  was  put  into  etTect.  the  gist  of  which  was  this: 

The  prisoners  were  known  to  ha\e  friends  outside  and  it  was  con- 
cluded that  attempts  would  be  made  to  corresi)ond  with  them.  The  sheriff 
of  Mahaska.  J-  ^^  •  Hinesley,  was  interested  in  the  matter  and  his  valuable 
services  secured.  The  sheriff  did  not  live  in  tlie  jail  l)uil(Hng,  which  was  in 
charge  of  jailer  Hedrick.  It  was  arranged  that  e\ery  facility  should  be 
given  the  men,  especially  I'dell.  for  writing  letters  and  his  literary  tendencies 
encouraged  to  the  utmost.  These  epistles  were  necessarily  given  into  the 
hands  of  some  one  of  the  officers.  presuma])h-  in  those  of  the  jailer:  but  in 
all  cases  the  prisoners  and  their  friends'  letters  were  to  be  sent  to  Messrs. 
\\'inslow  &  Wilson,  at  Xewton.  to  be  treated  as  they  saw  fit.  ^Mr.  \\'ilson 
became  deeply  absorbed  in  the  work,  and  performed  some  detective  feats 
that  would  ha\'e  reflected  credit  on  an  old  professional. 

Only  a  few  days  elapsed  before  the  sheriff  was  able  to  open  a  regular 
system  of  secret  correspondence  with  'Mr.  ^^^ilson.  ^feantime  the  Pinker- 
ton force  was  fully  aware  of  the  scheme  and  ready  to  co-operate  with  the 
officers  of  either  X'^ewton  or  Oskaloosa.  The  whole  affair  is  explained  so 
fully  by  the  epistolary  documents  still  in  existence,  but  for  the  first  time 
made  public  in  1878.  ten  years  after  tlie  robbery,  that  thev  are  here  used  as 
quotations  in  full  or  in  i)art,  as  the  case  seems  best  to  warrant. 

The  fir.st  letter  to  Mr.  Wilson  from  Sheriff  1  linesley  was  dated  April 
28.  1868.     The  reply  is  given  here  in  full  : 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  3S7 

"Xewton.  Iowa.  April  29.  1868. 
"J-  ^^'•  Hinesley,  Esq. :  Yours  of  the  28tli  w  itli  enclosure  to  W'inslow 
w  as  received  today.  W'inslow  is  in  Boone  county  now.  In  the  letter  to  Mrs. 
Smith,  enclosed,  I  tiiid  by  close  examination  that  it  was  written  by  invisible 
ink  and  contained  something  worth  knowing.  I  applied  a  test  to  the  letter, 
and  brought  out  a  full  and  clear  letter,  written  closely  over  the  whole  sheet 
of  paper.  I  send  you  enclosed  a  true  copy  for  your  benefit.  The  ink  used 
was  milk.  I  will  make  a  true  copy  of  the  letter  to  Mrs.  Smith  as  written 
in  ink  and  in  milk  and  send  that  to  her.  T  will  send  a  copy  of  the  same  to 
Pinkerton  at  Chicago,  and  have  him  send  to  Indianapolis  and  watch  the 
party  who  takes  the  letter  out  and  follow  up  the  plot.  In  this  way.  I  think 
we  can  keep  track  of  them  all  the  while  and  follow  them  to  Oskaloosa.  and 
arrest  them  Avhen  they  make  the  attempt  on  the  jail.  Of  course  vou  will  be 
prepared  for  them  on  the  15th  and  20th  of  May,  the  time  spoken  of.  As 
soon  as  we  hear  from  Chicago  we  will  let  you  know  and  keep  vou  fullv 
posted.  Send  all  communications  to  us:  also  all  letters  sent  to  Rose  and 
I'dell.  before  delivering  them  to  the  prisoners. 

"Yours  truly. 

''W'lXSLOW    &    \\'lLS0X, 

"Per  Wilson." 

The  letter  referred  to  by  Wilson  is  here  produced  in  full.  It  was 
written  by  Mr.  Udell  on  commercial  note  paper  and  contained  a  few  com- 
monplace remarks  on  the  first  page,  ))ut  ended  with  the  significant  expression 
*'So  now  look  out."  Mr.  W^ilson  was  satisfied  that  there  was  invisible 
writing  on  the  three  apparently  blank  pages  and  devoted  nearly  three  days 
with  experiments  to  bring  it  out.  At  last  he  thought  of  milk  as  an  invisible 
ink  and  a])plied  the  test  of  a  hot  sad-iron,  when  the  following  satisfactory 
and  surprising  document  gradually  appeared  on  the  innocently  looking  sheet : 

'"Dear  Elizabeth :  \\'e  have  tried  twice  to  get  out.  but  have  made  a 
failure.  The  last  time  we  would  have  been  out  in  a  few  minutes  more,  but 
now  we  can  do  nothing  without  help.  The  jailer  is  living  in  the  jail.  He  is 
about.  Andv  Wilson  and  his  wife  is  sick  most  of  the  time.  There  is  three 
girls  grown  and  three  little  boys  the  size  of  S.  L.  Willie  and  George.  The 
boys  all  sleep  in  one  bed  and  the  family  sleep  up  stairs.  If  five  men  w  ill  come 
tliev  can  take  the  whole  family  and  release  us.  There  is  five  persons  in  jail. 
There  is  a  man  bv  the  name  of  William  A.  Ayers  that  will  lead  the  men  if 
he  can  get  four  to  follow  him.  He  is  a  friend  to  A.  Ro.se.  my  partner. 
\\'rite  to  William  A.  Avers.  Springfield.  Illinois,  and  send  one  letter  to  him 


^88  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

in  Chicago  to  the  Matteson  House,  corner  of  Randolph  and  Dearborn  streets, 
and  tell  him  to  come  and  see  you,  that  you  want  to  make  an  arrangement 
with  him  about  bailing  Abe  Rose  and  his  friend  out  of  jail.  Tell  him  on 
what  street  and  the  number  of  your  house  so  that  he  can  find  you  and  your 
name,  and  when  he  comes  show  him  this  letter.  Do  this  sure.  This  is  the 
onlv  sure  way  1  know  of  to  get  out  of  here  now.  I  hope  that  Ogle,  Billy, 
Carle,  I'erkins  and  Reno,  or  three  of  them  at  least,  will  follow  Ayers.  I 
know  that  the  thing  can  be  done  in  the  evening  at  half  past  seven  or  eight 
and  then  lea\c  on  the  train  at  nine.  We  can  lock  the  family  in  the  jail  and 
get  away  at  any  time  of  night.  This  must  be  done  or  I  fear  I  shall  see  hard 
times  before  I  see  you  again.  There  will  be  no  chance  for  private  talk  if 
one  was  to  come  to  the  jail,  unless  he  comes  in  the  night.  I  would  (like 
and)  ought  to  know  what  night  to  look  for  them,  for  I  would  (otherwise) 
be  asleep  when  they  spoke.  There  is  a  fence  twelve  feet  high  around  the 
west  end  of  the  jail  where  we  are.  Get  over  that  and  come  to  the  window 
and  have  a  stick  nine  feet  long.  You  can  reach  right  straight  across  the  hall 
to  mv  cell.  Bring  a  dozen  of  the  best  saws.  There  is  three  bars  in  the  door 
of  the  cell  to  saw,  two  inches  wide  and  two  and  a  half  inches  thick,  and  the 
same  to  cut  to  get  into  the  house  hallway.  Then  I  will  be  as  good  as  out.  The 
window  is  large  and  low,  four  feet  from  the  ground,  with  two  sets  of  grates 
in  it,  but  you  could  poke  anything  into  my  cell  with  a  nine  inch  (foot)  stick. 
If  anyone  comes  they  could  stay  a  week  and  come  in  the  night  and  talk  to 
me.  And  I  could  tell  them  then  what  else  to  do.  It  will  cost  fourteen  dol- 
lars to  come  here.  Come  b}-  Keokuk.  I  will  set  the  night  the  20th  of  May, 
for  one  to  be  at  tlie  window.  I  will  look  for  one  that  night  at  eleven  or 
twelve.  The  jail  is  in  the  west  end  of  building  in  Oskaloosa,  Mahaska 
countv.  The  town  is  three  miles  from  the  railroad.  Now-  get  one  to  bring 
the  saws  and  come  that  night  and  stay  and  get  things  done  fine.  I  have  no 
confidence  in  sawing  out  but  1  will  tv\'.  If  one  comes  he  can  see  how  e\'ery- 
thing  is  and  take  us  out;  the  one  that  comes  he  can  see  how  we  are  situated, 
then  go  back  and  get  the  men.  He  can  go  into  the  woods  and  stay  daytime 
and  see  us  at  night.  He  can  buy  his  grub  somewhere,  or  go  to  the  hotel  at 
meal  time.  If  you  can  get  Ayers  to  come  and  sec  }-ou.  he  can  c-ome  and 
get  the  thing  done,  and  if  he  is  not  there  by  the  15th  of  May,  get  Ogle  or 
Billy,  or  e\'en  Charlie  to  come  to  our  window .  The  fence  is  high  and  w  ill  be 
a  little  hard  to  get  inside  the  fence.  But  there  is  cross  pieces  on  the  inside 
and  will  be  very  easy  to  get  out. 

"Now  my  only  hope  of  getting  out  of  this  scrape  is  bv  some  of  you 
helping  me,  and  I  hope  Charlie  and  Billy  will  not  fail  to  help  me.     Ayers 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  389 

(has?)  was  a  brother  in  a  fix  S(j  Ijacl  as  ours.  He  himself  will  do  anything 
for  my  partner,  that  any  of  you  would  do  for  me;  so  if  you  can  get  him 
there  or  anyone  to  come,  (a  few  words  here  unintelligible).  I  write  this 
April  25th.  but  don't  know  how  soon  I  can  get  it  mailed.  My  last  request 
is  for  some  one  to  come  to  the  window,  some  night  as  soon  as  they  can  and 
keep  coming  until  we  can  come  to  some  final  understanding.  Write  me  few 
lines  through  the  lawyers  at  Newton  and  if  anybody  comes  say  so  through 
milk:  but  only  a  few  words,  as  1  can  only  get  letters  through  the  jailer, 
James  Hendrick.  I  have  ten  dollars  yet.  I  will  give  the  jailer's  boy  a  dol- 
lar to  mail  this.  If  you  get  it  that  shows  he  is  true  to  me.  His  name  is 
Hiram  Hendrick.  He  is  alxmt  twelve  years  of  age.  Whoever  comes  to  our 
window  have  him  to  bring  two  small  vials  of  equafortis.  It  will  eat  the  bars 
when  it  is  heated  hot.  (iet  two  vials  with  glass  sto])pers  and  get  the  very 
best  equafortis  there  is.  Be  careful  it  don't  leak  or  it  will  ruin  their  clothes 
who  e\"er  l)uys  it.  The  sheriff  lives  two  squares  from  the  jail.  I  tried  to  get 
the  confidence  of  the  sheriff.  He  may  come  right.  He  is  on  the  stand 
what  to  do.  He  is  afraid  he  can't  do  anything  without  being  suspected. 
Only  sure  thing  is  to  rough  the  jailer.  It  can  be  done  by  bringing  a  pris- 
oner. Tell  him  they  captured  him  trying  to  steal  one  of  Lansing  Bryant's 
(omission),  living  four  miles  east  of  town.  Tell  whoever  comes  to  the  jail 
to  call  Mr.  Hedrick.  He  will  ask  who  is  there.  Tell  him  you  have  a  man 
you  caught  trying  to  steal  a  horse  of  Lansing  P)ryant.  Then  he  will  open 
the  door  and  the  jail  part  is  straight  back  through  the  hall.  Come  on  right 
through.  When  he  comes  on  after  you  with  the  keys  act  as  the  thing  suits 
you,  but  don't  let  the  jailer  go  for  the  sheriff,  but  keep  him  in.  Do  not  fail 
to  get  one  to  come  to  our  window  and  don't  be  afraid  of  anything.  It  is 
easv  to  get  out  of  the  lot.  but  it  is  a  high  fence  and  hard  to  get  inside." 

There  was  no  signature  to  the  secret  part  of  the  letter.  The  portion  in 
ink  contained  the  necessary  formalities. 

The  letter  confirmed  the  suspicions  of  the  detectives,  but  the  sup- 
pression of  the  document  would  merely  thwart  their  own  ends.  It  must  be 
sent  to  its  destination  and  there  traced  to  the  evident  headquarters  of  the 
gang  in  Indiana.  The  execution  of  this  required  no  little  ingenuity  and 
skill.  The  letter  itself  was  no  longer  availal)le  because  of  the  restoration  of 
the  milk  writing  to  a  legible  condition.  The  only  way  to  accomplish  their 
end  was  to  reproduce  the  document.  This  plan  was  successfully  carried  out. 
The  writing  in  ink  was  coimterfeited  and  then  the  pages  in  milk  were  copied 
carefully  in  stvle.  orthography,  etc.  Still  after  this  diflficult  task  was  per- 
formed there  remained  an  obstacle  in  the  way.     Po.st-marked  envelopes  from 


^gO  JASPER    COIXTV,    IOWA. 

Oskaloosa  were  needed  and  these  were  obtained.  The  bogus  letter  was  placed 
therein  and  sent  to  the  Xewton  office  without  further  stamping. 

The  expressions  used  by  Udell  opened  up  another  field  of  work.  It 
was  agreed  between  the  lawyers  and  the  sheriff  that  the  latter  should  estab- 
lish confidential  relations  with  the  prisoners,  holding  out  the  inducement 
that  he  could  be  bribed.  The  plan  was  so  cautiously  worked  up  that  the 
cracksmen  were  fully  deceixed.  It  was  also  arranged  that  the  jailer's  boy' 
should  carrv  all  letters  offered  by  Udell ;  but  instead  of  posting  them  he  de- 
livered them  to  the  sheriff.  When  it  was  known  that  Udell  made  use  of 
milk  that  article  was  supplied  him  as  a  regular  diet.  The  usually  shrewd 
man  thus  fell  headlong  into  the  trap. 

The  next  letter  was  as  follows : 

"Oskaloosa.  May  8,  18G8:  This  is  written  with  milk — heat  it  hot. 
Send  me  some  answer  this  way.  Write  to  the  sheriff  of  Mahaska  count}, 
Iowa.  The  sheriff  is  a  brother  of  Hinesley  that  keeps  the  exchange  livery 
stable  in  Indianapolis.  I  have  talked  with  him  about  letting  me  out.  He  said 
if  I  was  from  where  he  heard  I  was  that  he  could  do  something.  He  asked 
me  about  dift'erent  persons  at  Indianapolis.  I  offered  him  six  hundred  for 
letting  me  out.  He  said  it  was  not  enough.  Since  Billy  was  here  he  has 
come  and  talked  with  my  partner  and  wanted  $2,500.  But  from  his  talk 
I  am  sure  he  will  do  it  for  two  thousand.  So  if  we  can  get  two  thousand  I 
am  sure  we  can  both  get  out.  He.  of  course,  will  not  trade  just  for  one  of 
us.  as  he  says  that  all  in  here  will  have  to  get  away  at  the  same  time  so  as 
not  to  have  him  suspicioned.  I  am  confident  he  is  in  earnest  but  he  wants  to 
make  money  by  it  and  does  not  want  to  let  anyone  have  a  holt  on  him  here- 
after. If  Billy  has  this  amount  come  and  give  it  to  me  and  I  will  l)e  out  in 
less  than  a  week  after.  There  was  no  drop  about  him  being  at  the  window 
that  night,  but  the  jailer  won't  let  anyone  in  after  night,  unless  he  knows 
just  who  they  are.  So  that  if  anyone  was  to  come  they  would  have  to  come 
late  at  night  and  get  in  on  the  quiet.  But  I  know  the  sheriff  will  give  us  a 
chance  to  get  off  if  we  can  get  two  thousand  dollars.  I  don't  believe  that 
Rose  can  raise  any  money,  so  if  Billy  can  get  me  that  amount  I  can  be  out 
right  off.  But  no  one  must  know  we  bought  the  sheriff',  for  if  he  was  to 
know  I  wrote  this  he  would  do  nothing.  He  has  got  his  left  arm  shot  off 
and  is  p(jor  and  wants  money.  If  I  could  raise  the  money  anyway  of  my- 
self I  would  (\o  it.  But  I  don't  know  only  to  depend  on  Billy  and  that 
amount  will  let  us  out.  and  that  is  better  than  to  run  any  uncertain  or 
dangerous  chances.     If  liillv  can  see  those  friends  and  get  some  funds  from 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  yjl 

them  Ayers  will  give  some,  if  he  has  it.  But  if  Billy  has  the  money  himself 
don't  delay.  If  he  gives  to  me  we  will  make  it  in  less  than  twenty  days.  I 
hate  to  ask  this.  l)ut  is  a  sure  thing  and  1  have  full  confidence  in  it. 
Jf  he  did  say  anything  to  Ryan  about  me  trying  to  hrihe  him, 
I  am  confident  he  is  all  right  now,  for  he  can't  make  any  mone\-  l>v  keeping 
us  here  or  nothing  by  blowing  on  us  for  bribing  him.  If  Billy  comes  to  the 
window  he  must  not  say  anything  about  the  sheriff,  for  it  won't  do  for  the 
others  in  here  to  know  we  bribed  the  sheriff.  But  they  can  get  out  when  we 
do,  for  the  sheriff  does  not  want  them  to  know  enough  to  implicate  him. 
He  is  very  cautious  when  he  comes  here  to  talk." 

How  well  the  scheme  worked  will  be  seen  by  the  following  instrument 
which  announces  the  full  capture  of  the  sheriff.  It  also  alludes  to  the  pres- 
ence of  Udell's  friends  outside  the  window,  a  certain  prisoner  named  ''Laid- 
ley."  and  possibly  Pinkerton's  Registers — at  least  the  letter  reads: 

"Oskaloosa,  May  16,  1868. 
"I  have  a  bargain  to  get  out  for  $2,000.  If  I  can  get  half  and  Abe 
half,  we  can  get  out  right  off.  I  don't  know  if  the  boys  can  do  anything 
or  not.  B.  said  they  would  come  in  two  weeks.  That  time  is  past  two  days 
ago.  A  prisoner  upstairs  tells  me  three  of  my  friends  was  here  Mondav  and 
Tuesda}-  night  Ijut  failed  to  come  to  mv  window.  This  man  upstairs  li\-es  at 
Columbia,  ]owa.  His  name  is  George  S.  Laidley.  He  is  a  harnessmaker 
and  gets  out  the  last  of  this  month.  If  B.  goes  to  him  the  thing  can  be  done 
here  on  the  (|uiet.  We  want  a  all-key  made.  We  have  the  impression.  Then 
we  ha\e  onlv  three  liars  to  cut.  This  can  be  done  with  muriatic  acid  in  one 
hour.  Make  a  cu]i  of  beeswax  around  the  bar  and  pour  on  acid.  In  forty 
minutes  it  will  eat  it  off.  This  man  understands  it.  Let  one  come  to  window 
and  get  our  impression  and  go  to  Keokuk  and  get  the  key  made.  Get  a 
dollar's  worth  of  muriatic  acid  and  a  pound  or  two  of  beeswax  and  come 
and  give  it  into  the  window  about  two  or  three  in  the  morning.  All  is  (piiet 
at  that  time.  The  next  night  we  can  cut  out.  We  want  also  a  good  sized 
screw  driver  to  take  the  lock  off  the  back  door.  That  lets  us  into  the  garden. 
Let  B.  come  to  Columbia  the  first  of  June  and  find  George  Laidley.  I  have 
posted  him  and  if  he  gets  out  before  the  first  of  June  he  will  write  to  you. 
But  he  will  l)e  home  in  Columbia  by  June  ist.  Anyhow  he  can  tell  B.  more 
than  I  can  and  he  will  help  at  anything.  He  has  been  a  rebel  in  his  time  and 
says  he  cut  the  bars  and  let  Stonewall  Jackson  out  of  prison  at  Harper's 
Ferr\ .  If  B.  will  risk  this  plan,  let  him  work  it  in  dark  of  moon  in  June. 
But  I  can  be  home  in  three  days  if  I  can  get  a  thousand  dollars  and  Abe  a 


2^2  JASPER    COLXTV.    IDWA. 

thousand  dollars.  The  sheriff  lets  us  break  out.  Leave  no  stone  unturned 
until  von  get  me  out.  I  am  afraid  B.  will  get  discouraged  but  we  must  get 
out  somehow  before  court.  \\'e  may  be  too  late  then.  If  that  Avers  liad 
money  Abe  would  get  his.  lie  writes  to  three  or  four  men  for  money  but 
has  onlv  heard  from  Ayers  and  he  has  none.  He  expects  some  from  John 
Richardson,  his  brother  of  Forest  City.  ^Missouri.  He  writes  today  to  his 
uncle  at  Trov.  New  York.  Thomas  Richardson.  He  is  wealthy  and  I  think 
Abe  will  get  a  thousand  dollars  soon  and  then  I  hope  B.  will  let  nie  have  a 
tliousand  dollars.  It  might  be  best  to  buy  out  at  once.  So  much  expense 
will  run  u])  to  that  soon  and  we  can  get  out  immediately  then.  Write  a  few 
lines  in  ink  and  a  few  in  milk.  Send  to  J.  ^^^  Hinesley,  this  place.  Don't 
mention  about  this  letter,  as  I  got  the  jailer's  boy  to  mail  it.  but  you  can 
say  Ayers  was  there  and  how  you  are,  etc." 

Mav  27.  t868.  Udell  delivered  a  letter  to  the  sheriff,  with  the  sincere 
belief  that  that  ofificer  was  still  working  in  his  interest,  which  letter  was  to 
be  sent  to  his  brother  in  Indianapolis,  the  Hveryman  above  alluded  to.  This 
missive  contained  an  ordinary  hope  for  better  times,  but  was  signed  with  a 
significant  cioss.  evidently  a  private  mark  placed  by  Udell  on  all  documents 
containing  milk  writing.  Some  three  pages  of  invisible  writing  were  dis- 
covered on  this  sheet.  Imt  the  information  contained  has  already  been  cov- 
ered by  other  letters,  except  that  these  stated  that  he  had  not  gotten  his 
share  of  the  Jasper  safe  robbery  and  that  by  reason  of  his  going  to  Chicago 
to  get  his  full  share  he  had  been  captured. 

The  letter  ended  by  an  intimation  that  the  boys  were  still  engaged  in 
their  dangerous  work.  He  says,  "li  the  boys  'make'  $2,000.  bring  it  to  me 
without  a  moment's  delay.  Anyone  can  see  me  in  company  w  ith  the  sheriff. 
\\'e  are  like  old  acquaintances.     He  knew  father  well.'' 

He  also  asked  his  wife  how  many  letters  she  had  received,  as  if  he 
suspicioned  the  sheriff  might  not  1)e  ])lriying  fair  with  him.  In  a  second 
letter,  on  the  27th  of  ?^ra\ .  he  signifies  tliat  he  fears  Laidley  is  not  going  to 
be  true  to  his  promise.  He  urged  first  one  plan,  then  another,  as  if  driven  to 
desperation  as  court  time  was  drawing  close  at  hand.  He  repeats  his  in- 
junctions concerning  the  ease  with  which  the  j.'iiler  can  be  '"ruffed."  and 
himself  and  partner  set  at  liberty. 

Another  letter  is  found  written  entirely  in  milk,  without  date,  which 
seems  to  take  up  the  thread  of  the  story  at  this  ])oint.  It  is  here  reproduced 
entire,  and  is  in  Udell's  own  handwriting: 

'A\'e  lia\e  a  job  for  the  boys  to  do.  Tet  them  get  a  good  worker  to 
help  them,  and  they  can  raise  the  money  at  one  place.  1  think  Jo  Miller  could 
work  it  with  1'.  and  C.     There  is  a  town  called  Xew  London;  it  is  eiehteen 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  *  393 

miles  west  of  BiirHnoton.  It  has  six  hundred  inhabitants  and  there  are  ten 
stores  and  groceries  in  the  place,  and  one  steam  grist  mill.  There  is  a  drug 
store  and  grocery  store  together  in  one  building.  The  store  is  kept  bv  Allen 
&  Thompson.  They  have  a  safe  five  feet  high,  and  it  must  have  inside  doors. 
as  it  is  quite  thick.  It  stands  with  the  back  towards  the  door,  so  that  you 
can't  see  the  front  of  it.  It  sets  in  the  front  of  the  store,  at  one  end  of  the 
counter,  and  is  the  only  safe  in  the  town,  except  one  at  the  gri.st  mill.  The 
one  at  the  mill  is  a  Pittsburg,  single  door.  But  don't  disturb  it  until  after 
the  drug  store  one  is  got.  There  is  no  one  sleeping  in  the  drug  store,  and  no 
one  nearer  than  the  tavern  across  the  street. 

"This  is  the  best  job  I  know  of.  There  is  some  bonds  in  il,  and  the 
druggist  bought  $900  in  gold  last  fall  from  one  man.  There  is  some  de- 
posits in  it.  They  are  sure  of  $5,000,  and  it  ought  to  be  made  sure  of.  If 
they  could  get  that  and  come  on  here,  one  of  them,  with  $2,000.  we  would 
be  free  in  a  little  while.  At  the  back  end  of  the  store  is  a  warehouse.  You 
could  raise  a  window  in  the  back  and  get  in  through  the  middle  door  into 
the  front  room,  or  go  in  at  the  front  door  of  the  store. 

"The  thing  is  as  T  tell  you.  and  if  you  prepare  yourself  to  go  out  \ou 
miglit  watch  it  sometime  to  satisfy  yourselves  about  it.  Rut  be  sure  and  get 
a  good  worker  and  go  ahead  and  do  this  as  soon  as  possible.  It  is  not 
harder  than  the  Mount  Vernon  matter.  Be  sure  and  not  make  a  failure.  My 
life  almost  depends  on  raising  this  $2,000.  I  do  hope  that  it  will  be  got 
1)6 fore  long.  Nearly  half  of  my  time  is  up.  and  nothing  done  yet.  Don't 
lose  the  rest  of  the  time. 

'T  S]:)oke  about  a  man  named  Laidley,  that  lived  at  Columbia.  He  w  ent 
out  the  30th  of  May.  He  promised  to  go  and  see  you.  He  said  he  would 
stop  at  Springfield  and  see  Ayers.  and  write  back  and  go  onto  your  house. 
We  gave  him  ten  dollars  to  get  through  on ;  but  he  has  not  wrote  back,  nor 
have  we  heard  anything  from  him  yet,  and  if  he  has  not  come  he  then  only 
lied  to  us.  Let  me  know  in  milk  in  your  next  letter  if  the  $10  man  has  ever 
come  vet.  If  lie  wrote  to  vou.  vou  need  not  pay  much  attention  to  him.  for 
he  promised  to  go  and  see  you  and  get  some  help  to  get  me  out.  If  he  writes, 
or  comes  either,  do  not  give  him  any  money,  nor  do  not  let  him  lay  around 
long.  If  he  does  anything,  let  him  go  at  it.  If  not  send  him  about  his  busi- 
ness. But  let  me  know  if  he  comes  or  wrote.  If  I  had  a  little  stufif  I  could 
settle  the  man  that  is  here. 

'Tn  vours  of  the  23d.  you  say  they  watch  the  house.  I  see  by  the 
papers  that  the  Jeff  train  was  beat  the  night  before  you  wrote,  and  it  is 
likely  the  police  had  their  eye  on  the  house  when  you  wrote,   to  see  who 


T^g^  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

would  be  coming  in.  to  see  if  any  of  the  express  robbers  were  likely  to  be 
in  it.  I  kind  of  suspect  Salisbury  is  about  there,  and  if  he  is  he  may  be 
knowing"  old  matters,  and  may  ha\e  put  someone  on  the  affair  that  Ruby 
tried  to  shake  him  on.  Sol  is  as  mean,  if  not  meaner,  than  (Gonzales,  and  they 
both  ought  to  be  put  out  of  the  way. 

"Write  in  black  next  time  how  much  \ou  can  raise  me,  and  how  soon  it 
can  be  got.  B.  thought  the  sheriff  was  wrong  when  he  was  there  that  night. 
I  will  find  out  when  Ryan  comes,  if  the  sheriff  said  any  thing  alx)ut  me  to 
him:  but  anvway,  if  he  did  say  anything.  I  know  he  would  not  do  as  he 
does  now  if  he  were  not  right;  besides  when  Aloe's  brother  comes  he  will 
fix  it  so  that  he  can't  fool  us:  and  he  would  be  afraid  to  not  let  us  break  out 
after  he  got  his  money,  for  fear  our  friends  would  kill  him." 

Another  touching  letter  from  "Lizzie,"  the  wife  of  Udell,  reads  thus: 
"Well,  I  hardly  know  what  to  say,  but  1  would  give  all  this  world  that 
I  ever  exi)ect  to  ha^'e  to  see  you  and  to  know  how  to  get  you  out.  But  my 
will  is  good,  but  for  me  to  do  anything  without  anything  to  go  on  is  im- 
possible, for  1  hardly  know  what  to  do  next  sometimes.  I  have  just  one 
hundred  dollars  left  now.  The  money  that  was  lost  with  them  dirt\-  dogs  B. 
says  he  will  give  back  to  me.  It  was  three  hundred  dollars,  but  the  lawyers 
got  two  of  it.  P'or  my  part  I  can't  do  nothing  but  just  wait.  I  expect  that 
you  look  for  someone,  but  there  was  no  one  to  go,  for  B.  and  C.  had  gone 
away  to  try  to  get  some  old  debt  settled  up,  and  I  will  have  to  wait.  If  I 
could  raise  the  money  I  would  be  glad  to  do  so  sure,  and  I  think  that  B.'s 
j)ile  is  small  at  this  time,  but  when  they  get  back  they  can  say  what  can  be 
done.  I  think  that  they  watch  my  house  and  that  makes  B.  verv  shy,  what 
makes  it  hard  on  me.  But  I  will  try  and  do  the  best  I  can.  1  have  found  out 
through  one  of  my  neighbors  that  they  quit  Tom  Wilson  for  not  taking  you. 
When  you  was  out  here  they  tried  him  in  the  police  court,  and  he  came  very 
near  losing  his  office.  She  says  that  day  that  he  came  to  my  house  that  there 
was  three  more  in  here,  and  Tom  told  a  friend  that  he  could  not  lake  vou, 
because  he  thought  so  much  of  \-our  wife  and  children.  Hereafter.  I  will  lie 
warned  of  danger.  Well,  1  don't  know  what  to  say  next.  l)iit  hope  that 
something  will  be  done  for  you  when  B.  and  C.  gets  back.  I  Impc  that  some- 
thing will  be  done  for  you.  1  have  got  the  blues  so  l)ad  I  am  almost  sick. 
Well.  I  have  told  you  all  I  can  this  time.  Oh  that  1  could  see  you  and  talk 
I  would  be  glad.  Write  soon  and  let  me  hear  from  you,  and  I  will  trv  hard 
to  get  .something  done,  so  keep  in  good  heart,  and  for  this  time. 

"Lizzie." 


JASl'EU    COUNTY.     IOWA.  395 

June  9.  1868,  came  the  next  letter  from  Udell  to  his  wife.  Interlined 
between  the  ink  writing  is  the  information  that  his  identity  had  been  dis- 
covered and  his  connection  with  the  general  band  was  known.  He  ex- 
pressed no  anxiety  on  this  score,  and  assures  his  wife  that  he  talks  merely 
on  general  topics  with  the  sheriff.  He  is  satisfied  that  he  can  make  his 
escape  upon  the  receipt  of  one  thousand  dollars,  and  said  the  sheriff  wanted 
the  money  sent  by  a  trusty  man,  instead  of  l)y  express.  They  had  received  a 
letter  from  Ayers.  He  had  no  money.  Ijut  wcmld  attend  to  their  case  as 
soon  as  he  got  through  with  the  trial  of  his  own  brother  in  Illinois  for  bur- 
glary. He  said  they  could  place  no  more  confidence  in  Ayers.  He  again 
mentioned  the  chance  at  cracking  the  safe  at  Xew  London  and  explains 
what  he  meant  by  wanting  "stuff"  to  give  a  prisoner  in  jail  there  in  Oska- 
loosa.  It  was  thought  the  jail-bird  had  told  the  authorities  of  his  trying  to 
make  a  wooden  key. 

The  last  letter  from  Udell  to  his  wife  was  in  pencil  and  spoke  of  hav- 
ing her  bring  the  children  to  see  him  at  time  of  his  trial. 

Another  letter  from  ^Irs.  Udell  to  her  husband,  dated  June  27th.  refers 
to  the  i^risoner.  Laidley.  in  the  following  language : 

"The  man  }ou  gave  the  ten  dollars  wasn't  here.  He  wrote  to  me  to 
send  him  forty  dollars  to  come  and  see  me.  but  I  can't  do  that,  and  I  am 
afraid  of  your  friends.  I  fear  the  letter  that  you  sent  by  the  sheriff's 
brother  was  give  to  Bill  Robison.  the  old  sheriff,  to  bring  to  me.  Don't  trust 
too  far  to  no  one.  Joe  Miller  is  gone  up.  and  his  wife  and  little  Jim.  But  I 
think  1  can  raise  the  money  of  Perkins  by  a  mortgage  on  the  land.  The  job 
on  the  Jeff  road  I  don't  know  nothing  about. 

"Send  your  letters  to  Mrs.  Smith,  same  as  l>efore.  Tliat  man  Ayers.  I 
don't  want  you  to  write  to  him,  for  I  don't  like  his  style,  from  what  I  can 
hear:  and  dcjn't  talk  too  much  to  no  one.  tor  everything  leaks  out.  If  he 
had  the  money,  it  would  be  all  right :  but  he  has  not  got  it. 

"Well.  I  hope  that  your  partner  will  raise  his  part  by  the  4th.  and  then 
someone  will  fetch  it  with  the  rest  soun.  Keep  in  good  heart,  for  it  is  hard 
for  me  to  think  of  you." 

The  corresi3(jndence  between  Rose  and  his  friends  begins  in  April. 
1868.  l)v  a  letter  to  Ayers.  written  in  ink,  urging  Avers  to  come  to  Xewton 
and  consult  with  the  lawyers  for  the  defense  relative  to  bail. 

May  8th  three  letters  were  written  by  Rose,  one  addressed  to  William 
C.  Avers.  Springfield.  Illinois;  one  to  John  Richardson.  Forest  City,  Mis- 
.souri.  and  one  to  James  Gillmore.  of  St.  Louis.  The  letter  to  Ayers  is 
plainlv  a  renewal  of  the  request  for  one  thousand  dollars  to  aid  him  in  getting 


T^qC)  JASI'KR    cor  XT V.    IOWA. 

out  of  his  difficulty.  The  one  to  Richardson  was  addressed  ''Dear  Brother'' 
upon  the  inside,  and  is  of  the  same  import  as  the  one  just  referred  to.  The 
third  letter  was  of  a  similar  nature. 

Another  of  the  interesting  communications  to  iVyers  was  one  written 
June  If.  1868.  which  presupix)ses  a  knowledge  of  the  attempted  escape  by 
bribery,  and  was  written  l)v  both  I 'dell  and  Rose,  jointlw  This  letter  read 
as   follows : 

"You  know  I'itzsimmons,  or  Sandy,  as  he  is  called,  also  James  Stein, 
and  maybe  Hilly  Burns.  Either  one  or  all  of  these  can  tell  you  who  it  is 
that  should  raise  the  money.  It  was  our  misfortune  to  be  found  first,  and 
b\-  that  means  others  had  a  warning  of  something  wrong.  \\'e  ha\'e  been 
wise  enough  to  keep  our  mouths  shut,  also.  We  do  not  want  to  write  to 
Chicago  from  here,  or  to  make  a  false  move  to  endanger  any  man's  liberty, 
but  we  want  nionew  aiul  must  Iiaz'c  it,  for  the  purpose  that  we  ha\e  hereto- 
fore informed  you.  If  you  have  any  business  up  at  Chicago,  take  this  with 
you  and  find  some  of  these  men,  and  tell  them  you  want  to  see  our  friends, 
or  those  that  ought  to  help  us.  If  you  can  be  satisfied  of  the  abilities  of  our 
friends  to  keep  the  secret,  then  you  can  tell  them  what  is  wanted  with  the 
money.  And  if  thev  wish  to  see  or  know  more  about  it  for  their  own  satis- 
faction, let  them  send  a  man  that  they  can  depend  upon  here,  and  they  shall 
be  satisfied.  Burns  or  Stein  or  Sandy,  they  can  see  us  by  seeing  the  sheriff. 
But  for  Christ's  sake  don't  let  this  matter  of  ours  become  too  public.  It  is  a 
bad  policy  for  men  you  know  to  gab  and  blow  as  soon  as  they  are  in  trouble, 
but  it  is  worse  policy  for  free  men  to  not  step  forward  with  a  few  hundred 
dollars  to  save  men  from  long  sufTering  and  hardships. 

'A\'e  ]ia\e  got  a  knowledge  of  matters  now  that  would  of  l)een  cheaj) 
five  months  ago  for  $1,000.  If  we  can  get  fixed,  as  money  will  fix  it.  this 
information  will  cost  you  nothing.  The  amount  we  ask.  $2,000.  can  be 
returned  inside  twenty  days.  This  letter,  Ayers.  I  hope  you  will  use  with 
discretion.     It  is  the  only  chance  we  ha\-e  for  seeing  da\light." 

Ayers  responded  to  this  letter  as  follows : 

"I  received  your  letter  today  of  the  12th  instant,  and  was  glad  to  hear 
you  were  well.  But  I  am  .sorry  to  be  obliged  to  say  that  I  cannot  help  vou  at 
pre.sent.  I  am  on  my  way  to  Springfield,  just  leaving  Ilarrw  He  had  a 
trial,  and  was  sentenced  to  eight  years  and  Jim  to  six  years.  But  we  ap- 
pealed it  and  got  a  new  trial.  It  comes  off  next  September.  Abe  I  expect 
to  see  Mc.  and  I  shall  lay  this  before  him.  1  saw  him  once,  l>ut  he  was  not 
fixed.  I  can't  get  to  see  Billy,  but  I  understand  he  says  that  he  would  not 
help  anybody.  I  shall  do  all  I  can.  1  have  overreached  myself  financially 
in  this  case  of  Harry's,  but  I  shall  go  into  business  soon  and  keep  you  posted." 


JASl'ER    COLXTV,    KHVA.  397 

J-roni  tlic  lime  "Laidlcy"  was  liljeratcd.  May  ^olh.  a  constant  visitor  to 
Udell  appeared  in  the  jail  yard.  To  this  friendly  fellow  Udell  fell  into  the 
habit  of  throwing  numerous  bits  of  tracts  and  hymn  books,  which  some  good 
Christian  lady  had  evidently  supplied  him  with,  for  the  benefit  of  his  soul. 
These  scraps  of  religious  literature  were  covered  with  fine  writing  in  pencil, 
giving  instructions  as  to  how  to  work.  In  one  of  these  messages  Udell  gives 
expression  of  a  fear  that  ''all  was  not  as  it  should  be,"  but  that  he  had  a 
"true  wife"  who  would  look  out  for  his  interests. 

These  messages  found  their  way  into  the  hands  of  Wilson,  the  attor- 
ney, in  a  way  that  was  strange.  Udell  began  to  doubt  the  "honesty"  of 
Laidley,  and  no  one  will  blame  him  for  that. 

The  jail  at  Oskaloosa  was  strengthened  by  additional  bolts  and  bars, 
in  an  unusual  degree,  Udell  thought,  considering  the  fact  that  no  one  knew 
of  the  proposed  escape. 

.  Day  after  day  dragged  heavily  by,  and  no  one  came  to  his  rescue.  The 
day  for  his  trial  came  and  the  two.  Rose  and  Udell,  were  taken  to  Newton 
for  trial.  Lindley  &  Ryan  defended  the  men.  Xo  defense  was  required, 
however,  for  on  the  25th  of  November,  both  men  pleaded  guilty  to  the 
several  charges. 

Charles  Udell  was  sentenced  December  30th  to  ten  years'  imprison- 
ment in  the  penitentiary  and  to  pay  half  the  costs  of  the  prosecution. 

Abraham  Rose  was  sentenced  to  seven  years'  imprisonment  and  half 
the  costs  of  the  prosecution.  Rose  was  let  ofif  easy  on  account  of  his  hon- 
orable service  in  the  Union  cause  in  time  of  the  Civil  war.  The  nine  hundred 
and  fifty-four  dollars  taken  from  them  at  their  arrest  was  applied  on  their 
fines. 

The  sentence  of  Rose  was  carried  out  to  the  end,  but  Governor  Samuel 
J.  Kirkwood.  in  1878,  pardoned  Udell  a  few  months  before  his  time  had 
expired  on  account  of  his  disease,  consumption,  which,  it  was  believed. 
would  carrv  him  from  earth  within  a  short  time.  Thus  were  the  ends  of 
justice  met.  and  thus  ended  the  career  of  two  noted  western  criminals. 

THE    OVERTUKXIXG    OF    A    STAGE    COACH. 

A  ])ublic  meeting  was  once  broken  up  l)y  an  accident  that  could  not  well 
happen  nowadays.  The  only  i)ublic  conveyance  then  was  the  old-fashioned 
stage  coach  which  passed  through  Newton  a  couple  of  times  a  day,  and  some- 
times several  of  them  together.     They  used  to  stop  at  the  old  Phelps  House. 


398  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

a  tour-r;torv  liostelrv  on  the  south  side  of  the  piibHc  sciiiare.  The  (h-ivers 
hked  to  attract  attention,  and  wonld  sometimes  drive  in  with  their  four 
horses  on  the  run  and  turn  up  in  the  hotel  door  in  grand  style.  One  driver 
made  too  short  a  turn  and  upset  his  \ehicle.  The  round,  heavy  body  of  the 
coach  broke  loose  from  its  fastenings  and  rolled  across  the  street,  like  a  huge 
pumpkin.  The  numerous  passengers  were  packed  in  so  tightly  that  they  did 
not  receive  a  shaking  up.  They  were  like  so  many  sardines  in  a  can.  B.  F. 
Allen,  the  noted  banker  of  Des  ]^Ioines.  the  only  Iowa  millionaire  at  the 
time,  was  a  passenger,  and  had  to  share  the  delights  of  pioneer  tra\el  with 
the  rest. 

A    GRAND    JURY    INCIDENT. 

An  incident  is  told  of  the  grand  jury  room,  that  illustrates  the  dififi- 
culty  that  is  sometimes  met  with  in  the  enforcement  of  law.  It  prol)ably 
leaked  out  through  the  keyhole.  The  jurymen  were  discussing  among  them- 
selves how  they  could  secure  evidence  that  would  lead  to  the  conxiction  of 
certain  well  known  liquor  dealers.  One  of  their  number,  who  was  a  drink- 
ing man,  but  a  good  citizen,  remarked  that  they  had  ought  to  make  inquiry 
of  a  certain  man.  as  probably  he  knew  more  about  it  than  anv  man  in  the 
county.  He  was  brought  in  and  duly  interrogated,  as  to  whether  he  knew 
of  any  place  where  li((uor  was  sold  or  had  been  sold,  as  a  be\erage,  or  of 
anyone  who  had  bought  and  sold.  To  all  these  questions  he  replied  in  the 
negative.  The  gentleman  who  had  suggested  his  name  took  him  in  hand, 
anfl  inquired  whether  he  could  remember  at  a  certain  place  on  the  street,  a 
short  time  before,  one  of  the  witnesses  remarking  that  he  was  going  to  get 
some  liquor,  and  after  going  away  soon  returned  with  some.  But  although 
he  strained  his  memory  until  it  almost  cracked,  he  was  unable  to  recall  it. 
He  was  then  asked,  somewhat  hotly,  whether  he  could  remember  of  their 
having  drank  together,  at  any  time,  or  at  any  place.  He  cheerfully  replied 
that  he  did  not.  Whereupon  the  juryman  proceeded  to  express  his  opinion 
of  him  in  a  wav  that  made  the  air  seem  blue! 

VKNTRTT.OOT'I.SM. 

From  some  of  the  early  day  incidents,  of  an  historic  character,  and 
possibly  worthy  of  preser\ation  in  a  history  of  Jasper  count)',  where  it  oc- 
curred, is  the  following: 

During  the  fall  of  i«^43,  perhaps  in  Octoloer.  two  strangers,  young  men. 
sto])ped  at  Adam  Tool's  house  for  the  night.     They  said  they  were  from  St. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 


399 


Louis.  'J'liey  were  dressed  in  l)uckskin  trousers  and  lumting  skirts  nicely 
fringed  with  the  same  material.  After  supper  all  were  sitting  around  the 
campfire.  One  of  the  strangers  stepped  back  from  the  circle.  Soon  sounds 
canie  from  the  roadside  like  one  in  distress.  The  stranger  called  for  a  lan- 
tern, the  man  ])y  the  roadside  saying  his  horse  was  down,  and  was  crving 
for  assistance.  The  lantern  secured,  the  stranger,  accompanied  hv  James  A.. 
started  to  assist  the  horseman,  but  when  they  arrived  at  the  spot  from  whence 
the  sounds  had  proceeded,  the  stranger  called  out.  "Where  are  you?"  "'Here, 
a  h'ttle  ways  off!  Come  quick!"'  was  the  answer.  Running  about  in  this 
manner  for  a  time,  the  stranger  remarked.  "The  fellow  must  l>e  drunk.  We 
won't  go  any  farther."  and  returned  to  the  fire.  In  half  an  hour  or  so  there 
was  a  call  in  another  direction  The  stranger  was  again  interested,  and  with 
lantern  in  hand,  again  accompanied  by  James,  the}'  started  to  assist  him. 
Soon  after.  James  discovered  there  was  a  trick  in  this,  and  ventured  to  say 
he  believed  it  was  a  Aentriloquist.  and  explained  to  the  stranger,  at  his  re- 
Cjuest.  what  a  Aentriloquist  was.  They  soon  returned  to  the  tire.  The 
stranger,  dropping  behind  James,  barked  like  a  dog  and  caught  him  by  the 
pants  leg.  By  this  time  the  women  folks  had  retired  for  the  night,  and  after 
the  lights  were  blown  out,  all  sorts  of  barnyard  noises  proceeded  from  this 
man's  couch,  chickens  crowed,  cats  squalled  and  babies  cried,  the  rest  of  the 
fami]\-  not  understanding  the  joke  until  tlie  following  morning. 

THE    VALERIA    CYCLONE.     1 896. 

The  most  disastrous  wind-storm,  taking  the  form  of  a  cyclone,  that 
ever  passed  through  Jasper  county,  since  white  men  have  known  it.  was  the 
one  which  struck  A'aleria,  Mingo  and  vicinity  on  Sunday  night.  May  24. 
1896.  There  were  many  accounts  written  of  this  storm,  as  seen  from 
various  view-points,  but  we  have  chosen  the  account  as  published  in  the 
Xcwtoii  Journal  the  week  of  the  storm,  the  facts  of  which  here  follow  : 

There  were  twentv-one  killed,  outright.  It  occurred  about  eight  o'clock 
in  the  e\ening.  after  a  very  sultry  Sunday  afternoon.  The  dead  included  the 
following:  Afr.  and  ]\Irs.  Charles  Phalen  and  children.  Charlie,  Mike,  Susie, 
^^lollie  and  l")an.  Charles  Phalen.  the  husband  and  father,  was  a  wealthy 
farmer  and  large  land-owner  in  the  neighborhood  of  Valeria,  and  upon 
hearing  the  roaring  of  the  oncoming  cyclone,  the  sound  of  which  resembled 
that  of  a  train  of  freight  cars  rumbling  rapidly  over  a  wooden  liridge. 
started  for  a  storm  cave  near  by  the  house  on  his  farm.  He  evidently  had 
one  child  under  each  arm  in  his  flight.     He  was  carried  some  forty  feet  and 


400  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

dashed  against  a  tree  and  instantly  killed,  as  were  also  the  children  he  had 
witli  him.  The  honse  was  completely  demolished.  The  daughter  Mary  and 
son  Willie  were  blown  fifty  feet  and  they  were  the  only  ones  of  the  house- 
hold saved.  \\'illie  had  his  hip  broken.  The  mother  got  as  far  as  the  mouth 
of  the  ca\e  and  was  there  soon  after  found  in  a  dying  condition.  The  hogs, 
chickens,  calves  and  all  other  domestic  animals  were  killed  and  badly  mangled. 

Other  persons  who  were  killed  were  Air.  and  ]\Irs.  Peter  Bolenburg 
and  an  adopted  daughter,  eight  years  of  age.  Lucrctia  \Miitney  and  Martha 
Dickey,  and  the  wife  and  son  of  D.  Aiken  and  grandmother  Shell.  But  few 
persons  were  injured,  aside  from  those  killed  outright.  The  head  of  ]\frs. 
J.ucretia  \\'hitney  was  so  imbedded  in  the  earth  that  it  took  the  strength  of 
se\"eral  persons  to  extricate  it. 

Most  of  the  bodies  of  the  deceased  were  fearfully  mangled  and  must 
have  been  killed  instantly.  ]\Iany  were  sleeping  at  the  time  and  possibly  had 
no  opportunit}"  to  save  themselves  from  an  awful  death. 

The  house  of  Robert  Bailey,  two  miles  north  of  Bondurant,  was  com- 
plete! v  demolished  and  he  and  his  wife  and  three  children  belonging  to  a 
brother  at  Colfax  were  all  killed  outright.  In  and  near  Mingo,  the  storm 
again  did  much  damage  and  the  property  loss  on  farms  was  immense. 

At  Valeria,  in  the  house  of  G.  ^^^  Lacey,  there  were  nine  children.  The 
house  was  badly  wrecked,  but  fortunately  none  were  materially  injured. 

The  house  of  Miss  Sue  Philson  was  completely  turned  over  and  the 
ridge  of  the  roof  was  thrown  into  the  side  of  the  next  house  to  it,  but 
strange  to  relate,  the  occupants  of  the  former  were  unharmed.  It  is  stated 
that  the  family  started  down  stairs  and  arrived  there  just  as  the  house 
turned  over  and  were  obliged  to  go  back  up  stairs  in  order  to  get  out. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  \'aleria  was  moved  from  its  foun- 
dation two  feet  and  badly  wrecked,  while  the  Catholic  church  building  was 
totally  demolished.  In  the  priest's  house  the  pastor  of  the  church  started 
across  the  room  as  the  storm  struck  the  house,  and  only  escaped  by  a  few 
inches  a  flying  two-by-four  scantling,  which  was  sent  through  the  window . 

In  the  business  portion  of  \'aleria  village,  Taylor  Barker's  hardware 
building  had  its  front  blown  in  and  mud  and  water  covered  the  stock  of 
goods. 

The  residence  of  James  Jones  was  entirely  demolished,  but  the  family 
had  escaped  to  a  cave  nearby. 

The  Knights  of  Pythias  building,  with  a  general  stock  on  the  first 
floor,   was  completely  smashed   to   pieces.      The   blacksmith   shop  of   D.    M. 


JASPER    COINTX,     IOWA.  4O I 

Ilhon  was  also  mashed  flat  to  the  earth.  The  newly  Iniilt  creamery  was 
totally  destroyed  and  its  fixtures  .strewn  to  the  far-away  fields. 

The  railroad  depot  had  two  sides  l)lown  in  and  a  nearby  bridge  was 
washed  out.  delaying  all  train  service  until  the  following  afternoon.  At  the 
time  there  were  six  young  men  and  boys  from  Poweshiek  township  standing 
in  the  depot  and  their  fright  was  something  they  will  always  remember. 
The  public  .school  building  west  of  town  was  blown  to  kindling  wood,  not 
even  a  large  section  of  the  same  being  found  in  the  neighborhood. 

Solomon  Dickey's  farm  house  was  actually  lexeled  to  the  ground,  but 
his  wife  and  daughter  were  saved,  with  a  few  injuries.  Harvev  Pitcock. 
south  of  Mingo,  had  his  farm  house  ]jicked  up  and  carried  fifty  feet  and 
landed  in  a  ditch:  his  family  were  more  or  less  injured.  Charles  Couche's 
house,  south  from  Mingo,  was  destroyed,  while  the  familv  esca])ed  death  bv 
making  their  way  to  the  storm  cave. 

Sol.  Dickey  was  in  bed  with  his  little  baby  and  was  bl()wn  to  a  brush 
heap  .'^ome  distance.  He  was  bruised  badly,  but  the  bal)e  was  uninjured.  Five 
were  killed  of  this  family. 

The  cloud  has  been  Aariously  described.  From  the  point  seen  by  many, 
it  appeared  dark  and  inky,  while  in  other  directions  it  was  reix)rted  as  being 
white.  The  sound  was  awful.  It  was  like  falling  water,  or  again  seemed 
like  trains  running  at  rapid  speed  over  trestle-work  bridges.  Its  form  was 
like  a  balloon  or  funnel-shaped,  and  it  bounded  along  to  and  from  the  sur- 
face of  the  earth.  There  were  many  wells  in  the  pathway  of  the  storm,  all 
of  which  liad  their  waters  sucked  from  them  as  if  by  a  huge  jjunij).  An 
apple  orchard,  west  of  \'aleria,  was  completely  uprooted.  At  another  point 
a  w  hole  Osage  orange  hedge  was  taken  up.  roots  and  all.  In  the  depot  yards 
at  \'aleria.  there  were  steel  rails  twisted  into  all  kinds  of  shape,  and  in  one 
instance  manv  will  still  recall  tlie  strange  sight  of  a  steel  rail  thirty-two  feet 
long.  dri\en  int()  the  hard  earth  a  depth  of  fourteen  feet,  in  a  perpendicular 
position. 

So  distinct  was  the  path  of  the  .storm  that  one-half  of  mrmy  forest  trees 
had  their  entire  foliage  and  limbs  cut  off.  while  the  remaining  half  was  ap- 
parently untouched.  Chickens  were  seen  picked  clean  of  feathers,  pin 
feathers  and  all,  while  hogs  had  been  beheaded  as  clean  as  if  struck  by  a 
sharpened  ax. 

Mondav  and  Tuesday,  as  well  as  for  days  afterwards,  visitors  came 
from  far  and  near  to  view  the  strange,  yet  ugly,  sights  made  by  this  terrible 
electric  storm,  which  mowed  in  its  certain  path  of  death  and  .sure  destruction. 

(26) 


402  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Manv,  indeed,  nearly  every  visitor,  carried  away  some  treasured  relic  of  the 
storm.  The  same  evening  there  was  a  large  water-spout  in  j\Iariposa  town- 
ship, this  county,  which  caused  property  damage,  but  no  loss  of  life.  This 
terrible  wind-storm  occurred  the  same  week  of  the  great  St.  Louis  cyclone  in 
which  so  many  lives  were  sacrificed,  and  when  the  Eads  steel  bridge  over  the 
Mississippi  river,  between  East  St.  Louis  and  the  city  proper,  was  partly 
carried  away.  There  have  been  other  severe  wind  storms  in  Jasper  county, 
but  none  to  compare  with  this  one. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

INTERESTING   REMINISCENCES. 

The  following  reminiscences  have  been  furnished  by  local  writers  and 
extracted  from  the  writings  of  men  who  have  passed  from  earthlv  scenes 
anrl  who  in  their  day  and  generation  were  men  of  influence  and  wrote  truly 
and  accurately  concerning  pioneer  events  which  they  themselves  had  wit- 
nessed either  as  men  or  youth.  Perhaps  there  will  be  found  treasured  here 
much  of  interest  to  both  the  present  and  oncoming  generations. 

THE   GREAT    INDIAN    SCARE. 

Ballinger  Aydelotte,  who  was  one  of  Jasper  count\ 's  earliest  justices 
of  the  peace,  a  hardy  pioneer,  and  a  man  of  considerable  ability  as  a  descrip- 
tive and  historic  writer,  at  various  times,  for  numerous  publications,  gave 
the  facts  as  herein  narrated,  concerning  the  great  Indian  scare  in  Jasper  and 
adjoining  counties  away  back  in  the  days  when  the  Indian  was  about  to  be 
removed  forever  from  this,  his  once  happy  hunting  and  fishing  ground,  to  l>e 
occupied  by  the  white  race : 

"The  Indians  were  moved  from  this  country  in  1846  by  the  governiuent 
to  western  Kansas,  except  a  few  who  were  left  on  the  reservation  in  Tama 
county.  A  great  many  of  them  did  not  want  to  go,  and  the  dragoons  gath- 
ered them  to  Fort  Des  Moines  with  a  four-mule  government  team.  W'e  could 
see  a  squad  of  dragoons  with  mule  teams  every  day  for  two  weeks  hunting 
Indians,  catching  them  every  day  and  hauling  them  to  Des  Moines.  Most  of 
them  were  Avilling  to  go,  and  would  pilot  the  dragoons  and  help  catch  those 
who  did  not  want  to  go.  Those  they  did  not  find,  gathered  on  the  reserva- 
tion in  Tama  county  and  stayed  there,  as  the  soldiers  were  sent  to  the  war  in 
Mexico. 

"Quite  a  number  straggled  back  in  the  fall  of  1848.  They  said:  'Mas- 
quakie  heap  sick  out  there;  all  die  if  they  stay  there.'  In  June,  1849.  they 
came  in  gangs  of  thirties  and  forties.  They  were  sullen  and  would  not  talk 
or  give  the  settlers  any  satisfaction,  but  went  on  to  their  reservation  on  Iowa 
river  in  Tama  county.  By  the  Fourth  of  July  they  had  all  passed  on.  AlK)Ut 
this  time  it  began  to  be  talked  among  the  settlers  that  the  Indians  were  going 


404  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

to  drive  the  whites  out  or  kill  them.  This  was  talked  of  for  a  few  days; 
stories  began  to  fly  thick  and  fast  of  what  the  Indians  were  going  to  do. 
None  of  these  stories  lost  anything,  but  were  generally  enlarged,  until  noth- 
ing else  was  talked  of  but  Indians  and  their  massacres.  Everybody  was 
excited  or  scared.  I  saw  men  talk  Indian  till  their  teeth  would  chatter  and 
their  knees  knock  together.  The  women  and  children  were  worse  scared,  if 
possible  than  the  men.  Pretty  soon  some  of  the  men  took  their  families  and 
left.  This  started  the  tide,  and  they  went  thick  and  fast  for  a  few  days.  All 
went  from  some  neighborhoods.  They  went  to  Mahaska.  Jefiferson  and  Lee 
counties.  One  company  from  the  Clear  Creek  settlement  came  to  town 
and  camped  in  the  old  court  house,  that  stood  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
square.  It  was  then  new.  They  had  one  or  two-horse  teams,  the  rest  were  oxen. 
There  were  seven  or  eight  families.  Some  time  the  next  night  the  horses 
got  scared,  commenced  to  snort,  and  rattled  their  chains.  Some  one  yelled, 
'The  Indians  are  coming!*  This  started  the  screams  of  the  women  and  chil- 
dren. Wash.  Logdon's  wife  fainted.  This  made  matters  worse,  and  such  a 
tumult  as  they  had!  'Twas  a  time  long  to  \)t  rememl^ered.  Over  half  of  the 
settlers  in  the  county  this  side  of  Skunk  river  left.  We  felt  lonesome  after 
so  many  had  gone.  Some  contended  all  the  time  that  there  was  no  danger ; 
but  when  the  larger  part  of  the  settlers  got  scared  and  believed  the  reports, 
there  was  no  reasoning  w  itli  them.  Those  who  stayed  would  gather  at  some 
house  in  the  neighborhood  at  night.  When  they  did  not  meet  at  my  house  I 
would  take  my  wife  and  little  six-year-old  bov  to  the  place  where  they  were 
to  meet,  and  go  back  home  myself  and  get  a  good  night's  rest.  I  was  no 
braver  than  other  men.  but  I  did  not  believe  there  was  any  danger.  I  felt  as 
secure  as  I  do  today.  The  Indians  were  seen  every  day  by  the  settlers  in 
small  hunting  parties,  and  fishing,  and  sometimes  called  at  the  houses  to  l^eg 
for  something  to  eat.  Three  of  them  called  when  I  was  awav  from  home. 
They  walked  in  without  speaking,  frightening  mv  little  liov  so  he  crawled 
under  the  bed.  and  my  wife  could  not  speak.  She  was  one  of  the  scared  ones 
from  the  first,  b^inally  she  a.sked  if  the  Indians  were  .going  to  war  with  the 
whites.  The  old  Indian  could  not  talk  English,  and  he  said.  '^>s."  Then 
my  wife  said.  'You  won't  kill  the  innocent,  will  you?"  *Yes,  we  will.'  he 
said.  Then  the  little  boy  l:>egan  to  yell  and  cry.  She  then  asked  if  there 
were  more  Indians  coming.  He  said.  'Yes.  heap  Musquakie  comin'  drunk.' 
Then  she  thought  sure  she  would  l)e  scalped  in  a  few  minutes.  She  then 
said.  'White  man  come  and  kill  Indian.'  Then  the  Indians  were  scared  as 
bad  as  she  was;  they  ran  out  of  the  house,  jumped  on  their  ponies,  and  went 
off  whipping  and  looking  back  as  if  they  expected  to  see  the  white  men  after 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  405 

them.  They  did  not  come  to  my  house  any  more  that  summer  or  fall.  As 
soon  as  they  were  out  of  sight  my  wife  and  little  lx)y  hurried  to  the  nearest 
neighhors  as  fast  as  they  could,  expecting  to  see  the  drunken  Indians  any 
time.  When  she  told  what  the  Indians  said,  the  neighbors  were  badly 
scared  and  su))posed  they  had  got  drunk  to  begin  their  butchering.  The 
news  flew  all  over  tlie  settlement  that  the  Indians  had  been  to  Avdelotte's 
house  and  threatened  to  kill  his  wife  and  child,  and  scared  her  so  bad  that 
she  was  not  expected  to  live.  Men  came  in  from  all  over  the  settlement  to 
learn  the  truth.  There  were  no  drunken  Indians  seen  or  heard  of.  T  sup- 
pose the  old  Indian  saw  she  was  frightened  and  said  what  he  did  to  frighten 
her  worse.  There  were  no  more  Indians  seen  in  our  neighborhood  during 
the  scare,  but  the  talk  and  excitement  went  on,  and  several  log  forts  were 
built  around  some  houses  in  the  settlement,  where  women  and  children  were 
taken  until  the  scare  was  over.  In  our  settlement,  after  they  had  built  their 
fort  and  got  their  women  and  children  in  three  or  four  days,  two  of  the 
women  got  into  a  quarrel  over  an  old  iron  spoon.  Thev  then  broke  up  and 
went  home. 

"On  Clear  creek  they  built  a  fort  around  old  Joe  Hint's  house.  He  was 
one  who  believed  there  was  no  danger.  He  went  on  plowing  corn  and 
working  on  his  farm  as  usual,  while  the  neighbors  built  the  fort.  They 
threatened  to  tie  and  keep  him  in  the  house.  He  told  them  they  were  wel- 
come to  build  the  fort  and  bring  their  families  there  and  stay  as  long  as  they 
pleased,  Init  he  must  plow  corn  and  take  care  of  his  own  farm,  for  there  was 
no  danger  from  the  Indians.  So  the  excitement  went  on.  There  was  a  com- 
mittee of  five  appointed  to  go  to  the  Indian  village  on  Iowa  river  and  find  out, 
if  they  could,  whether  the  Indians  were  going  to  break  out  or  not.  Dr. 
Rodgers,  Joab  Bennett,  Brock  Hammick.  William  Richie  and  Silas  Dooley 
were  the  committee  who  \n  ent.  They  came  back  and  reported  that  they  had 
been  to  the  Indian  camp,  and  seen  the  Indians  at  their  homes,  and  they 
.seemed  verv  friendly  and  sociable,  and  they  gave  no  signs  of  hostility,  and 
thought  there  was  no  danger.  In  the  meantime  several  petitions  had  been 
gotten  up  in  the  different  settlements  and  sent  to  the  Governor  at  Iowa  City, 
requesting  him  to  send  militia  and  drive  away  the  Indians.  Finally  the  Gov- 
ernor got  so  many  of  the  petitions  and  found  that  the  settlers  were  so  excited 
and  neglecting  their  work,  that  he  sent  an  officer  with  a  squad  of  men  and  an 
interpreter.  Thev  went  and  had  a  talk  with  the  Indians.  They  found  them 
perfectlv  ignorant  of  the  scare  among  the  whites:  they  knew  .something  was 
wrong,  but  thev  thought  that  the  whites  were  going  to  war  among  them- 
selves.    When  thev  found  out  what  was  the  matter  thev  were  as  badlv  scared 


4J(»  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

as  the  Avhites  had  been.  They  were  afraid  the  government  would  drive  them 
back  to  Kansas,  and  that  they  would  as  soon  die  as  go  back  there.  From 
that  time  on.  they  were  \ery  friendly  to  the  whites.  They  committed  no 
depredations  that  were  heard  of.  The  worst  they  did  was  in  scaring  my 
wife  and  son.  The  Governor  sent  out  a  statement  that  he  had  investigated 
the  matter  and  found  the  Indians  peaceable  and  wanting  to  live  at  peace  with 
the  whites,  and  there  were  no  good  grounds  for  the  scare.  This  settled  it. 
and  in  a  short  time  those  who  had  left  began  to  return,  by  one  and  twos.  We 
had  a  good  deal  of  fun  wanting  to  know  when  they  would  get  their  land 
warrants  for  services  in  the  "Indian  war."  and  what  they  would  take  for 
them.    Thus  ended  the  big  Indian  scare  of  1849." 

MEMORABLE   WINTER   OF    1 848-49. 

Among  the  numerous  historic  items  \\ritten  at  A'arious  times  by  that 
trustworthy  pioneer,  Ballinger  Aydelotte.  the  following  is  worthy  of  perpetual 
preservation  in  the  county's  annals : 

"Tt  was  in  the  year  1848-49  that  we  had  the  'deep  snow,'  so-called,  be- 
cause it  was  the  deepest  ever  known  up  to  or  after  that  winter.  The  snow 
began  falling  early  in  December,  and  on  Christmas  morning  it  measured 
forty  inches  on  the  level  all  over  the  country.  As  there  had  been  no  wind, 
there  were  no  drifts.  About  the  27th  there  came  a  thaw  and  a  fog  and  a 
crust  formed.  A  few  neighbors  made  paths  from  one  house  to  another,  but 
they  were  so  far  apart  that  most  of  the  traveling  was  done  on  snow  shoes 
for  three  months.  We  had  no  good  houses.  All  were  small  log  cabins,  with 
cracks  chinked  and  daubed  with  mud.  The  roofs  and  doors  were  made  of 
clapboards,  with  puncheon  floors,  so  they  did  not  lack  ventilation.  There 
were  no  stoves  in  this  country  at  that  time.  Wg  had  no  mail  for  three 
months,  therefore  no  news  from  the  outside  \\orld.  It  was  impossible  to  get 
to  the  Oskaloosa  mills.  A  few  had  tlieir  milling  done.  Imt  they  were  soon 
out  of  breadstuff,  and  those  who  had  none  borrowed  vmtil  it  was  all  gone.  So 
all  were  soon  on  an  equality.  The  rule  was  to  divide  everything  we  had  to 
eat  as  long  as  it  lasted.  Several  attempts  were  made  to  get  to  mill  in  Febru- 
ary, but  all  failed,  and  it  was  not  until  the  last  of  March  that  we  got  tlirough 
with  ox  teams.  So  we  had  bread  again,  after  li\ing  on  l)ro\\ning  and  boiling 
corn  and  grating  for  over  two  months. 

"After  the  crust  formed  on  the  snow,  a  man  on  snow  shoes  could  catch 
a  deer  in  a  short  time,  as  the  deer  would  go  through  the  crusted  snow  evei-v 
jump  it  made,  and  after  a  few  jumps  would  give  up.     The  wolves,  being  able 


JASPER    COrXTV,    IOWA.  407 

to  run  on  the  crust,  caught  a  great  many  deer.  One  was  started  near  William 
Springer's  house:  it  tried  to  run  into  the  house,  but  the  dogs  caught  it  and 
killed  it  in  the  yard.  By  the  hrst  of  March  deer  got  so  poor  one  would  not 
kill  them  for  meat  and  many  starved. 

'The  Indians  lost  hundreds  of  ponies  that  winter  by  starving.  The 
snow  that  fell  after  the  crust  was  formed  was  very  light  and  every  hard 
wind  the  air  was  filled  with  snow  so  one  could  scarce  see  their  hand  before 
them.  At  such  times  the  snow  would  drift  through  the  clapboard  roof.  And 
it  was  no  fun  jumping  out  of  bed  some  mornings  with  snow  two  or  three 
inches  deep  all  over  the  house.  After  the  hard  blizzards  the  fine  snow  would 
blow  off  from  the  prairies  into  the  hollows,  making  some  of  the  drifts  thirty 
and  forty  feet  deep.     I  lived  on  Elk  creek  that  winter.'' 

HARD   WINTER   OF    1 856-57. 

All  true  lowans  have  experienced,  or  heard  their  parents  tell  of.  the 
terrible  winter  of  1856-57,  when  the  snow,  on  a  dead  level,  measured  fully 
thirty  inches  deep,  and  when  the  thermometer  stood  from  ten  to  thirty-four 
degrees  below  zero  for  weeks  at  a  time.  In  November,  1856,  it  commenced 
snowing  and  during  that  night  it  fell  to  the  depth  of  eight  inches.  The  regu- 
lar rule  that  winter  was  five  days  of  snowing  and  blowing  and  two  days 
fair  and  A'ery  cold.  Humanity  and  the  iX)or  half-starved  animal  kingdom  suf- 
fered greatly  during  that  never-to-be-forgotten  winter.  This  state  of  affairs 
extended  throughout  the  entire  western  country.  Reader,  imagine  yourself 
the  head  of  a  family,  located  three  miles  or  more  out  on  the  prairie,  where 
no  fuel  could  be  procured,  save  by  hauling  a  few  logs  at  a  time,  over  the 
snow,  from  some  timber  ravine,  and  cutting  it  up  for  stove  wood  to  keep 
your  family  from  perishing.  This  was  the  lot  of  hundreds  who  had  sought 
out  a  new  home  in  the  wilds  of  Jasper  and  other  Iowa  counties. 

REMINISCENCES    OF    THE    OLD    COURT    HOUSE. 

By    J.    H.    Fiigard. 

There  was  once  great  rejoicing  over  the  completion  of  a  certain  great 
building,  but  some  of  the  people  wept  when  they  remembered  the  glories  of 
the  former  house.  We  are  now  made  glad  by  the  completion  of  our  splendid 
new  court  house,  but  are  not  unmindful  of  the  more  modest  structure  that 
once  occupied  its  place.  The  old  building  stood  for  so  many  years  in  the 
most  prominent  place  in  the  county,  and  was  such  a  familiar  object,  that 
to  manv  its  destruction  came  like  a  personal  loss ;    and  the  world    almost 


408  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

seemed  like  a  lonesome  place  without  it.  It  cost  much  less  than  the  present 
one.  But  land  was  then  cheap  and  the  people  were  poor.  So  that  relatively 
it  was  more  expensive  than  the  new  buildini;".  Its  architecture  was  of  no 
mean  order,  and  before  it  was  marred  by  us^ly  alterations  and  by  the  hand  of 
time,  it  was  reallv  a  handsome  building.  When  we  were  children  some  of 
us  thought  that  it  was  the  grandest  building  in  all  the  world.  Its  lofty 
dome  seemed  to  us  almost  to  reach  the  sky,  and  when  brave  Joe  Bowker, 
the  painter,  once  climbed  upon  it.  and  standing  erect  waved  Old  Glory  to  the 
breeze  our  enthusiasm  knew  no  bounds.  But  the  crowning  glory  of  our 
former  house  consisted  not  in  its  stately  columns  and  its  classic  frieze, 
but  in  wealth  of  its  history.  Many  of  the  princi])al  happenings  of  the  county 
in  its  earlier  \ears  were  connected  with  it,  and  much  of  our  grand  war 
historv  centers  there.  A  multitude  of  thrilling  scenes,  patriotic  and  pathetic, 
humorous  and  sensational,  have  occurred  within  and  around  it.  Many 
notable  cases  were  tried  there,  and  from  its  witness  stand  have  been  told 
tales  of  the  unraveling  crime  that  were  equal  to  the  detective  stones  that  are 
told  of  Sherlock  Holmes.  ]\Iany  worthy  men  there  rendered  faithful  service 
during  their  best  years,  and  the  lives  of  some  of  them  doubtless  were  short- 
ened bv  its  unhealthy  atmosphere.  Many  an  exciting  political  convention 
was  held  there.  And  many  a  good  man  met  his  Waterloo,  because  of  lack 
of  sufficient  votes.  Rival  parties  and  contending  factions  have  there  met 
and  harmonized  their  differences,  and  like  the  wolf  and  the  lamb  have  lain 
down  together,  one  of  them  inside  the  other.  Those  who  tremble  for  the 
safety  of  the  country,  because  of  the  deadly  breach  between  the  progressives 
and  the  stand-patters,  should  remember  the  big  pow-wow  when  the  fierce 
"stalwarts"  and  the  "mugwumps"  ceased  their  defying  warwhoops  and  to- 
gether smoked  the  pipe  of  peace. 

Not  only  was  it  a  favorite  place  for  local  speakers  to  exercise  their  talents 
but  many  state  spell-binders,  and  not  a  few  of  national  reputation  have  there 
held  forth.  With  what  delight  we  have  heard  the  eloquence  of  some  of 
them,  both  on  the  rostrum  and  at  the  bars,  with  vigor  of  thought  and  splen- 
dor of  diction  they  have  striven  to  convince  or  instruct  or  inspire  their 
hearers.  As  T  have  listened  to  their  well  chosen  words  and  well  rounded 
sentences,  I  have  thought  that  I   would  rather  l)e  an  orator  than  a  king. 

The  court  room  was  for  many  years  the  largest  assem])K-  hall  in  tlie 
cotinty,  and  was  the  natural  meeting  place  for  large  public  gatherings.  It  was 
often  used  for  religious  services.  And  in  early  days  a  number  of  funerals 
w  ere  held  there,  among  them  that  of  Capt.  Thomas  H.  Miller,  who  was  mor- 
tally wounded  at  Pittsburg   Landing.     His  was  the  first  soldier's  funeral  ever 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  4O9 

held  in  Newton,  and  was  lart^ely  attended  by  people  from  all  parts  of  the 
county.  Memorial  services  were  also  held  there  for  our  first  martyr  Presi- 
dent, whom  the  people  loved  to  call  ''I"~ather  Abraham."  A  great  sanitary 
fair  was  held  during  the  war  to  raise  money  to  buy  supplies  for  the  sick  and 
wounded  soldiers.  It  lasted  for  several  days,  and  many  hundred  dollars 
were  raised.  People  poured  out  their  money  lavishly  for  the  good  cause, 
and  paid  fabulous  prices  for  trilling  articles,  often  handing  them  back  to 
be  sold  over  again. 

It  seems  incredible  that  men's  better  natures  should  be  stirred  by  patriot- 
ism that  they  would  be  willing  to  leave  their  families  and  business,  and  go 
away  for  years  and  incur  the  dangers  and  hardships  of  war.  By  such  devo- 
tion, however,  the  I'nion  was  saved  and  we  are  enabled  to  enjov  manv  of 
our  present  blessings.  The  old  court  house  figured  prominently  in  the  davs 
of  the  war,  as  many  rallies  were  held  there,  and  most  of  the  volunteers 
started  from  there  for  the  front.  Man}-  heartbreaking  scenes  occurred  as  the 
families  and  friends  of  the  lirave  men  gathered  about  them  to  bid  them  what 
in  many  cases  proved  to  be  their  last  goodbye. 

Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  a  numl^er  of  our  citizens  ex- 
pressed a  willingness  to  help  put  it  down.  Among  them  was  Samuel  Chap- 
man, the  town  jeweler,  who  had  seen  service  with  Scott  in  Mexico,  and  who 
\vas  urged  to  take  the  lead  in  trying  to  get  up  a  company.  And  a  meeting 
was  called  at  the  court  house  to  discuss  it.  Earnest  speeches  were  made  by 
several  of  the  volunteers  and  others.  Among  the  speakers  was  a  young 
Newton  law  student  named  S.  H.  M.  Byers,  now  a  prominent  citizens  of  Des 
Moines.  He  told  in  a  manly  way  that  he  thought  it  was  every  man's  duty  to 
be  willing  to  obey  his  country's  call,  and  that  he  had  decided  to  offer  his 
services.  And  he  closed  by  saying  "Rome  was  once  a  mighty  nation,  and 
so  was  Carthage.  Rome  fell  and  so  did  Carthage ;  but  shall  these  great 
United  States  of  America  fall?  Never,  never,  never.''  Afterwards  while 
confined  in  a  rebel  prison,  he  wrote  a  little  poem  entitled  "Sherman's  ^larch 
to  the  Sea,"  and  sent  it  home  concealed  in  a  wooden  leg  of  a  returning  fellow 
prisoner.  And  when  he  himself  came  home,  he  found  that  it  had  been  set 
to  music  and  had  made  him  famous. 

Let  me  trv  to  describe  another  rally  which  was  typical  of  all.  It  was  on  a 
summer  afternor)n  in  1862,  in  the  darkest  days  of  the  war.  Dr.  Ault  had 
received  a  commission  authorizing  him  to  raise  what  was  afterwards  Com- 
pany C  of  the  Twenty-second  Iowa,  and  this  meeting  was  for  the  purpose  of 
assisting  him.  Some  one  read  the  President's  latest  proclamation,  calling  for 
three  hundred  thousand  more  troops.     And  a  statement  was  made  as  to  tlie 


4IO  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

number  that  would  be  required  from  Iowa  and  from  Jasper  county.  People's 
hearts  sank,  for  it  seemed  as  if  not  another  man  could  be  spared,  and  the 
number  of  black  dresses  to  be  seen  told  plainly  what  had  been  the  fate  of 
many  who  had  gone.  Several  citizens  made  brief  remarks  in  regard  to  the 
needs  of  the  country.  Then  it  was  announced  that  those  who  wished  to 
volunteer  could  do  so;  and  sixteen  young  men,  mostly  from  Newton  and 
from  the  flower  of  our  youth,  went  up  to  the  judge's  desk  and  signed  the 
enlistment  paper,  amid  a  silence  broken  only  by  the  sobs  of  their  parents  and 
friends.  Among  them  were  Jackson  F.  Newell  and  Thomas  ]\I.  Rodgers,  the 
vouthful  editors  of  the  Monitor,  our  first  daily  paper.  Than  Town,'send. 
Rov  Allum  and  ^lilt  ^IcCord  were  also  of  the  number:  but  the  last  named 
was  afterward  transferred  to  his  brother's  company  in  the  Twenty-eighth 
Iowa. 

During  tlie  next  few  years  these  sixteen  young  men  had  an  opportunity 
to  learn  the  horrors  of  war  and  about  half  of  them  never  returned.  On  the 
bloodv  22d  day  of  May,  1863,  they  were  in  that  long  line  of  blue  that  swept 
up  the  heights  at  Vicksburg  and  was  hurled  back  in  defeat  from  the  rebel 
works,  and  men  went  down  like  grass  before  the  mower.  Among  those  that 
fell  that  day  were  the  Bair  brothers  and  Jackson  Newell  and  Johnny  Green. 

A    HOME   COMING. 

It  was  a  glad  night  in  the  old  building  when  the  boys  of  Company  B, 
Thirteenth  Iowa,  came  home  together  on  a  furlough.  The  drums  beat  loudly, 
and  everybody  shouted  for  joy  as  the  sturdy  veterans  marched  proudly  into 
the  court  room,  and  were  seated  at  long  tables  laden  with  a  royal  feast.  Those 
were  stirring  times. 

And  many  a  fist  fight  occurred  on  the  streets  over  discussions  growing 
out  of  the  war.  While  a  jollification  was  being  held  at  the  south  front  of 
the  court  house,  celebrating  the  victories  at  Vicksburg  and  Gettysburg,  the 
audience  suddenly  left  their  seats  and  ran  to  watch  an  angry  crowd  thump  a 
big  fellow  for  having  spoken  disrespectfully  of  the  government.  There  were 
times  when  it  seemed  as  if  the  seat  of  war  was  about  to  be  transferred  from 
the  cotton  fields  of  the  south  to  the  corn  fields  of  the  north.  .\  riot  occurred 
at  a  ])olitical  meeting  at  Peoria  in  Mahaska  county  and  many  shots  were 
fired,  and  a  returned  soldier  named  Alloway  was  killed.  The  news,  in  a 
greatly  magnified  form,  reached  here  while  a  rally  was  in  ])rogress  at  the 
court  house  and  caused  a  great  sensation.  Many  a  check  turned  pale  when 
it  was  reported  that  a  battle  had  been  fought  on  this  side  of  Oskaloosa,  and 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  4II 

that  two  thousaiul  rebels  were  niarchiiiL;-  towards  Xewton.  At  another  time 
the  community  was  thrown  into  excitement  over  the  news  that  the  draft  was 
Ijeing  resisted  in  I'oweshiek  county,  and  that  two  United  States  marshals 
had  been  ambushed  and  shot  in  the  public  highway.  And  again  the  long  roll 
sounded  from  the  east  steps  calling  out  the  home  guards,  like  the  minute 
men  of  old,  for  immediate  service. 

Jasper  county  did  its  full  part  in  standing  loyally  by  the  go\ernment  in 
those  trying  times.  And  it  furnished  far  more  men  than  the  fiuota  required 
of  it.  At  the  first  \\  ar  meeting,  before  mentioned,  a  hope  was  expressed 
that  eighty-four -men  could  be  secured  so  that  they  could  form  their  own 
organization.  But  several  expressed  doubts  as  to  whether  so  many  could 
be  raised  in  such  a  thinly  settled  county.  But  Captain  Chapman  afterwards 
had  the  joy  of  marching  out  of  the  court  yard  at  the  head  of  his  jasper 
Grays,  a  hundred  strong.  And  later  on  six  more  full  companies  were  sent 
and  enough  parts  of  companies  and  recruits  to  bring  the  whole  number  up  to 
about  fifteen  hundred  men.  And  these  citizen  soldiers,  unused  to  war's  alarms, 
served  with  great  credit.  Many  of  them  saw  active  sen-ice,  and  some  of 
them  witnessed  struggles  as  terrific  and  slaughter  as  terrible  as  were  exper- 
ienced by  the  veterans  who  followed  the  leadership  of  the  First  Napoleon. 

EARLY  TIMES  IN    MOX'ND   PRAIRIE. 

The  following  reminiscence  was  written  about  a  dozen  years  ago  by 
Seth  W.  Macy,  wlio  was  a  lad  of  thirteen  summers  when  his  parents  settled 
in  Mound  Prairie  township,  as  it  is  now  known  among  the  civil  sub-divisions 
of  the  county : 

On  the  15th  day  of  September,  1854,  Jonathan  W.  Macy  started  from 
Kingston,  Indiana,  with  all  his  worldly  goods,  to  move  to  Iowa.  His  effects 
were  loaded  into  two  wagons,  each  drawn  by  a  pair  of  horses.  They  arrived 
at  Tool's  Point  October  5th.  We  drove  on  three  and  a  half  miles  to  the 
Col.  S.  B.  Shelladv  farm,  then  owned  by  Mr.  Smart,  and  after  father  ex- 
plained \\hat  we  wanted,  he  proceeded  at  once  to  empty  the  best  room  in  the 
house  for  us.  What  we  needed  for  use  in  the  house  we  unloaded  and  put 
in  order  tliat  night.  The  remainder  of  the  goods  were  stored  in  the  barn 
except  the  large  and  well-filled  tool  chest,  which  was  left  in  the  wagon.  The 
first  night  in  Jasper  county  was  very  agreeably  spent,  and  we  had  everything 
necessarv  to  our  comfort.  The  next  day.  after  dinner,  father  and  I  started 
for  our  land,  and  to  locate  the  spot  where  the  first  cabin  was  to  be  built, 
on  the  northwest  corner  of  section  19.     ^^'e  then  drove  on  to  the  upper  end 


412  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

of  Slaughter's  (ii"o\e.  where  there  were  two  log'  cabins  eight  feet  apart,  the 
space  between  roofed  and  enclosed.  These  cabins  were  occupied  by  John 
and  Edward  Thomas,  brothers.  Ilie  cabins  were  of  logs  with  the  bark  left 
on.  They  were  chinked  and  dau]:)ed  with  mud,  and  each  had  a  stick-and-mud 
fire-place.  Each  brother  had  a  wife  and  three  children,  two  beds  and  trundle 
beds,  so  that  each  had  a  spare  bed  for  traxelers.  We  secured  bed  and  board 
with  Ed  Thomas  until  we  could  l>uild  our  cabin.  The  next  day  we  went 
down  into  the  timlier  for  our  first  load  of  logs  fcjr  our  new  cabin.  Father 
cut  the  logs  and  loaded  them  and  I  hauled  them  out  and  unloaded  them.  I 
was  then  but  thirteen  years  old,  and  of  necessity  had  to  play  the  part  of  a 
man.  Six  weeks  later  we  moved  into  a  \ery  neat  and  comfortable  hewed 
log  house,  fourteen  by  sixteen  feet,  with  a  sawed  oak  floor. 

Xow  we  have  the  cabin  built,  we  will  look  around  and  see  who  li\ed  in 
Prairie  Mound  township.  In  passing  up  from  Tool's  Point  over  the  old 
Indian  trail,  we  entered  the  township  by  coming  onto  section  33  from  the 
south.  On  the  northeast  quarter  of  this  section  lived  E.  R.  Peck,  who  af- 
terward became  very  well  known  by  taking  a  great  deal  of  interest  in  other 
people's  property.  Just  north  of  the  Peck  property,  on  the  southeast  quar- 
ter of  section  j8,  was  another  claim  and  cabin  occupied  by  a  Mr.  Thomas. 
These  were  all  the  improvements  on  the  south  side  of  the  township. 

On  the  east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  19,  there  was  a  small 
cabin  built  the  year  l^efore  by  Riley  Van  Scoyac.  who  occupied  the  same 
until  1857.  when  he  sold  to  Isaiah  Coomes  who  lived  there  for  many  years 
and  died  on  the  farm.  On  this  farm  Mr.  Coomes  made  the  first  crockery 
in  this  portion  of  the  country.  Air.  Van  Scoyac's  father  lived  south  on  the 
east  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  same  section,  and  sold  about  the 
same  time  as  his  son  to  Daniel  Shepherd.  All  of  these  places  mentioned 
thus  far  were  so  new  that  they  had  no  grain  or  produce  to  sell.  The  Thomas 
brothers  of  whom  we  have  spoken  lived  on  section  i  j.  in  what  is  now  W^ash- 
ington  townshi]).  Joseph  Slaughter,  who  lived  on  section  5.  ^^■as  the  first 
settler  in  what  is  now  Mound  I'rairie  township.  He  came  here  in  1845. 
erected  a  cabin,  went  back  east  and  returned  with  his  familv  in  fhe  spring 
of  1846  and  had  a  good  farm  in  cultivation  when  we  came,  and  ])lenty  of 
grain  and     stock. 

Samuel  K.  Parker  settled  on  section  4  in  1847.  This  was  at  the  river 
crossing,  now  the  Ross  farm.  Mr.  Parker  had  a  saw  mill  on  the  ri\'er  forty 
rods  below  the  river  bridge,  \\hich  was  then  run  by  Robert  ^\^arner,  who  we 
still  have  Avith  us  one  mile  south  of  Colfax.  In  1853.  John  Sumpter  settled 
on  section  7,  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Hartley  farm.  Mr.  Sumpter  was  the 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  413 

first  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  township,  and  no  better  or  truer  man  could 
be  found  either  then  or  ncnv  for  the  place.  'J'his  was  all  the  permanent  set- 
tlers in  the  township  except  a  few  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  now  known 
as  the  Metz  corner,  where  some  very  excellent  people  settled  at  an  early  date, 
among  them  the  two  Miller  families,  George  \V.  and  brother.  The  first 
was  L.  D.  Simms,  who  came  in  1849,  ^^i^"  his  son.  S.  S..  in  1831.  James 
John  and  G.  W.  Miller  came  in  1853.  These  are  all  that  we  know  settled 
in  Mound  Prairie  township  prior    to  1854. 

In  every  new  country  there  are  always  quite  a  number  of  comers  and 
goers  of  a  migratory  disposition.  They  were  here,  but  as  I  was  a  small  boy 
1  don't  remember  any  of  them. 

Now  we  will  look  around  a  little,  our  postoftice  was  at  Tool's  Point, 
our  grist  mill  at  Red  Rock,  our  corn  cracker  at  Indian  creek,  northeast  of 
Colfax,  and  all  the  merchandise  had  to  be  hauled  in  wagons  from  the  Mis- 
sissippi ri\er.  What  would  you  think  of  paying  seven  dollars  per  barrel  for 
salt  and  fifteen  cents  per  pound  for  nails,  and  all  other  articles  in  proportion? 

In  the  spring  of  1856,  an  eastern  Indiana  farmer  came  out  to  look  at 
the  country.  He  arrived  at  Fort  Des  ]^Ioines  in  the  evening,  and  took  a 
little  walk  on  Second  street  where  the  business  was  nearly  all  done.  Seeing 
some  salt  barrels  in  front  of  a  grocery,  he  incjuired  the  price,  and  was  told 
seven  dollars  per  barrel.  "What!  Seven  dollars  for  a  barrel  of  salt?"  '"Yes." 
responded  the  grocer.  "Well,  no  country  can  be  settled  where  salt  costs 
seven  dollars  per  barrel."  tie  took  the  first  stage  for  Keokuk  and  returned 
home  as  soon  as  possible.  Those  that  remained  here,  however,  have  seen 
the  Hawkeye  state  grow  and  develop  until  it  is  the  grandest  state  in  the 
union. 

A  few  years  later,  we  are  informed  this  same  Indiana  farmer  heard 
of  the  famous  rock  salt  beds  in  Kansas,  moved  there  and  prospered. 

The  first  grain  cut  with  a  machine  was  in  iiS^^y.  Jt  was  a  Rugg  ma- 
chine, bought  Ijy  William  Jordan,  who  owned  a  part  of  what  was  after- 
wards the  Jesse  Long  farm.  Jonathan  W.  Macy  afterward  bought  the  ma- 
chine and  cut  the  grain  in  the  township  that  harvest. 

In  1856  Mr.  Macy  lx)ught  .some  registered  shorthorn  cattle  of  Milton 
Wilson,  who  went  through  here  from  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  to  Madison 
county.  Iowa.  Jonathan  W.  Macy  was  the  originator  of  the  Macy  potato, 
later  called  the  White  Me.shanoc.  and  of  the  potato  industry  which  has  made 
the  Prairie  Citv  famous.  He  was  a  pattern  maker  and  millwright  by  trade, 
and  one  of  the  most  skilled  and  perfect  mechanics  that  could  be  found  in 
any  country.     He  built  the  first  pile  driver  ever  used  in  Jasper  county.    This 


414  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

machine  was  fully  half  a  century  in  advance  of  the  age  in  which  it  was 
built.  See  what  J.  R.  Rodgers  has  to  say  of  this  machine.  He  helped  drive 
the  first  piles  that  were  driven  in  the  county  with  it. 

Mr.  Alacv  made  a  set  of  carpenter's  tools  before  his  arrival  here,  such 
as  planes,  bit  stalks,  screw  clamps  and  a  wooden  bench  vise,  that  would  puzzle 
the  modern  mechanic  to  construct  and  equal  to  many  of  those  now  made  by 
machinerv.  most  of  which  are  now  in  my  possession. 

■'the  kxow  nothing"  political  party. 

The  present  generation  knows  but  little,  if  indeed  anything,  of  what 
was  of  political  significance  in  the  fifties  in  the  way  of  a  political  party  known 
as  the  ''Know  Nothings."  It  was  represented  from  one  end  of  the  country 
to  the  other  and  its  chief  principle  was  that  it  forbade  the  holding  of  office  by 
other  than  American-born  citizens,  all  foreigners  being  excluded  from  hold- 
ing anv  office,  either  in  county,  state  or  nation.  Naturally,  a  party  advocat- 
ing these  principles  must  soon  go  down  in  a  country  like  this. 

In  jasper  county  such  a  party  had  an  existence  for  a  season  or  more, 
and  has  been  well  described  by  "Old  Shady"  (Joseph  Arnold)  in  one  of  his 
reminiscential  stories  which  runs  thus : 

In  1855-6  there  was  organized  in  nearly  every  state  in  the  Union  a  party 
known  as  the  Know  Nothing  party,  the  object  of  which  was  to  keep  all  for- 
eigners from  holding  office  or  taking  any  i)art  whatsoe\er  in  the  go\'ernment  of 
the  United  States.  The  meetings  and  lodges  were  held  in  secret,  with  armed 
force  if  need  be.  to  prevent  any  foreigners  from  entering  or  to  know  of  the 
Imsiness  transacted. 

This  ga\e  a  fa\-oral)le  opi)ortunity  for  crafty  office  seekers  to  manipulate 
plans  for  their  own  elexation  to  office.  A.  T.  Alt,  the  treasurer  of  the  county, 
whose  first  tenu  was  about  to  expire,  wished  to  be  elected  for  another  term. 
This  he  thought  an  opportunity  to  immortalize  his  name  and  secure  his  elec- 
tion for  a  second  term.  He  attended  meetings  in  an  adjoining  countv  which 
was  head(|uarters  for  Know  Nothings  and  got  the  appointment  to  organize 
lodges  in  Jasper  county.  He  set  a  time  and  place  and  notified  the  leading 
voters  and  foreigner  haters  that  he  would  be  down  in  L\nn  Grove  and  or- 
ganize a  lodge  and  fit  them  up  to  do  business.  At  that  time  there  was  a  log 
cabin  in  the  midst  of  the  woods  located  on  .section  3,  one-half  mile  north  of 
the  home  of  John  R.  Sparks.  In  conformity  with  previous  arrangements. 
Sir  Alt  came  down  from  Newton  with  tlie  appliances  to  organize  the  Ameri- 
can party  of  Know  Nothings.     About  sunset  there  was  a  large  gathering  of 


JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA.  415 

the  voters  of  the  township  up  in  the  woods  near  Sparks.  About  dark  we 
wended  our  way  to  the  cabin.  Alt  called  the  house  to  order.  The  first  thing 
done  was  to  place  sentinels  out  to  see  that  no  foreigners  should  know  of  the 
business  or  purpose  of  the  meeting.  All  being  ready,  Alt  unfurled  the  Stars 
and  Stripes,  which  made  a  fine  display  in  that  dark  and  forlorn  place.  In  an 
elaborate  speech  he  told  us  of  the  danger  that  the  United  States  was  in  from 
the  foreign  element.  After  getting  us  fully  awakened,  he  proceeded  to  in- 
itiate us  as  members  of  this  mystic  organization.  The  initiation  fee  was 
nominal,  not  exceeding  one  dollar  for  each  one  initiated.  I  well  remember 
the  pass-word,  "Have  you  seen  Sam?"  The  sign  was  to  take  hold  of  vour 
coat  on  the  right  side  with  all  of  your  hand  except  the  index  finger,  which 
should  be  pointed  straight  out.  Then  the  arm  in  a  natural  mo\ement  to  be 
brought  toward  the  left  side,  the  index  finger  placed  on  the  left  breast  near  the 
region  of  the  heart. 

After  a  general  hand  shaking  this  meeting  closed  about  ten  o'clock  with- 
out benediction.  A.  T.  Alt  was  defeated,  and  soon  the  K'now  Nothing  partv, 
in  all  the  states,  w  as  a  thing  of  the  past.  This  meeting  was  on  Saturday  night. 
On  Sunday  morning  I  went  to  our  little  Quaker  meeting  and  saw  as  soon  as 
I  got  into  the  yard.  Jarvis  Johnson.  True  to  his  trust,  he  gave  me  the  sign  bv 
taking  hold  of  his  shadbelly  Quaker  coat  with  his  right  hand,  bringing  his 
index  finger  near  the  region  of  the  heart.  T.  true  to  my  pledge,  returned  the 
sign.  We  both  saw  we  were  brethren  and  no  foreigner  could  have  our  sup- 
port, for  we  were  full-fledged  Know  Nothings,  and  the  government  still 
stands. 


GEN.  JAMES  B.  WEAVER 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


GEN.  JAMES   BAIRD  WEAVER. 

Among  the  few  surviving  commissioned  officers  of  the  Civil  war  is  the 
man  whose  name  heads  this  biographical  notice,  Gen.  James  B.  Weaver, 
whose  gallant  military  career,  as  well  as  useful  political  record,  is  well  known 
to  nearly  every^  one  within  the  borders  of  Iowa.  His  espousal  of  the  cause 
of  reformation  and  temperance  in  this  state  will  live  in  principle  and  be  en- 
acted into  laws  long  after  he  has  passed  from  earthly  scenes.  To  have  had 
the  courage  to  fight  the  battles  of  one's  country,  whether  on  the  field  of  car- 
nage, or  by  tongue  and  pen,  as  a  wide-awake,  forceful  writer  and  speaker  in 
the  great  national  political  arena,  is  indeed  a  fit  legacy  to  bequeath  to  future 
generations. 

Mr.  Weaver  was  born  June  12,  1833,  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools  of  early  Iowa.  He  drove  an  ox  team  across  the  great 
plains  of  the  \^^est  from  Davis  county,  Iowa,  to  Sacramento  City,  California, 
in  1853.  He  returned  via  Panama  and  New  York  the  same  autumn,  and 
clerked  for  Edwin  Planning  at  B()na])arte,  Iowa,  in  the  winter  of  1853-4. 
The  following  spring  he  began  his  long  cherished  study  of  the  law  in  the  office 
of  S.  G.  McAchran,  at  Bloomfield.  Iowa.  He  then  attended  law  school  at  the 
Cincinnati  College  and  graduated  as  a  Bachelor  of  Law  in  1855.  On  the 
board  of  examiners  was  Rutherford  B.  Hayes,  who  long  afterward  became 
President  of  the  L'nited  States.  He  then  returned  to  Bloomfield,  Iowa,  and 
was  there  admitted  to  the  bar  under  Judge  H.  B.  Hendershott,  and  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  and  continued  therein  actively  until  the 
spring  of  1861,  when  he  entered  the  Union  army  as  a  private  soldier  in  Com- 
pany G.  Second  Iowa  Infantry  Regiment.  He  was  elected  first  lieutenant 
and  served  in  that  capacity  through  the  battles  of  Forts  Donelson  and  Shiloh, 
and  until  the  morning  of  the  first  day's  battle  at  Corinth,  Mississippi,  when  he 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major.  His  commission  as  major  came  to  him 
as  a  great  surprise  on  the  morning  of  the  first  day's  battle.  He  had  no  inti- 
mation of  his  having  been  recommended  for  this  position  and  was  in  no  sense 

(27) 


_l^i^v;  jAsrp:R  coiXTV.  iowa. 

a  candidate  for  that  honor.  Jn  this  he  was  promoted  over  all  the  captains 
of  his  regiment.  The  first  day  of  that  fierce  engagement  his  colonel,  James 
Baker,  was  killed,  and  at  the  first  volley  in  the  morning  of  the  second  day's 
fight  his  lieutenant-colonel,  Noah  W.  Mills,  was  mortally  wounded.  The  next 
morning  he  was  unanimoush-  chosen  colonel  of  the  regiment  by  the  officers 
and  was  duly  commissioned  by  Governor  Samuel  J.  Kirkwood.  Subsequently, 
he  w  as  breveted  brigadier-general  by  President  Lincoln. 

After  the  conflict  of  that  great  civil  war  had  ended.  General  Weaver  re- 
turned to  Bloomfield.  Iowa,  and  again  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  and  in 
1866  was  elected  district  attorney  of  the  second  judicial  district,  which  w-as 
composed  of  seven  counties.  The  term  lasted  four  years  and  during  that 
time  and  two  years  longer  he  also  held  the  office  of  United  States  assessor  of 
internal  revenue  for  the  first  district  of  Iowa.  When  his  term  of  office  had 
expired  he  again  entered  the  general  law  practice,  meantime  taking  an  active 
])art  in  even'  political  camjiaign  as  a  Republican.  Before  the  war  he  had 
edited  a  weekly  new^spaper  for  a  time  and  in  many  ways  this  became  useful  to 
him  in  after  life.  He  also  edited  the  lozca  Tribune,  of  Des  Moines,  several 
years  and  it  had  a  national  circulation. 

In  1875  he  was  before  the  Republican  state  convention  as  a  candidate 
for  the  governorship  of  Iowa,  and  on  the  very  morning  of  the  convention  it 
seemed  certain  to  all  that  he  would  be  the  nominee,  but  on  account  of  his 
antagonism  to  the  liquor  interests  in  the  state  and  his  uncompromising  tem- 
perance principles,  the  liquor  license  men  of  the  convention  secretly  organized 
a  movement  to  bring  out  the  name  of  Samuel  J.  Kirkwood,  the  old  "War 
Go\'ernor,"  and  against  that  grand  old  man's  wishes  they  presented  his  name 
in  dramatic  manner  and  by  a  pre-arranged  plan  had  a  tremendous  applause 
and  cheering  started  in  the  convention  hall  which  swept  the  convention  off 
their  feet  and  at  the  last  moment  diverted  from  General  Weaver's  strength 
to  nominate  Kirkw^ood.  The  majority  of  Iowa  voters  desired  to  make  him 
governor,  but  the  men  at  the  convention  were  swerved  from  the  path  of  honor 
and  political  duty. 

But  Weaver  was  to  be  heard  from  again.  In  1878  he  was  elected  to 
Congress  from  the  sixth  district  in  Iowa,  on  the  independent,  or  so-called 
Greenback  ])arty  platform,  defeating  Judge  Sampson.  In  1880  he  was  nomi- 
nated by  the  national  Greenl)ack  party  for  President  of  the  United  States  and 
polled  over  three  hundred  thousand  votes,  after  having  made  an  extended  can- 
\ass  both  North  and  South.  In  1882  he  again  l^ecame  a  candidate  for  Congress 
in  a  triangular  fight,  and  w^as  defeated  by  Hon.  M.  E.  Cutts,  though  General 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  419 

Weaver,  having  started  in  third,  came  out  second  best  in  the  spirited  contest. 
But  he  did  not  give  it  up.  In  1884  he  defeated  Hon.  Frank  Campbell  by  a 
close  margin,  that  of  only  sixty-six  votes.  Again  in  1886  he  was  elected  to  a 
seat  in  Congress  over  John  A.  Donnel,  I^epublican  candidate.  In  1888  Mr. 
Weaver  was  defeated  by  Hon.  John  F.  Lacey. 

In  1892,  twelve  years  after  his  first  Presidential  race,  he  was  again  nomi- 
nated for  President  of  the  United  States  by  the  Populist  party,  and  ix)lled  over 
one  million  votes,  receiving  twenty-two  electoral  votes,  notably  those  of  Kan- 
sas, Colorado  and  Nevada.  During  this  campaign  he  canvassed  the  whole 
country  from  sea  to  sea  and  from  the  lakes  to  the  gulf.  He  is  the  only  third 
party  candidate  since  Gen.  John  C.  Fremont  who  has  ever  been  able  to  force 
his  way  into  the  electoral  college,  a  victory  that  cannot  be  effaced.  He  still 
takes  an  active  part  in  politics  and  religious  work.  He  has  long  been  identi- 
fied with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

General  Weaver  was  a  delegate  to  the  Democratic  national  convention 
of  1904  and  a  member  of  the  committee  on  platform.  In  1900  he  made  the 
fight  of  his  life  in  the  St.  Louis  Populist  national  convention  and  secured  the 
endorsement  of  W.  J.  Bryan  by  that  convention.  As  a  token  of  regard,  Mr. 
Bryan  dedicated  his  book  "The  First  Battle"  to  three  men,  Bland,  of  Missouri, 
Teller,  of  Colorado,  and  J.  B.  Weaver,  of  Iowa. 

Of  late  years  General  Weaver  takes  but  little  part  in  the  practice  of  law, 
but  is  still  very  active  on  the  stump  when  his  heart  is  in  the  cause.  In  the 
campaign  of  1908  he  spoke  from  two  to  four  times  each  day  until  the  last 
night  of  the  campaign.  He  is  still  hale,  hearty  and  active.  It  should  be 
added  that  his  work  in  Congress  was  marked  by  great  force  and  constant 
conflict.  His  battle  for  the  opening  of  Oklahoma  is  unparalleled.  For  nearly 
one  week,  solitary  and  alone,  he  held  up  the  House  of  Representatives  until 
they  were  forced  to  pass  that  righteous  bill.  Remember,  he  stood  alone  upon 
the  floor  of  the  House  in  that  struggle.  That  record  stands  unparalleled  in  all 
our  parliamentary  history.  He  had  been  prepared  for  this  service  by  his  con- 
flicts at  the  bar  where  he  met  in  fierce  combat  such  men  as  Trimble,  Knapp. 
Perry,  Miller.  Burton,  Hendershott,  Jones.  Harris  and  all  of  the  great  men 
of  the  Iowa  bar  of  that  day. 

General  Weaver  has  truly  been  foremost  in  the  advocacy  of  every  refomi 
now  urged  by  the  progressives  of  both  parties  of  the  present  day.  His  speeches 
in  Congress,  his  book  "A  Call  to  Action,"  published  in  1892.  and  the  platforms 
upon  which  he  ran  twice  for  President  of  the  United  States,  establish  this 
l)eyond  doubt.  If  there  ever  was  a  representative  in  Congress  from  this  com- 
monwealth true  to  his  honest  convictions,  it  was  the  gentleman  of  whom  this 


_j^20  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

sketch  is  written,  and  these  points  of  excellency  are  being  more  and  more 
realized  as  the  years  come  and  go  in  the  political  histoiy  of  this  country. 
Whether  one  views  the  venerable  General  from  the  standpoint  of  a  brave 
soldier  on  the  field  of  terrible  conflict  in  the  Southland ;  in  the  halls  of  national 
Congress;  in  state  and  national  conventions;  on  the  stump,  the  lecture  plat- 
form, before  the  bar,  or  among  his  own  home  people,  at  his  humble  home  in 
the  beautiful  city  of  Colfax,  he  is  always  and  ever  the  same  true,  loyal,  abid- 
ing friend  to  the  great  throng  of  American  commoners. 

That  his  services  have  been  appreciated  by  many  of  his  fellow-country- 
men, it  only  needs  to  be  referred  to  that  in  1908,  after  the  smoke  of  political 
l)attle  had  cleared  away,  his  scores  of  admirers  in  Iowa  had  painted  an  heroic 
life-size  oil  portrait  of  General  Weaver,  and  publicly  presented  it  to  the  art 
gallery  in  the  Iowa  State  Historical  rooms  at  Des  Moines.  Upon  that  oc- 
casion scores  of  friends  sent  letters  of  congratulation  to  him,  the  same  being 
iinally  neatly  bound  and  presented  to  him  as  a  tribute  of  respect  and  honor. 
v'Dne  of  these  letters  (too  lengthy  to  here  insert)  was  from  the  pen  of  ''Ret" 
Clarkson,  formerly  of  the  State  Register,  who  lived  in  New  York  city  and 
could  not  be  present.  But  one  section  of  this  letter  should  here  be  given 
]:lace,  showing  a  trait  of  character  not  yet  brought  out  concerning  General 
W'eaver : 

'Tt  may  be  said  of  General  Weaver  that  he  has  achieved  in  all  the  larger 
helds  except  that  of  commercial  success  and  money-making.  His  failure  in 
that  is  to  be  credited  to  his  generous  nature  and  his  life-long  desire  to  help 
others  rather  than  himself.  Had  he  not  looked  to  the  interest  of  others  all 
his  life,  more  than  to  his  own,  he  by  his  profession  and  oratoiy  could  have 
amassed  a  fortune. 

"I  regretted  he  was  not  nominated  for  governor,  instead  of  Kirkwood; 
he  had  fairly  earned  the  position  and  a  majority  of  the  people  of  Iowa  wanted 
him  nominated." 

Mr.  Weaver  was  married  in  July,  1858,  at  Keosauqua,  Iowa,  to  Miss 
Clara  Vinson,  an  Ohio  girl,  and  by  this  union  nine  children  were  born,  eight  of 
whom  are  living,  viz:  Maude,  J.  B.,  Jr..  Susan,  Abraham  C,  Laura,  Ruth, 
Esther,  Paul  and  another  son  who  died  in  infancy. 

Addenda. — Since  the  foregoing  sketch  was  prepared.  General  Weaver 
passed  away  on  Tuesday  afternoon,  February  6,  19 12,  while  visiting  at  the 
home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  H.  C.  Evans,  in  Des  Moines.  Though  he 
had  been  ill  for  a  couple  of  days,  suffering  severely  from  an  attack  of 
acute  indigestion,  it  was  not  thought  his  condition  was  critical,  and  his  sud- 
<:cn  death  came  as  a  profound  shock  to  the  whole  community  in  which  the 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  421 

General  had  for  so  many  years  been  a  familiai  '^  jjiire.  Funeral  ser\'ices  were 
held  at  the  First  ]^Iethodist  Episcopal  church,  Des  Moines,  where  the  body 
lay  in  state  for  several  hours  prior  to  the  services.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Pruitt,  of 
Colfax,  General  Weaver's  pastor,  was  in  charge  of  the  services,  and  the  Rev. 
O.  W.  Fifer  and  Rev.  Father  James  Xugent  made  appropriate  addresses, 
touching  eloquently  on  the  life  and  character  of  the  deceased.  The  active 
pallbearers  were  the  two  sons,  J.  B.  Weaver,  Jr.,  and  A.  C.  Weaver,  three 
sons-in-laws,  Charles  Sullenberger.  of  Colfax,  Edward  Cohart,  of  Traer,  and 
S.  C.  Evans,  and  a  nephew,  D.  H.  Payne,  of  Bloomfield.  Honorary  pall- 
bearers were  survivors  of  the  Second  Iowa,  the  General's  old  regiment. 


JUDGE  WILLL\AI  G.  CLE^IEXTS. 

Standing  out  distinctly  as  one  of  the  central  figures  of  the  judiciary 
of  Iowa  is  the  name  of  Hon.  ^^'illiam  G.  Clements,  of  Xewton,  Jasper  county, 
the  able  and  popular  retiring  judge  of  the  sixth  judicial  district  of  Iowa,  com- 
prising Jasper.  Poweshiek,  Mahaska,  Keokuk  and  \\'ashington  counties. 
Prominent  in  legal  circles  and  equally  so  in  public  matters  beyond  the  con- 
fines of  his  own  jurisdiction,  with  a  reputation  in  one  of  the  most  exacting 
of  professions  that  has  won  him  a  name  for  distinguished  service  second  to 
none  of  his  contemporaries,  there  is  today  no  more  prominent  or  influential 
man  in  the  district  which  he  has  long  honored  by  his  citizenship.  Achieving 
success  in  the  courts  at  an  age  when  most  young  men  are  just  entering  upon 
the  formative  period  of  their  lives,  wearing  the  judicial  ermine  with  becom- 
ing dignity  and  bringing  to  every  case  submitted  to  him  a  clearness  of  per- 
ception and  readv  power  of  analysis  characteristic  of  the  learned  jurist,  his 
name  and  work  for  years  have  been  allied  with  the  legal  institutions,  public 
enterprises  and  political  interests  of  the  state  in  such  a  way  as  to  earn  him 
recognition  as  one  of  the  distinguished  citizens  in  a  locality  noted  for  the 
high  order  of  its  talent.  A  high  purpose  and  an  unconquerable  will,  vigorous 
mental  powers,  diligent  study  and  devotion  to  duty  are  some  of  the  means 
by  which  he  has  made  himself  eminently  useful,  and  every  ambitious  youth 
who  fights  the  battle  of  life  with  the  prospect  of  ultimate  success  may  peruse 
with  profit  the  biography  herewith  presented. 

Judge  Clements  was  born  January  2.  1847.  near  Flushing.  Belmont 
county.  Ohio.  He  is  the  son  of  a  sterling  old  family  of  the  Buckeye  state, 
his  parents.  John  R.  and  ^^lalinda  (  Ramage)  Clements,  being  natives  of  Bel- 


^22  JASrpR    rOUXTV.    U)\VA. 

mont  countv,  m  which  ihey  ^.ew  to  maturity,  received  their  education  and 
were  married,  beginning  life  on  a  farm.  In  October,  1855,  they  came  to 
Jasper  county,  Iowa,  and  settled  first  in  Monroe,  where  they  remained  three 
years,  then  took  possession  of  an  undeveloped  farm  northeast  of  Xew'ton, 
where  they  became  well  established  and  well  known,  the  father  dying  there 
on  November  17.  1888,  being  survived  by  his  wife,  who  is  now  eighty-six 
years  old  and  is  living  with  her  son  at  Harvey,  Iowa.  ^Ir.  Clements  was  an 
ardent  anti-slavery  man.  and  he  was  a  "conductor"  on  the  "underground  rail- 
road" through  Iowa  before  the  war.  There  were  six  children  in  his  family, 
namelv:  William  G.,  of  this  review:  James  :\I.  lives  in  Helena,  ^Montana, 
and  is  judge  of  the  district  court  there,  having  held  this  position  for  eight 
vears;  L.  R.  is  a  manufacturer  of  excelsior  at  Harvey,  Iowa;  O.  J. 
lives  at  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  and  is  in  the  transfer  business;  John  S.  is 
an  engineer  and  lives  at  Ames.  Iowa;  Josie  died  in  1885  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years.  It  is  a  singular  fact  that  the  five  sons  are  all  living,  the  youngest  being 
past  fifty-four. 

The  Clements  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  lineage.  Grandfather  James 
Clements  settled  in  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  in  1803  and  began  life  there  as  a 
pioneer.  He  was  born  in  Maryland  and  w^as  a  fuller  by  trade.  He  married 
Eliza  Merritt  and  they  became  the  parents  of  nine  children.  Josiah  ^Nlerritt, 
the  Judge's  great-grandfather,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  hav- 
ing enlisted  from  Pennsyhania,  and  he  became  a  sergeant.  On  the  maternal 
side,  the  great-grandfather,  William  Ramage,  Sr.,  was  also  a  soldier  in  the 
war  for  independence,  having  enlisted  from  New  Jersey,  and  he  settled  in 
Ohio  in  1802.  His  son,  William  Ramage.  Jr..  was  the  grandfather  of  Judge 
Clements,  and  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  came  to  Iowa  with 
his  son-in-law^  father  of  the  subject,  and  lived  here  until  his  death,  at  the  age 
of  eighty,  on  March  17.  1874.  and  he  is  buried  at  Monroe,  Jasper  county. 

William  G.  Clements  was  eight  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  in  1855.  He  received  his  primary  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  Monroe  and  in  the  rural  schools  north  of  Newton 
and  at  the  old  College  Farm,  or  ^^'ittemberg  College,  near  Newton.  This 
was  supplemented  by  a  course  in  Grinnell  College.  Grinnell,  Iowa ;  he  w^as 
also  graduated  from  the  low^a  Business  College  at  Des  Moines.  For  a  few 
years  he  taught  school,  and  was  later  appointed  deputy  county  recorder,  in 
the  meantime  beginning  the  study  of  law  under  Judge  O.  C.  Howe,  who  was 
afterwards  an  instructor  in  the  state  law  school.  Thus  he  taught  school  and 
studied  law  until  November,  1869,  when  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  In  the 
spring  of  1870  he  began  the  practice  of  law  at  Prairie  City,  having  formed  a 


JASPER    COLXTV,    IOWA.  423 

partnership  with  Sidney  \\'illiani>.  which  lasted  two  years.  While  there  he 
was  mayor  of  that  town  for  one  year.  In  1876  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Hon.  B.  C.  Ward,  which  existed  for  eighteen  years  Leaving  Prairie  City 
in  1887,  where  he  had  built  up  a  very  satisfactory  clientele,  he  removed  to 
Xewton,  in  order  to  secure  a  broader  held  for  the  exercise  of  his  talents, 
maintaining  an  office  also  at  Prairie  City  until  1893  ^^  1^88  he  was  elected 
county  attorney,  and  he  performed  his  duties  in  such  a  commendable  manner 
that  he  was  re-elected  in  1890,  serving  four  years.  He  continued  to  practice 
law  until  1898,  his  career  presenting  a  series  of  continued  successes  such  as 
few  lawyers  achieve.  As  a  careful  and  painstaking  student  he  has  availed 
himself  of  every  opportunity  to  familiarize  himself  with  his  profession  in 
its  ever}-  detail  to  the  end  that  he  might  better  serve  his  fellow  men  and  render 
justice  to  those  who  appeal  to  the  courts  for  redress. 

Judge  Clements  is  a  Republican  and  as  such  has  been  active  in  public  and 
political  affairs  and  an  intiuential  force  in  his  party  not  only  in  local  matters 
but  in  the  larger  and  more  important  theater  of  state  and  national  affairs. 
He  comes  of  Republican  ancestors,  but  he  does  not  attribute  to  this  fact  his 
strict  adherence  to  the  principles  which  he  supports,  but  rather  to  history, 
also  to  reflection,  judgment  and  conscience,  all  of  which  have  combined  to 
make  him  not  only  an  able  and  judicious  counselor,  but  a  moulder  of  opinion 
and  leader  of  men  in  what  concerns  the  best  interests  of  the  body  politic. 
While  loyal  to  his  power  to  promote  its  success,  he  believes  that  a  man  can  be 
an  earnest  and  active  politician  and  yet  be  strictly  honest  in  his  methods  and 
above  reproach  in  all  that  he  does  to  ad\ance  the  interests  of  his  cause.  He 
has  ever  acted  upon  the  principle  that  he  who  serves  his  country  best  serves 
his  party  best,  and  with  this  object  in  Aiew  his  political  efforts,  although 
strenuous  and  in  the  highest  degree  intiuential  and  successful,  have  been  above 
the  slightest  suspicion  of  dishonor  and  his  counsels  ha\e  not  onl\-  met  with  the 
approval  of  his  party  associates  but  commanded  the  respect  of  the  opposition 
as  well. 

Partly  as  a  reward  for  his  nnseltish  public  service  and  partly  because  of 
his  universally  recognized  ability.  Mr.  Clements  was  elected  judge  of  the 
sixth  judicial  district  in  the  fall  of  1898,  and  his  record  was  so  highly  satis- 
factory tliat  he  was  re-elected  in  1902  ?.nd  in  1906.  making  a  continuous 
service  of  twelve  years,  during  which  tin:e  he  was  called  upon  to  try  many 
important  cases,  one  of  which  was  the  noted  Sarah  Kuhn  murder  case,  in 
which  there  was  a  state-wide  interest  and  one  of  the  most  important  ever 
held  in  Keokuk  county,  in  fact,  was  one  of  the  noted  poisoning  cases  of  the 
country.      She  was  convicted  and  given  a  life  sentence,  which  was  affirmed  by 


^24  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

the  supreme  court,  but  she  committed  suicide  in  prison  by  swallowing  con- 
centrated lye.  Another  case  was  that  of  Chester  Tyler,  tried  for  the  murder 
of  Dr.  Benjamin  Tailor,  who  was  convicted  and  affirmed  by  the  supreme 
court  and  he  died  in  prison,  his  case  having  been  tried  in  Newton.  The  de- 
cisions of  Judge  Clements  shows  a  smaller  percentage  of  reversals  by  the 
supreme  court  than  any  other  judge  who  has  occupied  the  bench  in  this  dis- 
trict— reversed  less  by  proportion  of  cases  determined  by  the  supreme  court; 
in  fact,  as  a  judge  he  more  than  met  the  expectations  of  his  friends  and  the 
public,  and  so  discharged  the  duties  of  the  office  as  to  receive  the  hearty  ap- 
proval and  warm  commendation  of  the  bar.  in  his  own  and  other  circuits. 
without  regard  to  party.  He  brought  to  the  bench  a  dignity  becoming  the 
high  position,  and  in  the  line  of  duty  has  ever  been  industrious,  careful  and 
singularlv  painstaking,  which,  combined  with  his  sterling  honesty  and  fear- 
lessness of  purpose,  made  him  one  of  the  most  efficient  and  popular  men  ever 
called  to  preside  over  the  courts  of  this  district.  Tt  is  but  just  to  say,  and 
greatlv  to  his  credit,  that  no  political  prejudice,  bias  or  zeal  was  ever  allowed 
to  deflect  his  mind  from  its  honest  convictions,  and  \vhile  discharging  his 
official  functions,  personal  ties  and  friendships,  as  well  as  his  own  interests 
and  opinions,  were  lost  sight  of  in  his  conscientious  efforts  to  render  equal 
and  exact  justice  to  those  whose  affairs  were  adjudicated  in  his  court.  His 
opinions  and  decisions  attested  his  eminent  fitness  for  judicial  positions,  being 
alwavs  lucid,  unstrained  and  vigorous,  his  statements  full  and  comprehensive 
and  his  analysis  and  interpretations  of  the  law  conspicuous  and  complete. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office.  Judge  Clements  resumed  the 
practice  of  law  January  t.  rgri.  in  partnership  with  his  son.  He  has  always 
stood  high  in  Ins  profession.  Xo  one  knows  better  than  he  the  necessity  of 
thorough  preparation  for  the  trial  of  cases,  and  no  one  more  industriously 
applies  himself  to  meet  the  issue  than  he:  he  is  uniformly  courteous  and 
deferential  to  the  court,  and  kind  and  forbearing  to  his  adversaries.  As  a 
speaker  he  is  earnest  and  impressive. 

The  Judge's  domestic  life  began  on  February  6,  1871,  when  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Harriet  T.  Halferty.  a  lady  of  talent  and  culture,  the 
daughter  of  James  F.  Halferty.  an  influential  citizen  of  Richland  county, 
Ohio,  where  ]\lrs  Clements  \\as  born.  This  union  has  been  blessed  by  the 
birth  of  one  son.  Frank  H.  Clements,  a  popular  and  successful  lawyer  in 
Xewton :  he  married  Clara  Rcwvcr  and  thev  have  one  child.  W^illiam  B. 
Clements. 

The  Judge  has  a  beautiful,  modern  and  attractive  home  in  all  its  appoint- 
ments at  Xo.  200  Soutli  A'ine  street,  where  the  nianv  friends  of  tlic   familv 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  425 

frequently  gather,  tinding  here  genuine  hospitahty  and  good  cheer.  Fra- 
ternally, the  Judge  has  been  a  Mason  since  1869,  and  has  attained  the  Knights 
Templar  degree;  for  five  years  he  was  master  of  Preston  Lodge  Xo.  218, 
at  Prairie  City.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Congregationalist 
church,  of  which  the  Judge  was  one  time  trustee  and  of  which  he  has  always 
been  a  liberal  supporter. 


PERRY  ENGLE,  AI.  D. 

Deserving  of  a  worthy  and  conspicuous  place  in  the  history  of  Jasper 
county  is  Dr.  Periy  Engle,  of  Newton,  whose  active  and  eminently  worthy 
career,  covering  a  residence  of  forty  3'ears  in  this  locality,  has  been  fraught 
with  much  usefulness  since  he  came  to  the  community. 

Doctor  Engle  was  born  near  Findlay,  Ohio,  July  16,  1841,  and  he  is  the 
second  child  of  Jacob  and  Louisa  (Probst)  Engle,  natives  of  the  state  of 
Pennsylvania.  He  is  one  of  seven  children,  was  left  an  orphan  when  fifteen 
years  of  age,  and  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  while  working  on  a  farm. 
Pie  afterward  attended  the  University  of  Michigan,  graduating  from  the 
medical  department  of  that  institution  with  the  class  of  1871,  supplementing 
this  by  a  course  in  the  Long  Island  College  at  Brooklyn,  New  York,  where 
he  also  graduated.  In  1872  he  had  charge  of  the  Third  Street  Hospital  in 
Cincinnati.  Ohio.  Doctor  Engle  has  been  an  honored  resident  of  Newton 
for  many  years  and  during  this  time  has  been  a  potent  factor  for  the  general 
good  of  the  community.  He  has  held  various  local  ofifices  and  always  with 
credit.  In  1876  he  established  The  Xezcfoii  Herald  and  was  its  editor  and 
proprietor  for  twenty-four  years.  The  Doctor  is  a  fluent  and  forceful  writer 
and  during  his  regime  the  editorial  columns  of  the  Herald  reflected  a  brilliancy 
rarely  met  with,  and  his  paper  grew  to  be  one  of  the  jeading  journals  of  cen- 
tral Iowa,  under  his  judicious  management.  In  1887  he  established  the  lozin 
Refercnduui,  this  being  the  first  ])aper  in  America  that  advocated  the  initiative 
and  referendum. 

In  1889  Doctor  Engle  was  nominated  for  state  senator  liy  the  Union 
Labor  party  and  was  afterwards  nominated  by  the  Democrats.  In  the  latter 
campaign  his  seemed  to  be  a  hopeless  fight,  as  Jasper  county  was  strongly 
Republican,  but  he  was  elected  by  about  two  hundred  majority,  which  is 
evidentlv  criterion  enough  of  his  high  standing  in  the  county.  He  was  the 
first  man  elected  to  the  Legislature  from  Jasper  county  in  opposition  to  the 
Republican  nominee.     He  served  in  the  twenty-third  and  twenty-fourth  Gen- 


_^2(,  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

eral  Assemblies,  and  was  a  commanding  figure  in  that  distinguished  body, 
ahvavs  making  his  inliuence  felt  for  the  good  of  his  county  and  state  and 
proving  his  sagacity  in  civic  affairs  and  the  wisdom  of  his  constituents  in 
selecting  him  for  such  an  important  office.  In  the  twenty-third  General  As- 
sembly he  introduced  a  bill  for  the  Australian  ballot,  which  was  finally  merged 
into  a  committee  bill  and  e\entnally  became  a  law.  He  also  introduced  the 
bill  which  established  the  Industrial  School  for  the  Blind,  at  Knoxville,  Iowa, 
which  has  since  been  made  a  home  for  inebriates.  He  was  the  People's 
party  candidate  for  Congress  in  1892,  and  a  candidate  for  lieutenant-governor 
in  1901. 

Doctor  Engle  is  a  man  of  fine  learning  and  scholarly  attainments.  A 
student  of  all  that  is  richest  and  best  in  literature,  his  abode  is  a  mecca  for  a 
wide  circle  of  friends  who  love  to  commune  with  one  so  profound  in  thought 
and  so  delightful  in  entertainment.  Possessing  a  heart  mellowed  by  human 
sympathy  and  having  a  keen  appreciation  of  the  great  social  conditions  of  our 
day.  he  is  an  earnest  advocate  of  such  principles  as  may  hasten  the  dawn  of 
the  long-hoped-for  brotherhood  of  man.  He  is  a  profound  student  and  is  a 
vigorous  investigator  and  has  the  courage  of  his  investigations  on  all  questions 
on  which  men  and  parties  divide — in  fine,  he  is  a  splendid  example  of  that 
energetic,  public  spirited,  genteel,  virile,  unassuming  American  manhood  that 
pushes  forward  the  car  of  civilization. 

The  domestic  life  of  Doctor  Engle  began  in  1871  when  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Kate  Madison,  and  to  this  union  two  children  were  born. 
Dr.  Harry  P.  Engle,  an  eye.  ear  and  nose  specialist  who  is  practicing  in  New- 
ton, and  Bert  J.  Engle,  an  attorney.  Thev  are  both  graduates  of  the  Iowa 
State  L'niversity,  and  are  young  men  of  much  promise. 


TOE  HORN. 


In  nearly  every  community  are  to  be  found  indixiduals  wlio,  1)\-  iimate 
ability  and  sheer  force  of  character,  rise  above  their  fellows  and  win  for 
themselves  conspicuous  places  in  public  esteem.  Such  an  one  is  the  well 
known  gentleman  whose  name  appears  above,  a  man  who  has  been  identified 
with  the  history  of  Jasper  county  for  many  years,  during  which  time  his  life 
has  been  closely  interwoven  with  the  material  growth  and  development  of 
the  county,  wielding  a  potent  influence  in  financial  circles,  while  his  career  as 
a  progressive  .man  of  affairs  has  been  synonymous  with  all  that  is  lionorable 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  427 

and  upright  in  citizenship.  In  all  life's  relations  he  has  conmianded  the  re- 
spect and  confidence  of  those  with  whom  he  has  been  thrown  into  contact 
and  his  friends  are  in  number  as  his  acquaintances,  for  he  is,  with  all  of  his 
genial  disposition,  business  acumen  and  commendable  traits,  entirely  unas- 
suming. 

Joe  Horn,  president  of  the  Citizens'  State  Bank,  at  Xewton,  is  the  scion 
of  a  sterling  old  family  of  the  Keystone  state,  and  he  himself  was  born  in 
Bedford  county,  Penns\lvania,  April  i6.  1855;  he  is  the  son  of  Frederick 
and  Ann  (Long)  Horn,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  where  they  grew  to 
maturity,  were  educated  and  married.  They  came  to  Cedar  countv,  Iowa,  in 
1855,  where  they  lived  on  a  farm  for  twelve  years,  becoming  quite  well 
established  and  Avell  known  in  that  community  and  then  removed  to  Kansas 
where  they  remained  one  year,  then  came  back  to  Cedar  county,  Iowa,  for 
a  short  time,  later  removing  to  Knox  county,  Illinois,  where  the  father's  death 
occurred  in  1866,  the  mother  surviving  until  1895,  reaching  an  advanced  age. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  living,  namely : 
Lydia,  wife  of  A.  D.  Briggs,  of  I'nion  county,  Iowa;  Joe,  of  this  review; 
Ella,  wife  of  James  Goddard,  of  Union  City,  Iowa;  Eliza,  wife  of  James 
Adams,  of  Kansas  City,  Missouri;  Minnie  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Rayl.  of 
Union  City  ;  M.  D.  lives  in  Jasper  county. 

Joe  Horn  was  reared  on  the  farm  where  he  lived  until  fourteen  years  ago. 
1897.  He  received  a  good  common  school  education,  which  has  since  been 
supplemented  by  general  home  study  and  actual  contact  with  the  business 
world.  He  maintained  a  fine  farm  in  Richland  township,  this  county,  which, 
under  his  able  management,  yielded  rich  harvests  from  year  to  year  and  he 
also  handled  a  good  grade  of  live  stock  of  various  kinds,  being  known  for 
many  years  as  one  of  the  progressive  agriculturists  of  his  township,  and  there 
he  maintained  his  home  until  he  became  deputy  county  auditor  in  1897,  which 
position  he  held  verv  creditably  for  two  years,  being  elected  auditor  in  1899 
on  the  Republican  ticket,  and  he  gave  such  eminent  satisfaction  that  he  was 
re-elected,  serving  four  years  in  a  manner  that  reflected  much  credit  upon 
his  abilitv  as  a  conscientious,  painstaking  public  servant  and  won  the  hearty 
approval  of  all  concerned.  After  his  tenure  of  oftice  had  expired  Mr.  Horn 
opened  a  real  estate  ofiice,  which  he  continued  for  two  years,  then  became 
cashier  of  the  Citizens  State  Bank  at  Newton;  a  year  later  he  was  made  vice- 
president,  having  in  that  time  given  conclusive  evidence  of  a  peculiar  and 
rare  abilitv  as  a  financier,  and  in  19 10  he  became  president,  the  duties  of 
which  he  has  continued  to  discharge  in  an  able  and  conservative  manner, 
rendering  this  one  of  the  soundest,  most  popular  and  safest  institutions  of 
its  kind  in  central  Iowa. 


_j^jS  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

On  November  2=,,  1880.  Air.  Horn  was  married  to  Margaret  A.  Koons. 
daughter  of  Felix  and  Agnes  (Ragan)  Koons.  She  was  born  of  an  excellent 
faniilv  in  Knox  county,  Illinois,  and  she  is  a  woman  of  many  pleasing  char- 
acteristics which  have  gained  for  her  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 

Six  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Horn,  namely:  Allen 
Roy:  Fav  is  deputy  recorder:  Edna  is  the  wife  of  Alva  Griffin,  of  Newton; 
Ethel  is  a  stenographer  in  the  ])ank  with  her  father;  Walter  L.  is  a  student 
in  the  agricultural  college  at  Ames,  Iowa :  Hollis  is  attending  school.  Fra- 
ternallv.  Mr.  Horn  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Mr.  Horn  has  been  very  successful  in  business,  being  energetic,  a  keen 
observer  and  a  good  manager.  He  is  a  stockholder  and  director,  also  treas- 
urer in  the  Newton  Disc  Plow  Company.  He  is  also  director  and  treasurer 
of  the  American  Construction  Company  at  Newton.  In  each  of  these  rapidly- 
growing  concerns  he  is  a  potent  factor,  and  owing  to  his  scrupulously  honest 
methods  and  his  genial  address  he  has  won  the  esteem  and  good  will  of  the 
people  of  Jasper  county. 


EMMET  AV/TRY 


The  march  of  improvement  is  accelerated  day  by  day,  and  each  successive 
moment  seems  to  demand  of  men  a  broader  intelligence  and  a  greater  discern- 
ment than  did  the  preceding,  showing  that  successful  men  must  be  live  men  in 
this  age,  bristling  with  activity.  The  purpose  of  biography  is  to  preserve  the 
records  of  such  men  for  the  edification  of  succeeding  generations;  thus  the 
lesson  of  biography  may  be  far-reaching  to  an  extent  not  superficially  evident. 
A  man's  reputation  is  the  property  of  the  world,  for  the  laws  of  nature  have 
forbidden  isolation.  Every  human  being  either  submits  to  or  rises  above  the 
controlling  influence  which  touches,  controls,  guides  or  misdirects  others.  If 
he  be  honest  and  successful  in  his  chosen  field  of  endeavor,  investigation  will 
brighten  his  reputation  and  point  the  way  along  which  others  may  follow  with 
like  success.  The  career  of  Emmet  Awtry,  well  known  business  man  of 
Sully,  Jasper  county,  is  of  that  class  of  enterprising  citizens  whose  example 
is  calculated  to  be  an  incentive  to  others,  for  his  efforts  have  met  with  a  fair 
measure  of  success  in  life's  affairs. 

Mr.  Awtry  was  born  in  Marion  county,  Iowa.  July  29,  1873,  the  son  of 
Simon  P.  and  Margaret  A.  (Flaugh)  Awtry,  the  father  born  in  Kentucky  and 
the  mother  in  Ohio,  and  they  came  to  Iowa  in  a  very  early  day,  and  the  ma- 
ternal grandparents,  Elisha  and  Tissue  Flaugh,  who  were  natives  of  Ohio, 
came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  when  the  country  was  wild  and  settlers   few. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  429 

It  is  believed  that  they  entered  land  from  the  government  and  here  they  estab- 
hshed  a  good  home,  after  the  usual  hard  work  and  discomfiture,  and  here 
spent  the  rest  of  their  lives,  reared  a  family  and  took  a  leading  part  in  the 
county's  affairs.  Air.  Flaugh  was  a  surveyor  and,  there  being  a  great  deal  of 
this  work  done  in  his  day,  he  was  kept  busy,  though  he  managed  to  operate 
successfully  his  one  hundred  and  sixty  acre  farm.  Giles  Awtry,  the  paternal 
grandfather,  was  also  a  pioneer  of  Iowa,  he  having  come  from  Kentucky  to 
Lick  Prairie  township,  Alarion  county,  and  there  entered  government  land. 
He  was  a  cooper  by  trade,  which  he  followed  in  connection  with  farming  and 
he  became  an  influential  citizen  in  that  county.  On  his  farm  the  father  of  the 
immediate  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  up  and  when  the  Cvil  war  came  on  he 
enlisted  for  service  in  the  Federal  army,  in  Company  C,  Fifteenth  Iowa  \'olun- 
teer  Infantry,  in  which  he  served  very  faithfully  for  three  years  and  ten 
months.  He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh  and  came  home  on  a  fur- 
lough, after  which  he  returned  to  his  regiment  and  served  out  his  time,  re- 
ceiving an  honorable  discharge.  After  coming  back  to  low^a  from  his  arm\- 
career  he  was  married  and  soon  afterwards  began  farming,  buying  a  part  of 
his  father's  homestead.  Through  close  application  and  good  management  he 
prospered  from  year  to  year  and  added  to  his  holdings  until  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  on  July  25,  1891,  he  ow^ned  four  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  valuable 
land,  which  he  had  brought  up  to  a  high  state  of  improvement  and  cultivation. 
His  widow  survived  until  in  August,  1910.  Simon  P.  Awtry  led  a  quiet  home 
life,  preferring  to  give  his  attention  to  his  farm  and  his  family  rather  than 
seek  precarious  public  honors.  His  wife  was  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  known  as  a  kind-hearted,  noble-minded  w^onian.  Their  family 
consisted  of  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  living  at  this  waiting. 

Emmet  Awtry  grew  up  in  Marion  county,  assisted  his  father  with  the 
general  work  about  the  place  and  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
there,  and  there  he  took  up  farming,  w-hich  he  followed  for  a  period  of  five 
years,  getting  a  good  start  the  meanwhile.  In  September,  1902,  he  came  to 
Sully,  Jasper  county,  and  there  entered  the  live  stock  business  with  Alacev 
Brothers  &  Gove.  Mr.  Gove  having  later  retired,  the  Maceys  and  Mr.  Awtry 
are  conducting  the  business,  which  has  assumed  extensive  proportions  and  thev 
are  widely  known  over  this  locality,  in  fact,  are  among  the  leading  and  most 
successful  stock  men  in  this  section  of  Iowa. 

Politically.  Mr.  Awtry  is  a  Republican,  and  he  has  served  his  township  as 
trustee. 

In  March,  1897,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Awtry  with  Xellie  C.  Boat, 
a  native  of  Marion  county.  Iowa,  and  the  daughter  of  a  highly  respected  fam- 
ily.    This  union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  one  child,  Margaret. 


4^0  JASPER    COUNTV,    IOWA. 

JUDSON  H.  FUGARD. 

Mr.  Fugard  was  born  at  Bellville,  Richland  county.  Ohio.  I'"e1)ruary  14. 
1850.  and  is  the  son  of  John  F.  and  Angalina  (Cowan)  Fugard.  His  father's 
people  came  from  the  Granite  state,  and  his  mother's  from  Maryland,  and 
were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Ohio.  One  of  his  ancestors  was  Rev. 
Isaiah  Stone,  a  prominent  Baptist  minister  of  New  England.  Another  one 
was  Samuel  Fugard,  of  Bedford,  New  Hampshire,  who  liad  ([uite.a  good 
record  as  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  He  was  a  minute-man  at  the  beginning 
of  the  war,  and  accompanied  the  illfated  winter  expedition  against  Quebec. 
He  afterwards  served  for  six  years  in  the  Continental  line,  or  regulars,  as  a 
member  of  the  Sixth  Company  of  the  First  New  Hampshire  Regiment,  and 
took  part  in  the  principal  campaigns  and  battles  of  the  war.  He  endured 
the  hardships  of  \'alley  Forge,  and  was  among  the  one  thousand  five  hundred 
picked  men  who  crossed  the  Delaware  river  and  attacked  Trenton,  on  a  night 
so  cold  that  two  of  their  number  froze  to  death.  On  this  occasion  his  com- 
pany was  given  the  post  of  honor,  by  being  selected  to  lead  the  advance  and 
capture  the  enemy's  outposts,  receiving  great  credit  for  their  gallantry.  After 
his  return  from  the  war,  he  was  granted  a  pension  bv  the  Legislature.  The 
records  state  that  he  had  been  discharged  as  unfit  for  duty  because  worn  out 
in  the  service,  and  that  a  certificate  had  been  given  him  by  his  excellency. 
General  Washington,  stating  that  he  was  entitled  to  a  pension. 

Mr.  Fugard's  parents  moved  to  Jasper  county  in  1855,  and  settled  in 
Buena  Vista  township  eight  miles  southeast  of  Newton.  The  country  was 
then  new  and  thinly  settled,  but  they  enjoyed  pioneer  life  and  did  their  full 
share  towards  building  up  the  community,  by  actively  favoring  those  things 
that  were  for  the  public  good.  Four  children  were  born  to  them,  three  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  Noble  J.  Fugard,  of  Newton,  grew  from  childhood 
to  honorable  manhood  in  this  home,  and  several  other  children  also  shared  its 
benefits  for  one  or  more  years,  so  that  it  was  often  known  as  the  ''Orphans' 
Home."  The  farm  on  which  the  Fugard  family  first  settled  remained  in  their 
possession  for  fifty  years. 

The  father  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-three.  His  widow  afterwards  mar- 
ried J.  J.  Young,  who  is  now  deceased.  She  makes  her  home  with  her  son. 
and,  although  past  her  eightieth  year,  she  enjoys  good  health  and  takes  an 
active  interest  in  affairs  at  home  and  abroad,  and  has  learned  the  great  secret 
of  how  to  grow  old  sweetlv. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  43 1 

Judson  Fugard  grew  to  manhood  on  the  farm,  and  knew  the  meaning  of 
hard  work,  performing  his  part  in  helping  to  develop  the  home  place  from  its 
raw  state.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and  Hazel  Dell  Academy  and 
graduated  from  the  law  department  of  the  State  University.  He  opened 
an  office  in  Newton  and  practiced  for  a  number  of  years  alone,  and  after- 
wards was  associated  for  some  twenty  years  with  A.  F.  Brown,  Esq..  under 
the  firm  name  of  Fugard  &  Brown.  He  still  maintains  a  law  office,  but  de- 
votes a  part  of  his  time  to  looking  after  outside  interests.  Some  years  he 
has  had  charge  of  as  much  as  two  thousand  acres  of  farm  lands  belonging  to 
others.  For  several  years  he  has  been  interested  in  dairying,  and  has  a  herd 
of  thirty  cows,  and  a  modern  dairy  barn  and  silo  in  a  fine  grove  adjoining 
town.  Improved  methods  are  used  in  caring  for  the  dairy  products,  which 
find  a  ready  market. 

On  ]^Iarch  5,  1884.  ]\Ir.  Fugard  was  united  in  marriage  with  Ella  Slem- 
mons.  a  worthy  young  lady  of  Des  Moines  township.  Her  parents,  Mr.  and 
[Mrs.  Benjamin  Slemmons.  were  highly  esteemed  people  of  that  community. 
They  afterwards  lived  at  Newton  for  a  number  of  years,  and  then  removed 
to  Mahaska  county.     Both  are  now  deceased. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fugard  still  reside  in  the  same  home  in  which  they  com- 
menced housekeeping.  Two  children  have  graced  their  union.  John  Reed. 
the  son.  is  twenty-four  years  old,  and  married  Rowena  Owen,  an  excellent 
}onng  lady  of  Piano.  Illinois.  He  is  a  graduate  of  the  Newton  high  school 
and  afterwards  took  a  four-years  course  of  study  in  the  School  of  Archi- 
tecture of  the  Illinois  University.  Upon  his  graduation  from  the  latter  insti- 
tution, he  was  offered  a  position  with  a  prominent  architect  of  Chicago  and 
spent  six  months  superintending  the  erection  of  some  fine  residences  at 
Princeton,  New  Jersey.  He  is  now  located  in  Chicago  and  doing  well. 
Florence  Angelina,  the  daughter,  is  fifteen  and  is  the  light  of  her  parents' 
home. 

]^Ir.  Fugard  and  his  family  belong  to  the  Newton  Baptist  church  and 
make  four  generations  of  their  family  that  have  been  connected  with  it.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Iowa  Society  of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  poli.tics.  and  has  served  his  party  as  secretar}-  of  the 
county  committee  and  in  other  capacities.  At  the  time  of  the  prohibitory 
amendment  campaign,  he  served  for  three  years  as  secretary  of  the  amend- 
ment association  and  helped  to  thoroughly  organize  the  county  and  carry 
it  for  prohibition  by  nearly  two  thousand  majority.     He  has  achieved  some 


^32  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

reputation  as  a  writer,  his  articles  possessing  a  quaint  and  interesting  style, 
full  of  humor  and  pathos.  F'or  several  years  he  had  charge  of  the  local 
work  of  the  Newton  Journal,  was  the  Newton  correspondent  for  the  State 
Register,  and  has  done  considerable  work  for  other  papers,  among  them  the 
Chicago  Tribune. 

Personally  Mr.   Fugard   is  a  very  pleasant  gentleman   to  know,   being 
genteel  in  manners,  unostentatious  and  obliging. 


ROSS  R.  ^lOWRY. 


It  is  with  marked  satisfaction  that  the  biographer  adverts  to  the  life  of 
one  who  has  had  a  successful  career  despite  the  somewhat  discouraging  and 
unpromising  circumstances  at  the  outset.  Such  a  life  abounds  in  lesson  and 
incentive  and  cannot  but  prove  a  stimulus  to  those  whose  fortunes  and  destinies 
are  yet  matters  for  the  future  to  determine.  Ross  R.  Mowry,  one  of  the  best 
known  of  the  younger  attorneys  of  Jasper  county,  was  ambitious  to  become 
an  attornev,  but  the  way  was  not  clear  to  him,  so  he  made  a  way,  studied  hard, 
worked  his  way  through  college  and  at  an  early  age  has  made  a  record  of 
which  anyone  might  well  be  proud,  his  career  proving  what  honesty  of  purpose 
and  rightly  applied  energy  may  accomplish  although  in  the  face  of  obstacles. 

Mr.  Mowry  was  born  in  Clear  Creek  township,  this  county,  March  5. 
1882,  of  one  of  the  highly  respected  old  families  of  that  part  of  the  county, 
being  the  son  of  John  E.  and  Louisa  (Wilkins)  Mowry,  both  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. The  father  devoted  his  life  principally  to  farming,  though  he  was  for 
some  time  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Baxter,  Jasper  county,  in 
which  town  he  is  now  living  retired.  He  is  well  known  and  has  a  host  of 
friends  throughout  the  county.  There  were  ten  children  in  his  famil}^  Ross 
R.,  of  this  review,  being  the  youngest.  They  are  all  living  but  one,  who  died 
in  infancy;  they  are:  Florence,  widow  of  Henry  Kline,  of  Baxter,  this  county; 
Alice,  widow  of  David  Cross,  living  near  Colfax,  Iowa ;  Jesse  lives  at  Nevada, 
Missouri ;  Julia  is  the  wife  of  Fred  Dodd,  living  near  Baxter;  William  lives  at 
Marshalltown,  Iowa;  Ella  Buchanan  is  the  wife  of  J.  M.  Buchanan,  living 
near  Colfax;  Milton  lives  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri;  Anna  is  the  wife  of  Carl 
C.  Webb,  of  Baxter;  Ervin  died  in  infancy;  Ross  R. 

The  last  named  spent  his  youth  on  the  home  farm  and  assisted  with  the 
work  about  the  place  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age.     He  was  always  a 


Cf^y^^  (K,  Tn  O^^J^ 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  433 

Student  and  he  applied  himself  carefully  to  his  text-hooks  in  the  country 
schools,  later  graduated  from  the  high  school  at  Baxter,  with  the  class  of 
1900,  then  entered  the  State  University  at  Iowa  City,  w-here  he  made  an  ex- 
cellent record  and  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated,  in  the  law  depart- 
ment, in  1903.  However,  he  fore  entering  the  university  he  taught  school  for 
a  time;  as  already  stated,  he  worked  his  way  through  the  university.  In  the 
spring  of  1903  he  w^as  admitted  to  the  bar  when  he  was  twenty-one  years  of 
age.  He  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Baxter,  where  he  remained 
one  year  and  was  gaining  a  solid  foothold,  Ijut.  seeking  a  wider  held  for  the 
exercise  of  his  talents,  he  moved  to  Newton  in  1905  and  formed  a  partnership 
with  John  E.  Cross,  which  was  dissolved  in  1910.  Mr.  Mowry  has  figured 
more  or  less  prominently  in  local  legal  afifairs  all  the  while,  being  regarded  as  a 
A-ery  strong  young  lawyer  and  he  lias  been  very  successful  in  all  his  legal  work- 
in  the  local  courts. 

In  1910  Mr.  Mowry  was  the  Repul)lican  nominee  for  county  attorney 
and  was  duly  elected  at  the  ensuing  election,  and  is  now  \er}-  ably  discharging 
the  duties  of  this  office. 

^Ir.  Mowry  was  married  on  September  15.  1908.  to  Edith  Matthews, 
daughter  of  John  L.  Matthews,  a  well  known  citizen  of  Xewton.  Mrs. 
Mowry  is  a  young,  lady  of  education  and  many  pleasing  traits  of  character 
which  have  long  rendered  her  a  fa\orite  with  a  wide  circle  of  friends.  This 
union  has  been  graced  by  the  liirth  of  one  child,  l^sther  \'irginia.  who  was  born 
on  November  8,  1909. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Mowry  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen,  and  politicallv  he  is  l(\val  in  liis  support  of  the  Republican 
party. 

The  Mowry  famrly  is  of  (German  slock,  and  the  first  sj)ecific  record  we 
have  of  them  in  America  is  when  thev  settled  in  Pennsylvania  in  the  early  davs. 


JOSEPH  M.  W'OODROW. 

No  business  man  in  the  city  of  Xewton  is  regarded  with  higher  fa\-or 
than  the  gentleman  to  a  brief  review  of  whose  interesting  career  the  reader's 
attention  is  directed  in  the  following  paragraphs,  Joseph  M.  Woodrow  being 
one  of  those  public-spirited  men  who,  while  laboring  to  advance  his  own  in- 
terests along  legitimate  lines,  does  not  neglect  to  discharge  his  duties  in  fos- 

(28) 


_|i_^  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

teriiii;"  the  upbuilding  of  the  cuninumity  in  general,  and  few  men  ha\e  done 
more  to  advance  the  material  interests  of  Xewton  than  he.  owing  to  his  high 
position  in  financial  circles  and  his  unswer\ing  allegiance  to  the  higher  stand- 
ards of  living. 

Mr.  Woodrow.  president  of  the  Jasper  County  Bank  and  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial and  representative  men  of  Iowa,  has  been  a  resident  of  Jasper  county 
since  1865  and  he  has  thus  li\ed  to  see  and  take  i)art  in  the  wonderful  trans- 
formation of  the  same  from  a  wild  i)rairie  country  to  a  high  rank  in  the 
great  Hawkeye  commonwealth,  taking  a  great  pride  in  its  progress  and  al- 
wavs  standing  readv  to  support  any  worthy  movement  having  as  its  object  the 
general  welfare  o\  his  locality  and  state. 

Mr.  \\'oodrow  is  the  scion  of  a  sterling  old  family  of  the  Empire  state, 
he  himself  having  been  born  in  Genesee  county.  Xew  York,  September  8, 
1840.  and  he  is  the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Frances  (  Sprague )  Woodrow,  the 
father  a  native  of  England  and  the  mother  born  in  the  state  of  Connecticut. 
The  former  was  a  tailor  by  trade,  and  after  spending  his  youth  in  his  native 
country,  he  emigrated  to  America  in  1807  and  became  well  established  here. 

Joseph  M.  WOodrow  started  in  life  for  himself  when  twent}--one  years 
of  age,  working  on  a  farm,  by  the  month,  in  Illinois.  Believing  that  the  newer 
state  of  Iowa  held  still  greater  advantages  for  one  of  his  temperament,  he 
emigrated  further  west  and  in  1863  became  a  clerk  in  a  store  at  Alt.  Pleasant. 
Iowa,  where  he  remained  until  1865.  when  he  came  to  Jasper  count}-  and 
launched  out  in  the  lx:)Ot  and  shoe  business,  the  results  of  which  were  very 
satisfactory.  In  the  spring  of  1869  he  sold  out  and  started  a  nursery,  which 
he  operated  successfully  until  1883,  when  he  sold  out.  Turning  his  attention 
to  banking,  for  wliich  he  seems  to  ha\e  been  best  endowed  by  nature,  in  1880 
he  became  cashier  of  the  Jasper  County  Bank  at  Newton.  His  close  applica- 
tion to  his  duties  in  this  connection  and  his  honest  and  conservative  policy, 
together  with  his  uniform  courteous  treatment  of  the  patrons  of  this  institu- 
tion, resulted  in  gradualb  increasing  its  prestige  and  it  1)ecame  one  of  the 
popular  and  sound  financial  institutions  in  central  Iowa.  He  became  its 
president  in  1889,  which  position  he  has  \ery  abl\-  and  worthily  discharged 
to  the  i)resent  time.  l)ecoming  one  of  the  best  known  bank  presidents  of  this 
part  of  the  state,  managing  the  affairs  of  this  institution  with  rare  discretion 
and  foresight  and  kec])ing  it  on  a  sound  and  safe  basis,  so  that  it  has  been 
amply  able  to  weather  all  financial  crises. 

'["he  douiestic  life  of  Mr.  Woodrow  began  in  1865,  when  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Parmelia  A.  Fluke,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Judith  Browning  and 
a  lady  of  many  i)raiscworthy  attributes,  being  the  re])resentative  of  an  ex- 


JASPER    COUNTY^   IOWA,  435 

cellent  old  family.  To  this  union  seven  children  have  been  born,  namely : 
Frank  M.,  Eva  A.,  Mrs.  A.  C.  Keinath,  Harry  E.  (deceased),  Fred  C,  Grace 
M..  Airs.  A.  E.  Hindorft,  O.  Blaine  and  Benjamin  W. 

Mr.  Woodrow's  beautiful  residence  in  Newton,  which  is  modern  and 
attractive  in  all  its  appointments,  is  frecjuently  the  gathering  place  for  the 
many  friends  of  the  family,  who  never  fail  to  find  here  an  old-time  hospitalitv 
and  a  sincere  welcome,  so  that  he  and  his  wife  ha\'e  long  been  favorites  with  a 
wide  circle  of  warm  and  admirinsf  friends. 


WILLIAM  S.  GOVE. 


Many  elements  contribute  to  the  development  of  a  new  countr}-,  but  no 
one  thing  plays  so  large  a  part  as  sterling  worth  and  character.  It  is  to  the 
rugged,  steadfast  men  and  women  who  come  into  its  domain  that  the  new 
land  must  look,  and  it  is  most  often  the  plain,  blunt  men  of  lousiness  and 
every-day  affairs  who  most  affect  a  new  country's  history.  While  William  S. 
Gove,  the  present  able  and  popular  sheriff  of  Jasper  county,  is  not  among  the 
oldest  of  the  county's  settlers,  yet  he  came  here  just  at  the  close  of  the 
Civil  war.  and,  throughout  the  years  that  have  passed  since  then,  his  life  has 
been  a  busy  and  fruitful  one.  and  he  has  i)layed  an  important  part  in  the 
affairs  of  the  community  during  the  most  important  period  of  its  (le\elopment. 
Nearly  every  one  in  the  county  knows  big,  bluff,  honest  Will  Gove,  and  the 
secret  of  his  popularity  lies  in  the  fact  that  he  has  always  been  allied  with 
those  things  which  tend  toward  the  advancement  and  betterment  of  men. 
While  a  keen,  careful  and  straightforward  business  man.  he  has  ne\-er  become 
a  dollar  w  orshiper  or  permitted  the  lust  of  greed  to  eradicate  his  higher  ideals, 
believing  that  life  holds  much  of  greater  value  than  mere  wealth  of  estate. 

Mr.  Gove  was  born  in  Vermont  on  May  23,  1855,. the  scion  of  a  sterling 
old  Xew  England  family,  being  the  son  of  Sabin  P.  and  Harriet  (Kendall) 
Gove,  both  natives  of  Vermont.  The  father  was  a  farmer  and  it  may  truth- 
fully be  said  of  him  that  he  was  a  self-made  man.  Left  an  orphan  when  but 
a  mere  child,  he  was  early  bound  out  to  an  old  doctor  named  Sabin.  with 
whom  he  lived  until  almost  reaching  his  majority.  \\'hile  this  man  was  kind 
and  did  all  for  the  boy  he  could,  yet  the  youngster's  life  was  \e\y  lonesome 
and  he  was  glad  to  reach  the  dav  when  he  could  start  out  in  life  for  himself, 
which  he  did  empty-handed.  All  he  subsequently  acquired  he  obtained  alone 
and  unaided,  and  when  he  died  he  had  the  respect  and  love  of  all  who  knew 


^^6  JASPER  ^COUNTY,    IOWA. 

him.  Sabin  P.  Gove  and  wife  were  married  in  Verm.ont.  coming  from  tliat 
state  to  Kane  county,  Illinois,  when  the  son.  ^^''illiam  S..  was  but  three  months 
old.  Upon  their  arrival  there  they  purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
on  which  thev  lived  nine  years,  then  moved  to  Grinnell.  at  that  time  the  ter- 
minus of  the  Rock  Island  railroad.  That  was  in  1864,  and  the  following 
spring  thev  came  on  to  Jas])er  county,  locating  on  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Richland  township,  which  land  still  remains  in  the  family,  there 
having  lieen  but  one  transfer  made  of  it.  the  land  being  originally  home- 
steaded  bv  ]\Irs.  A.  K.  Banett,  a  sister  of  the  subject's  mother,  from  the  gov- 
ernment and  transferred  by  her  to  the  subject's  father.  Sabin  P.,  in  1863. 
Here  the  family  prospered,  the  father  added  to  it  until  he  finally  became  the 
owner  of  six  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land,  thus  becoming  one  of  the 
countr}-'s  largest  landowners  and  most  progressive  farmers.  In  the  spring 
of  1883  he  retired  from  active  life  and  moved  to  the  town  of  Sully,  where 
he  built  a  comfortable  residence.  Later,  his  health  becoming  very  poor,  he 
and  his  wife  moved  to  Pasadena,  California,  where  he  purchased  two  good 
residence  properties,  and  there  he  resided  until  death  ended  his  earthly 
career,  on  September  10,  1895,  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  sixty-fi\'e 
years,  the  immediate  cause  of  his  death  Ijeing  heart  trouble.  He  was  a  man  of 
fine  character  and  had  the  good  will  and  admiration  of  all  who  knew  him. 
After  his  death  his  widow  returned  to  her  home  in  Sully,  Iowa,  where  she 
still  resides,  being  now  seventy-seven  years  of  age.  Her  eldest  son  lives  with 
her.     She  has  a  host  of  warm  friends  who  admire  her  beautiful  characteristics. 

William  S.  Gove,  of  this  review,  is  one  of  four  children,  all  of  whom  are 
living;  of  these,  the  subject  and  an  elder  brother  were  born  in  Vermont,  the 
others  being  born  in  Illinois;  they  are  Albert  K.,  born  August  9,  1853.  lives 
in  Sully;  William  S.,  of  this  review;  Harry  M.,  born  October  24,  1859,  lives 
in  Grinnell.  Iowa;  Tracey  L.,  born  August  2.  1861,  also  lives  in  Grinnell.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-one  the  subject  began  his  independent  life  work  by  taking 
up  farming  and  this  he  followed  continuously  until  October.  1909.  During 
the  last  twent}-  years  of  this  period,  howcxer,  he  engaged  in  a  very  extensi\-e 
stock  business,  buying  all  kinds  of  live  stock  all  over  the  county  and,  in  fact, 
throughout  many  states,  especially  those  of  the  West  and  South.  It  is  said 
of  him  that  lie  has  shi])ped  stock  over  almost  every  railroad  running  into 
Chicago,  and  he  is  universally  regarded  as  an  expert  judge  of  all  kinds  of 
stock.  Few  men  are  more  widelv  known  in  this  \-ocation  and  few  have 
achieved  greated  success. 

While  never  at  any  time  pretending  to  be  a  politician.  Mr.  (iove  has  al- 
ways taken  a  keen  and  intelligent  interest  in  ])(>litical  affairs,  and  so,  at  the 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  437 

November,  1910.  election  the  people  of  Jasper  count}-  testirted  to  the  respect, 
confidence  and  esteem  they  held  for  him  by  electing  him  sheriff  of  the  county, 
which  position  he  is  filling  in  a  worthy  and  most  acceptable  manner,  reflecting 
much  credit  upon  himself  and  giving  eminent  satisfaction  to  all  classes,  dis- 
charging his  official  duties  with  that  painstaking  care  and  discretion,  that  un- 
swerving fidelity  and  aptitude  that  has  ever  characterized  his  Imsiness  career. 
His  son,  Harry  E.  Gove,  is  acting  deputy  sheriff  under  his  father,  and  they 
have  the  distinction  of  being  the  first  sheriff  and  deputy  to  occupy  the  new 
court  house.  Mr.  Gove  has  also  held  a  number  of  the  offices  in  Richland  town- 
ship, among  them  being  that  of  supervisor  of  roads  and  director  of  the  town- 
ship schools. 

On  November  2,  1876.  Air.  Gove  was  united  in  marriage  with  Amarilla 
Allen,  a  native  of  Illinois  and  the  daughter  of  Ervin  and  Amelia  (Moshier) 
Allen,  both  of  whom  were  nati\-es  of  the  state  of  X^ev/  York.  They  spent 
their  lives  on  a  farm  and  are  now  deceased,  the  father  dying  in  Richland 
township,  this  county,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  his  death  occurring 
while  he  was  here  on  a  visit.  He  was  buried  in  Oklahoma,  where  he  had  main- 
tained his  home  for  some  time.  The  mother  died  in  that  state  at  the  age  of 
sixty-six  years.  Mrs.  Gove's  parents  came  to  Iowa  when  she  was  but  three 
years  old,  her  birth  having  occurred  on  July  17,  1856,  she  being  the  eldest  of 
four  children,  all  living,  namely:  Laura  married  Albert  Gove,  a  brother  of  the 
subject,  and  they  live  in  Arabia.  Arizona,  where  \lrs.  Gove  is  matron  of 
the  Indian  school;  Erank  ]\I.  Allen  lives  at  Gates,  Oklahoma:  Susan  E.  li\es 
in  Aha,  Oklahoma. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gove  of  this  re\"iew  six  children  ha\e  been  Ijorn,  five 
of  whom  are  living,  namely:  Jennie  Alay.  born  May  i,  1877,  is  the  wife  of 
Frank  B.  Sparks  and  resides  on  a  farm  in  Richland  township,  this  county : 
Cecil  Ro.se,  wife  of  Charles  \\\  Sparks,  a  brother  of  I-Tank  B.,  was  born 
January  8,  1880:  thev  live  on  a  farm  in  Richland  township:  Plarry  E.  Gove, 
born  September  15,  1882.  married  Naomi  Ewing  and  lives  in  Newton:  Hat- 
tie  A.,  born  January  14,  1885.  died  December  10,  1905;  Bessie  E.,  born  Jan- 
uarv  29,  1890,  is  unmarried  and  is  still  with  her  parents;  Mabel  E..  born  July 
31.  1892.  has  also  remained  single  and  is  a  mem];er  of  the  family  circle. 

In  1887  Mr.  Gove  went  to  southwestern  Kansas  and  lived  a  year  in 
Haskell  county.  While  there  he  homesteaded  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
which  he  later  paid  out  under  the  provisions  of  the  pre-emption  law,  receiving 
his  patent  from  the  President,  December  28,  1889,  it  being  the  first  patent 
ever  issued  in  that  county.  He  still  holds  this  land,  and  also  has  other  val- 
uable and  extensive  interests. 


438  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gove  are  kindly,  affable  people  and  their  home  life  is  ideal, 
their  attractive  and  commodious  dwelling  being  known  to  their  many  friends 
as  a  place  where  hospitality  and  good  cheer  ever  prevail.  They  have  long 
been  prominent  factors  in  the  social  life  of  the  town  and  county  and  richly 
deserve  the  high  esteem  and  good  will  which  are  freely  accorded  by  all.  Mrs. 
Gove  comes  of  a  long  line  of  Quaker  ancestry. 

Mr.  Gove  has  made  a  su.ccess  of  his  life  work,  succeeding  because  he  has 
been  an  adherent  to  those  principles  .and  ideals  w  hich  the  world  admires 
everywhere.  He  has  not  depended  upon  the  assistance  of  any  one.  preferring 
to  be  the  architect  of  his  own  fortune,  and  is  a  fine  type  of  the  virile,  useful. 
industrious,  broad-minded  and  public-spirited  self-made  American. 


COL.  ELLIOTT  E.  LAMBERT. 

The  office  of  biography  is  not  to  giye  voice  to  a  man's  modest  estimate 
of  himself  and  his  accomplishments,  but  rather  to  lea\-e  upon  the  record  the 
\-erdict  establishing  his  character  by  the  consensus  of  opinion  on  the  part  of 
his  neighbors  and  fellow  citizens.  The  life  of  Col.  Elliott  E.  Lambert,  a 
leading  business  man  of  Newton,  Jasper  county,  has  been  such  as  to  elicit  just 
praise  from  those  who  know  him  best,  owing  to  the  fact  that  he  has  always 
been  loyal  to  the  trusts  reposed  upon  him  and  has  been  upright  in  his  dealings 
with  his  fellow  men,  at  the  same  time  lending  his  support  to  the  advancement 
of  any  cause  looking  to  the  welfare  of  the  community  at  large. 

Colonel  Lambert  was  born  in  Licking  county,  Ohio,  January  8,  1863, 
and  he  is  the  son  of  R.  K.  and  Cynthia  (Benjamin)  Lambert,  both  natives  of 
C)hio.  The  father,  who  devoted  his  early  life  to  farming,  came  to  Iowa  in 
1868  and  settled  in  Newton,  soon  buying  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  laud, 
v.-hich  he  farmed  until  1876,  in  which  year  he  came  to  Newton  and  estaljlished 
the  famous  Lambert  hotel,  which  he  and  his  wife  conducted  successfully  for  a 
period  of  twenty-eight  years,  the  same  being  popular  with  the  traveling  public 
and  known  throughout  this  part  of  the  country.  ]\Ir.  Lambert  is  now  living 
retired  in  Newton.  He  is  one  of  the  interesting  ])ioneers  and  has  had  a  \aried 
and  interesting  history,  a  representative  of  that  sterling  t}pe  of  men  who  con- 
stitute the  bone  and  sinew  of  any  country.  His  grandfather,  Francis  Lam- 
bert, was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  181 2.  The  subject's  father  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Civil  war,  a  faithful  and  efficient  follower  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes  in 
many  a  trying  campaign  and  hard-fought  battle.     He  is  known  as  a  worker,  a 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  439 

man  who  does  things.  Although  now  advanced  in  years,  ha\ing  Ijeen  born  in 
1839,  he  is  today  strong  and  vigorous. .  His  wife  is  a  woman  of  the  fine  old 
school  who  has  given  the  world  so  much  sweetness  and  refinement,  hospitable 
and  affable.  Ever  loyal  to  all  that  was  l)est  and  truest,  during  all  her  life  she 
has  brought  to  her  home  and  friends  a  benign  and  uplifting  infiuence.  She  is 
a  faithful  church  worker  and  her  life  has  been  filled  with  many  charitable 
deeds.  The  three  children  in  this  family  are  all  living,  namely :  William  R. 
lives  in  Newton,  Iowa;  his  sun.  Everett  \\\,  now  deceased,  had  a  national 
reputation  as  an  all-around  athlete;  Elliott  E.,  of  this  review;  Belle  is  now  the 
wife  of  Doctor  Besser,  of  Xewton. 

It  was  in  1886  that  Colonel  Lambert,  of  this  review,  began  business  for 
himself,  by  taking  up  the  general  freighting  and  transfer  business  in  Newton, 
which  he  followed  for  a  period  of  seventeen  years,  when  he  sold  out  and 
engaged  in  the  implement  business  there,  the  style  of  the  firm  being  W.  C. 
Bergman  &  Company,  which  business  he  conducted  with  his  usual  success  for 
two  years,  after  which  he  engaged  in  the  general  fire  and  life  insurance  busi- 
ness, which  he  has  continued  to  the  present  time,  his  offices  now  being  in  the 
Scharf  building,  north  of  the  court  house  square.  He  has  met  with  a  large 
measure  of  success  from  the  first  in  this  line  of  endeavor  and  is  one  of  the 
best  known  insurance  men  in  central  Iowa. 

On  January  6.  1886,  Colonel  Lambert  was  united  in  marriage  with  Lizzie 
M.  Boydston.  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  Boydston.  the  fatlier  dying  soon 
after  his  daughter  and  the  Colonel  were  married,  and  the  mother  died  in  Xew- 
ton on  April  10,  19 10. 

Four  children  have  been  Ijorn  to  tlie  Colonel  and  wife,  all  of  whom  are 
living,  namely:  Earl  B.,  born  October  7.  1886.  is  at  home  and  employed  by 
the  American  Construction  Company;  Harold  R..  born  June  j,  1891,  is  at- 
tending the  State  University  at  Ames;  Robert  E.,  born  August  2"/,  1893,  is 
employed  as  stenographer  for  the  Bergman  Manufacturing  Company;  Mar- 
jory B..  born  September  5,  1896,  is  at  home,  and.  possessing  a  voice  of  ex- 
quisite melody  and  sweetness,  which  has  been  carefully  educated,  she  is  well 
known  in  musical  circles. 

Colonel  Lambert's  military  record  is  one  of  which  his  relatives  and 
friends  should  be  justly  proud.  On  July  15.  1888,  he  enlisted  at  Newton  in 
Company  B.  Third  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  National  (iuard.  On  March  9, 
1889,  lie  was  elected  captain  of  his  company,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
until  April  30.  1892.  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  Second  Regiment  and 
elected  major  with  the  rank  from  that  date;  Later  he  was  promoted  to  lieu- 
tenant-colonel. January  11.  1897.  being  mustered  out  :\Iay  18.  1898.  and  on 


440  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

that  date  he  was  mustered  into  the  vohinteer  service  with  the  rank  of  Heuten- 
ant-colonel  of  the  Fiftieth  Iowa  Rei^iment.  and  for  meritorious  service  he  was 
promoted  to  colonel  on  Aus^ust  29.  1898.  1)ein<;  mustered  out  as  colonel  on 
Xovember  ^:;oth  following-,  at  Des  Moines.  On  February  5,  1900,  he  enlisted 
as  a  private  in  Company  ]..  i''iftieth  Regiment.  Iowa  National  Guard,  of 
which  he  was  elected  major  on  julv  i^),  1900.  He  was  advanced  to  the. rank 
of  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  h'ifty- fourth  (same  as  the  Fiftieth)  Regiment. 
Mav  2.  1904.  He  was  appointed  quartermaster  on  the  staff  of  Brig-Gen.  J. 
Rush  Lincoln,  commander  of  the  First  Brigade.  Iowa  National  Guard.  July 
20.  1909.  which  i)osition  he  still  holds.  During  the  Spanish-American  war 
he  was  (juartered  at  Iackson\ile.  Morida.  having  been  assigned  to  duty  with 
the  Second  Di\ision  of  the  Seventh  Army  Corps,  under  command  of  Gen. 
Fitzhugh  Lee.  As  a  soldier  he  has  acquitted  himself  most  gallantly,  and  has 
won  the  admiration  of  his  men  and  the  praise  of  his  superior  officers. 

Colonel  Lambert  is  a  member  of  Newton  Lodge  No.  59,  Ancient  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons;  Gabal  Chapter  No.  12.  Royal  Arch  Masons;  Oriental 
Conimandery  No.  22,  Knights  Templar,  and  the  Za-Ga-Zig  Temple,  Alystic 
Shrine,  at  Des  Moines.  He  is  past  eminent  in  the  conimandery,  and  has  passed 
all  the  chairs  in  the  same.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Central  Lodge  No. 73. 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows;  Newton  Encampment  No.  16,  and  Can- 
ton Chevalier  Bayard  No.  31.  At  the  ])resent  writing  he  is  department  com- 
mander of  Patriarchs  Militant  of  Iowa,  with  rank  of  major-general.  He  is 
also  grand  senior  warden  in  the  grand  encampment  of  the  Independent  Odd 
I'^ellows  of  Iowa. 

Colonel  Lambert  has  also  been  a  member  of  Newton's  volunteer  fire  de- 
partment for  t\\  ent\-se\en  \ears.  l)eing  foreman  of  the  company  and  chief 
of  the  department  a  part  of  the  time.  At  present  he  is  vice-president  of  the 
Iowa  State  Firemen's  Association  and  chairman  of  the  pension  committee  of 
that  association.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
White  Pine  Camp  No.  22,  of  Newton,  of  which  he  was  clerk  for  ten  years. 
For  some  time  he  ser\'ed  as  a  member  of  the  city  council  of  Newton,  being  a 
member  and  chairman  of  the  committee  on  streets  and  alleys.  He  has  also 
been  a  member  of  the  Newton  Business  Men's  Association  ever  since  its 
organization,  and  is  its  present  secretar\'. 

Mrs.  Lambert  is  well  known  in  church  and  social  circles;  she  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Newton  Chapter  No.  100.  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  of  which  the 
Colonel  is  past  worthy  patron.  She  is  a  member  of  Margaret  Rebekah  Lodge 
No.  237.  of  Newton.  She  was  formerly  president  of  the  Twentieth  Century 
Club  of  Newton.  She  is  a  steward  in  the  Methodist  church,  of  wliich  all  the 
familv  are  members. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  441 

GEORGE  W.  NEWTON. 

Perhaps,  for  his  age,  no  man  in  Jasper  county  has  acconiphshed  more 
for  the  city  of  Newton  than  (George  W.  Newton,  a  man  whose  sterling  char- 
acteristics would  bring  him  success  in  any  walk  of  life,  for  nature  seems  to 
have  combined  in  him  those  attributes  of  head  and  heart  which,  when  prop- 
erly controlled  and  directed,  as  they  have  evidently  been  done  in  his  case, 
never  fail  of  large  results.  Although  young  in  years,  Mr.  Newton  is  widel\- 
known  as  the  head  of  one  of  the  best  and  most  rapidlv  growing  manufactur- 
ing institutions  in  the  city  of  Newton. 

Mr.  Newton  is  the  scion  of  a  sterling  ancestry,  his  birth  having  occurred 
on  May  5,  1873,  in  Mt.  Sterling,  Illinois,  and  he  is  the  son  of  \\'allace  and 
Laura  J.  (Shealds)  Newton,  both  natives  of  Ohio  and  both  now  deceased. 
The  father  was  by  occupation  a  carpenter,  coming  from  a  long  line  of  me- 
chanics and  artisans. 

George  W.  Newton  is  one  of  a  family  of  three  children,  all  living:  Am- 
brosia married  Oliver  Sparks,  the  present  mayor  of  Galena,  Kansas,  and  the 
owner  of  the  largest  and  best  zinc  mine  in  the  country;  Julia  married  Everett 
W'ilkins,  a  farmer  living  near  Fairview,  Illinois;  George  \\'.  is  the  eldest  of  the 
three. 

Mr.  Newton  began  working  for  himself  soon  after  the  death  of  his 
mother.  Coming  to  Li\-ermore,  Iowa,  he  took  charge  of  a  photograph  gal- 
lery for  a  short  time.  Later,  in  response  to  an  advertisement  asking  for  a 
window  trimmer,  he  came  to  Newton  and  entered  the  emplovment  of  the 
Iowa  ^Mercantile  Company,  ^vith  which  he  remained  one  year,  at  the  end  of 
W'hich  time  he  entered  the  manufacturing  business  in  a  small  way,  turning 
out  ad\'ertising  specialties.  At  first  he  formed  a  partnership  and  the  firm 
name  was  the  Newton  Manufacturing  Company.  This  concern  began,  with 
little  capital,  to  manufacture  a  number  of  small  wood,  metal  and  card-board 
specialties,  in  a  little  back  room,  but,  having  a  good  line  and  the  tact  to  handle 
it  properly,  they  were  successful  almost  from  the  very  beginning,  and  from 
time  to  time  they  were  compelled  to  mo\e  into  larger  quarters.  On  Januarv 
I,  19 10,  they  incorporated  for  twenty-fi\-c  thousand  dollars  and  purchased 
their  own  building.  Since  then  they  ha\e  rented  and  now  occupy  another 
large  building  near  their  own  l)uilding.  They  are  manufacturing  the  largest 
and  fastest  selling  advertising  novelty  in  the  United  States,  the  Safety  Maga- 
zine Match  Safe,  which  little  article  is  the  direct  outcome  of  the  inventive 
genius  of  George  W.  Newton,  of  this  review.     He  has  also  invented  and 


^2  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

designed  a  number  of  special  machines  for  its  accurate  and  rapid  manufac- 
ture, in  fact,  it  is  to  the  pluck  and  energy  of  Mr.  Newton  that  the  company 
owes  much  of  its  phenomenal  success  and  its  widespread  popularity,  for  he  is 
bv  nature  an  organizer  and  promoter  and  is  able  to  foresee  with  remarkable 
accuracy  the  future  outcome  of  a  present  transaction,  and  he  has  made  few 
mistakes  as  a  business  man. 

On  June  20,  1902,  Air.  Newton  was  married  to  Anna  Grace  Van  Wine- 
garden,  daughter  of  William  and  Jacob  ^^'inegarden,  natives  of  Holland, 
from  which  country  they  came  to  America  in  early  life,  and  here  Mrs.  New- 
ton was  born.  She  received  a  good  education  and  is  a  lady  of  many  hue  per- 
sonal qualities  which  makes  her  a  favorite  in  the  best  social  circles  of  her  city. 
She  is  a  member  of  a  family  of  nine  children,  all  of  whom  live  within  twenty 
miles  of  Newton ;  they  are,  Jennie  married  Scott  Byers,  a  farmer  near  Sully ; 
Anna  Grace,  wife  of  Air.  Newton;  Airs.  Aliller,  wife  of  Fred  AHller,  a  farmer 
of  this  county;  John  is  farming  near  Galesburg;  Eva  lives  with  her  parents 
near  Sully;  Carry  married  Walter  Blackwood,  a  farmer  near  Newton;  \\'alter, 
Emma  and  Rudolph  are  living  at  home. 

To  Air.  and  Airs.  Newton  two  children  have  been  born.  George  Alaxwell 
and  Jacoba  Lorene. 

Both  Mr.  and  Airs.  Newton  are  members  of  the  Alethodist  Episcopal 
church  of  Newton,  and,  fraternally,  he  belongs  to  the  Yeomen.  Politicallv. 
he  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  man  of  the  highest  standing  in  the  comnninitv. 
ha\ing  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  classes. 


ALBERT  S.  CHAPAIAN. 

Jn  the  present  review  is  recorded  briefly  the  life  history  of  one  who  was 
a  few  years  since  a  familiar  figure  in  the  city  of  Colfax,  'where  he  was  a 
prominent  and  respected  business  man.  and  took  a  full  share  of  activity  in  the 
affairs  of  the  community.  As  a  business  man  he  was  strictly  honest,  and 
entirely  cai)able,  and  his  sagacity  was  admired  bv  his  associates  and  acquaint- 
ances. His  success  was  marked  and  notalile,  and  was  the  result  of  his  own 
careful  building. 

Albert  S.  Chapman  was  born  near  Colum])us.  b'ranklin  countv,  Ohio,  the 
son  of  John  O.  Chapman.  John  O.  Chapman  was  born  near  Cape  Alav.  New 
Jersey.  Judge  Stanberry,  of  the  Ohio  supreme  court,  was  the  grandfather  of 
Albert   Stanberry   Chapman.     His  mother  died  near   Alaryville,   Ohio,   and 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  443 

Albert  S.  came  to  Mound  Prairie  precinct,  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  in  1865, 
with  his  father,  who  bought  a  farm  here  and  hved  on  it  the  rest  of  his  days. 
Albert  S.  lived  on  the  farm,  and  was  very  successful  in  agriculture  until  1881. 
when  he  removed  to  Colfax  and  engaged  in  business,  quickly  winning  for 
himself  a  reputation  as  a  man  of  enterprise  and  spirit.  He  continued  in  busi- 
ness until  his  death,  on  November  2^ ,  1894,  at  the  age  of  fifty-three.  He 
served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  in  Colfax,  and  was  always  interested 
in  the  improvement  and  development  of  the  communit}". 

Mr.  Chapman  was  married  in  Mound  Prairie  precinct  t(j  Kate  \'an  Gil- 
der, the  daughter  of  Squire  Abram  and  Sarah  (Anderson)  \'an  Gilder.  Abram 
Van  Gilder  was  born  on  July  9,  1813,  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  moved  to 
Indiana,  later  to  Knox  county.  Illinois,  to  a  farm  seven  miles  east  of  Gales- 
burg,  and  came  to  ]\Iound  Prairie  precinct  in  1864.  where  he  and  his  wife, 
who  was  born  in  Adams  county.  Ohio,  on  June  16,  1821,  spent  the  rest  of 
their  lives.  Abram  \^an  Gilder  was  influential  in  his  community,  and  filled 
the  ofiices  of  justice  of  the  peace,  town  clerk,  and  secretary  of  the  school  board. 
]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Chapman  are  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Frank,  of 
Bisbee,  Arizona,  a  builder:  Ed,  of  Colfax;  George,  of  Colfax,  a  real  estate 
agent;  Harry,  of  Colfax;  Mary  Belle,  who  married  Otis  Wright,  a  banker  of 
Colfax,  and  who  died  in  1897,  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven,  leaving  one  child. 

The  Chapman  family  is  one  of  the  most  respected  in  Colfax,  and  all 
its  members  are  filling  positions  of  worth  and  usefulness.  Thesons  of  Albert 
S.  Chapman  ha\e  ever  present  with  them  the  memoiy  of  their  father's  ex- 
cellent life  as  an  inspiration  and  example. 


HUGH  SCOTT. 


Herein  is  recorded  the  life  of  one  of  the  representative  men  of  Jasper 
county,  a  capable  and  prominent  farmer,  who  has  a  unique  distinction  in  that 
he  reared  to  manhood  and  to  a  sense  of  duty  five  stalwart  sons,  who  ofifered 
their  lives  to  their  country  and  from  each  of  whom  she  accepted  the  gift.  Few 
men  have  been  called  upon  for  such  a  sacrifice  as  this. 

Hugh  Scott  was  born  on  November  15.  1799,  in  Fleming  county,  Ken- 
tuck}-,  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Hannah  Reid  Scott.  Thomas  Scott,  who  was 
born  on  June  i,  1766,  was  the  son  of  Matthew  and  Elizabeth  (Jackson) 
Scott,  and  married  Hannah  Reid,  the  daughter  of  Hugh  and  Jemima  (Car- 
mon)   Reid.  on  November  24,   1789.     Jemima  Carmon  was  the  daughter  of 


^^  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

lohn  and  Hannah  Larmon,  and  was  born  on  May  20.  1745.  Hugh  Scott's 
brothers  and  sisters  were :  Robert  Jackson  Scott,  who  was  a  heutenant  in  the 
war  of  1812.  Hved  later  in  Ohio,  and  then  in  I'aris,  Illinois;  John  Cannon 
Scott,  who  served  in  the  Ohio  militia  in  the  war  of  181 2,  and  remained  in 
Ohio:  Joseph  Scott;  Matthew  Reid  Scott,  of  Paris.  Illinois;  Sarah  Scott 
Fuller;  Mary  Trewit  Scott  Means,  Asenath  Scott  Pownall. 

Hugh  Scott  came  to  Jasper  county  in  1856.  and  located  in  Washington 
township.  He  had  resided  for  more  than  twenty  years  previously  in  \  igo 
county,  Indiana,  near  Terre  Haute.  \[r.  Scott  bought  a  farm  of  raw  prairie, 
and  cultivated  and  improved  it  and  made  from  it  an  excellent  farm,  becoming 
known  as  one  of  the  best  farmers  in  the  county.  His  success  was  entirely  de- 
served and  was  due  to  his  ability  and  character.  He  died  on  September  16. 
1882.  aged  eighty-three  years  lacking  two  months. 

In  1827  Hugh  Scott  was  married  to  Mar}-  Lewis,  who  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky in  181 1,  and  died  on  June  8,  1852.  in  Vigo  county,  Indiana.  She  bore 
to  him  nine  children,  whose  records  follow  ; 

Charles  T.  Scott  enlisted  in  the  Union  army  in  tlie  Twenty-ninth  Iowa 
Infantry  in  1862,  and  died  in  1863  in  the  service  of  his  countr}-.  Hannah 
Scott  married  George  Linford,  of  Mound  Prairie  township.  Jasper  county, 
and  died  in  1863.  Henry  Scott  enlisted  in  1861  in  Company  B,  Fifth  Iowa 
Infantry,  and  died  in  the  service  in  March,  1863.  Albert  Scott,  of  Vigo 
count}-.  Indiana,  enlisted  in  the  Eighteenth  Indiana  Batter\  of  Light  Artillery, 
and  died  in  Tennessee  in  1863.  Lewis  Scott  enlisted  in  t86i  in  the  Eighth 
Iowa  Infantry,  and  died  in  the  Keokuk  (Iowa)  hospital  in  1862.  Foster 
Scott  enlisted  in  1863  in  the  Ninth  Iowa  Cavalry,  and  met  his  death  on  the 
held  at  Du\-airs  Bluff.  Arkansas.  Thus  of  the  sons  of  Hugh  Scott  fixe  ser\-ed 
in  the  armies  of  the  L'nion.  and  all  of  these  five  ga\-e  their  lives  in  the  nation's 
cause. 

Asenath  Scott  married  first  Thomas  Malcomson,  of  Washington  town- 
ship, who  came  to  Jasper  county  in  the  fall  of  1865.  He  served  three  years 
in  the  Second  Wisconsin  Infantry.  To  this  marriage  were  born  two  children, 
Riley  Malcomson,  of  Colfax,  and  Henry  Malcomson,  a  builder,  of  Alinot, 
North  Dakota.  Mrs.  Malcomson  married  later  G.  O.  Barnes,  who  came  to 
Jasper  county  in  the  eighties,  and  died  in  1896,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two. 

Harriet  Scott  married  George  Linford  after  the  death  of  her  sister, 
Hannah  Scott.  Harriet  Scott  died  June  20.  191 1.  Jacob  Scott,  a  farmer  of 
Washington  township,  died  on  April  i,  1886,  at  the  age  of  thirty-six. 

Hugh  Scott  took  an  active  and  prominent  part  in  the  affairs  of  his  com- 


JASl'ER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  445 

inuiiit}-.  He  was  an  old-time  Whig,  and  later  a  Republican.  He  fiJled  the 
offices  of  township  assessor  and  trustee,  was  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  at  one 
time  a  member  of  the  school  board  in  I'rairie  City.  His  character  was  strong 
and  his  indi\idualit\-  impressive. 


\V.  L.  DEXXIS. 


\\'illmer  L.  Dennis  was  born  in  Wapello  county,  Iowa,  on  December  17. 
1857,  about  five  miles  south  of  the  city  of  Ottumwa.  His  father,  Benjamin  H. 
Dennis,  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1830,  and  came  west  in  1852  and  located  first 
in  Lee  county,  Iowa,  but  one  year  later  he  removed  to  Wapello  countv.  and 
here,  on  August  22,,  1854,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Matilda  Jackson, 
daughter  of  Richard  and  Isabella  (Baum)  Jackson.  '\lrs.  Jackson  was  born 
in  Ohio  in  1833,  and  removed  with  her  parents  to  Wapello  county,  Iowa,  when 
quite  young.  In  1864  ^Ir.  Dennis  traded  forty  acres  of  land  which  he  had 
acquired  in  Wapello  county  for  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Jasper  county, 
and  in  March  of  the  following  year  brought  his  family  to  Jasper  county  and 
took  possession  of  his  farm,  which  was  located  in  Buena  \^ista  township,  near 
Kilduff.  Here  he  lived  and  prospered  until  the  year  1878.  when  he  built  a 
home  in  the  city  of  N^ewton,  Iowa,  and  retired  from  active  labor.  He  de- 
parted this  life  in  January.  1900.  He  was  a  splendid  man,  public  spirited  and 
very  acti\e  in  church  work,  having  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
in  1859.  The  mother  of  the  subject  departed  this  life  in  January,  1872,  while 
the  family  still  lived  on  the  farm.  When  the  family  first  came  to  Jasper 
countv  all  they  owned  in  the  way  of  stock  was  a  team  of  horses,  four  head  of 
cattle  and  a  few  sheep  Mr.  Dennis  was  a  good  business  man  and  a  man  of 
good  judgment,  and  by  energetic  eft'ort  and  good  management  he  prospered 
and  became  a  hea\y  stock  feeder  well  known  throughout  the  county.  Of  five 
children  born  to  this  couple  only  three  surxive :  Willmer  L.,  the  subject  of  this 
review ;  C.  Dean  Dennis,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  these  pages :  and 
Minerva,  wife  of  James  Carey,  of  near  Killduff,  Iowa. 

Willmer  L.  Dennis  received  his  early  educational  training  in  the  country 
schools  of  the  township  in  which  he  lived,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  began 
working  for  himself  upon  his  father's  farm.  In  1882  his  father  made  over 
to  him  eightv  acres  of  land.  Having  had  experience  with  feeding  cattle  and 
buvino-  and  raisin"-  same  for  the  market,  while  with  his  father,  he  began  in 


^._|.6  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

this  lint?  for  liiniself  and  became  one  of  the  county's  heaviest  stock  producers. 
He  also  from  time  to  time  purchased  land,  until  at  this  time  he  owns  over 
five  iiundred  acres,  two  hundred  in  Buena  Vista  township  and  three  hundred 
in  Richland  township.  He  also  owns  a  section  of  land  in  Deaf  Smith  county, 
Texas. 

On  Mav  20.  1880,  W'illmer  L.  Dennis  was  iniited  in  marriage  to  Anna 
M.  Emmert.  who  was  born  in  Bedford  county.  Pennsylvania,  on  September 
II.  1861.  She  was  the  daughter  of  J.  \\  and  Dorothea  Emmert.  prosperous 
fanners  in  the  southeast  portion  of  Buena  A'ista  township.  Her  parents  were 
natives  of  Germany,  her  father  coming  with  his  ])arents  to  this  country  when 
onlv  one  vear  old.  the  family  locating  in  Pennsylvania.  Pier  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Dorothea  Schwappach.  came  alone  to  this  country  at  the 
age  of  sixteen,  and  a  few  years  later  was  joined  by  a  sister,  and  these  two 
were  the  onlv  members  of  the  family  to  cross  the  ocean.  When  ]\Irs.  Dennis 
was  a  child  three  years  old.  her  parents  moved  to  Illinois,  and  hve  years  later 
thev  moved  to  Jasper  county.  Iowa,  and  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  in  Buena  Vista  township,  which  is  still  the  home  of  her  mother, 
her  father  dying  at  this  place  on  April  12.  1895,  ^^  the  age  of  sixty-eight.  Her 
mother  is  now  seventy-three.  Mrs.  Dennis  was  one  of  ten  children,  she  being 
the  second  in  order  of  birth,  the  names  of  the  others  being  as  follows :  George 
A.,  born  in  i860,  owns  eighty  acres  of  land  adjoining  the  old  home  place, 
and  li\es  with  his  mother  and  sister;  Andrew,  born  in  1863,  lives  on  a  farm 
near  Kellogg,  Iowa,  married  Eelia  Drew;  Sophia  died  in  infancy;  Ella,  born 
in  1867,  lives  at  home,- unmarried ;  William  V..  born  in  1868.  was  killed  on 
his  twenty-eighth  birthday  by  being  kicked  bv  a  horse;  Caroline,  born  in  1870, 
married  Ed.  Heli)er,  who  is  deceased;  Emma  died  of  croup  in  infancy; 
Philip  and  Frances,  twins,  born  in  1875;  Frances,  who  died  in  1909.  was  the 
wife  of  Ca.se  Williamson;  IMiilip  lives  on  a  farm  in  Palo  Alto  township. 

To  y\r.  and  Mrs.  Willmer  L.  Dennis  have  been  born  se\en  children, 
namely:  Benjamin,  born  August  9,  i88t.  died  in  1882;  Pdora  May.  born 
August  30.  1883.  died  in  1910.  She  was  the  wife  of  Charles  Earp,  to  whom 
she  bore  two  children,  Leslie  Lamont.  deceased,  and  Nadine  L.  Earp ;  Leroy. 
born  November  19.  1888.  near  Killduff.  married  Regina  Van  Gilst.  and  to 
them  has  been  born  one  child;  Alvy.  born  Februarv  20.  1891.  married  Jennie 
De  Bruyn,  and  lives  near  Killduff;  Wanda,  born  March  14,  1894,  is  still  under 
the  parental  roof,  attending  the  Xewton  high  .school;  W^illiam  V.,  born  Sep- 
tember 29,  1896.  lives  at  home  with  his  parents;  Cleora,  born  .\ugust  22,  1891. 

In  March.  19 10.  Mr.  Dennis  and  familv  left  the  farm  and  ])urchased  a 
fine  residence  property  in  Xewton.  Iowa,  where  they  now  reside,     .\lthough 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  447 

living  away  from  the  farm.  ]\Ir.  Dennis  is  not  content  to  lead  a  life  of  ease  and 
quiet,  but  is  still  engaged  in  the  stock  business  and  looks  after  his  farming 
interests,  going  back  and  forth  from  his  home  to  the  farm  in  an  automobile. 
Both  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Dennis  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
in  Xewton.     Politically,  he  votes  with  the  Republican  part}-. 


W.  E.  DEXXISTOX, 


The  name  of  Denniston  has  been  for  many  years  an  honored  and 
respected  one  in  Jasper  county,  and  the  gentleman  of  that  name  who  is  the 
immediate  subject  of  this  sketch  is  richly  deserving  of  the  universal  respect 
and  esteem  which  is  accorded  him  by  all  with  whom  he  is  acquainted.  For 
many  years  he  has  l>een  one  of  the  leading  lumbermen  of  Xewton;  still  in 
the  fullness  of  years,  he  is  to  be  found  at  the  helm  of  a  large  and  growing 
business. 

A\'.  E.  Denniston.  of  the  firm  of  Denniston  &  Partridge,  was  born  in 
Jasper  county.  October  28.  1868,  on  the  parental  homestead  in  Buena  \'ista 
township.  He  is  the  son  of  Robert  E.  and  Delia  (Hotchkiss)"  Denniston, 
the  father  a  native  of  Ohio  and  the  mother  of  Wisconsin.  The  elder  Denni- 
•ston  came  to  Iowa  in  1861  and  settled  in  Buena  \'ista  township,  and  he  has 
resided  in  the  county  ever  since,  now  living  on  a  farm  of  sixty  acres  just 
on  the  edge  of  X'ewton.  He  has  long  been  well  known  in  this  community 
and  has  lived  to  see  and  take  part  in  the  great  development  of  the  same.  His 
famil\-  consisted  of  live  children,  two  of  whom  are  living,  three  having  died 
in  infancy:  besides  the  subject,  the  other  living  child  is  Mrs.  Charles  Emery. 
who  is  li\ing  on  a  farm  near  Metz.  this  county. 

^^^  E.  Denniston  spent  his  early  life  on  the  home  farm  where  he  assisted 
with  the  general  work  about  the  place  when  of  proper  age.  and  he  attended  the 
common  schools  during  the  winter  months,  his  education  in  later  years  being 
supplemented  by  good  business  training  and  wide  home  reading.  He 
remained  unrler  his  parental  rooftree  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  two  years  in  X^'ewton 
after  he  had  left  the  farm.  He  then  worked  in  the  lumber  yards  for  Fred  L. 
IMavtag  for  two  vears.  and  twelve  years  for  Maytag  &  Emerson,  then  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Emerson  under  the  firm  name  of  Emerson  & 
Denniston.  which  continued  three  years.  Upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Emerson, 
about  two  vears  ago,  the  firm  became  Denniston  &  Partridge,  a  corporation. 


448  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA 

oi  which  -Mr.  Denniston  is  secretary  aiul  general  manager.  They  have  been 
verv  successful  and  ha\e  now  a  large  and  rapidly  growing  business  which 
is  wide  in  its  scope,  owning  other  yards  besides  the  large  one  at  Newton, 
including  one  at  Altoona  and  Mitchellville,  both  in  Polk  county,  Reasoner. 
Colfax  and  Baxter,  in  Jasper  county.  They  handle  a  varied  line  of  up-to- 
date  building  material.  lum])er  and  also  grain.  Their  home  shed  is  one 
hundred  twentv  bv  one  hundred  eighty  feet,  everything  being  conveniently 
and  attractivelv  arranged. 

On  h>bruary  24,  1892.  ISlv.  Denniston  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Lizzie  W^ilson.  daughter  of  ^\'illiam  and  Mary  Wilson,  who  came  from  Scott 
county.  Iowa,  to  this  county.  Air.  Wilson  having  been  born  in  the  former. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Denniston  two  children  have  been  born.  Roy.  whose  birth 
occurred  on  February  20.  1892.  and  Homer,  born  August  5.  1895. 

Mr.  and  !Mrs.  Denniston  attend  the  United  Presbyterian  church.  Politi- 
cally, he  is  a  Republican  and  has  taken  an  abiding  interest  in  local  affairs  for 
some  time.  In  1906  he  was  elected  to  the  city  council  from  the  first  ward 
and  has  been  on  the  board  since  then,  making  his  influence  felt  for  the  good 
of  his  citv  and  community  whenever  possible.  He  is  a  man  of  energy,  rare 
business  foresight  and  he  is  a  good  mixer,  being  ahvays  a  gentleman  and 
yet  easily  approached  and  unassuming,  a  man  who  has  the  confidence  and 
good  will  of  his  fellowmen  owing  to  his  fair  dealings  and  exemplary  character. 


PROF.  E.  J.  H.  BEARD. 

The  men  most  influential  in  promoting  the  advancement  of  society  and 
in  giving  character  to  the  times  in  which  they  live  are  two  classes — the  men  of 
study  and  the  men  of  action.  Whether  we  are  more  indebted  for  the  improve- 
ment of  the  age  to  the  one  class  or  the  other  is  a  question  of  honest  difference 
of  opinion ;  neither  can  be  spared  and  both  should  be  encouraged  to  occupy 
their  several  spheres  of  labor  and  influence  zealously  and  without  mutual  dis- 
trust. In  the  following  paragraphs  are  briefly  outlined  the  leading  facts  and 
characteristics  in  the  career  of  a  gentleman  who  combines  in  his  makeup  the 
elements  of  the  scholar  and  the  energy  of  the  public-spirited  man  of  affairs. 
Devoted  to  the  noble  and  humane  work  of  teaching,  Prof.  E.  J.  H.  Beard,  the 
efficient  and  po])ular  superintendent  of  the  Newton  city  schools,  Jasper  county, 
Iowa,  has  made  his  influence  felt  in  a  most  potent  manner  in  the  locality  of 
which  this  history  treats,  and  he  is  not  unknown  to  the  wider  educational 


^c^. 


-^ 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  449 

circles  of  the  state,  occupying  as  he  does  a  prominent  place  in  his  profession 
and  standing  high  in  the  esteem  of  educators  in  other  than  his  own  particular 
field  of  endeavor.  All  who  come  within  range  of  his  influence  are  profuse 
in  their  praise  of  his  admirable  qualities  and  the  high  regard  in  which  he 
is  held,  not  only  professionally  but  socially,  and  as  a  gallant  veteran  of  the 
grand  army  that  saved  the  national  Union,  indicates  the  possession  of  attri- 
butes and  characteristics  that  fully  entitle  him  to  the  respect  and  consideration 
of  his  fellow  men. 

Professor  Beard,  like  many  of  our  leading  citizens,  is  a  native  of  the 
great  Empire  state,  his  birth  having  occurred  at  Jefferson,  Schoharie  county. 
New  York,  February  23,  1842.  He  is  the  son  of  Ezra  G.  and  Ruth  G.  (Gay- 
lord)  Beard,  both  natives  of  New  York,  in  which  state  they  grew  up,  were 
educated  and  married  and  became  well  established  and  influential.  The  father 
devoted  his  life  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  he  lived  and  died  in  his  native 
state.  Professor  Beard  traces  his  genealogy  back  several  centuries  through 
a  long  line  of  distinguished  ancestry.  The  family  has  been  notably  con- 
spicuous as  soldiers,  it  being  fully  authenticated  that  members  of  the  family 
participated  in  the  early  Indian  wars,  the  Revolutionary  war,  the  war  of  1812, 
Civil  and  Spanish-American  wars.  In  all  the  relations  of  life  they  have  made 
their  influence  felt  wherever  they  have  dispersed,  being  leaders  in  the  public 
and  social  life  of  their  communities. 

Professor  Beard  spent  his  early  boyhood  on  the  home  farm  and  there, 
in  the  free  outdoor  life  and  sylvan  beauty,  he  laid  the  foundation  for  the  de- 
velopment of  a  sound  body  and  a  strong  mind.  He  never  attended  the  public 
schools,  but  his  early  text-book  training  was  received  at  Delaware  Institute, 
Franklin,  New  York.  He  then  entered  Hamilton  College,  at  Clinton,  New 
York,  and  was  making  a  brilliant  record  in  that  institution  when  the  tocsin  of 
war  sounded  which  lured  him  from  the  primrose  paths  of  a  student  life  to  the 
sanguinary  "field  of  Mars,''  so  he  went  to  defend  the  flag  with  as  much  alacrity 
as  ever  Roman  youth  .hastened  to  the  legions  of  Titus  or  Caesar,  enlisting  in 
the  Fifty-first  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,  in  which  he  served  faithfully. 
He  participated  in  the  trying  Virginia  campaigns  in  the  latter  part  of  1864 
and  the  early  months  of  1865,  engaging  in  many  of  the  hard  fought  battles 
of  the  war.  He  was  at  Appomattox  at  Lee's  surrender.  The  war  over,  he 
was  honorably  discharged  and  returned  home.  In  the  spring  of  1866  he 
went  to  Colorado  on  government  survey  work  and  assisted  in  surveying  the 
ground  south  and  east  of  Denver,  also  in  the  vicinity  of  Colorado  Springs 
and  Pueblo.     In  the  autumn  of  1866  he  went  to  Nebraska  City,  Nebraska,  and 

(29) 


4 so  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

taught  school  the  following  winter,  then  in  1867  he  taught  at  Rockport, 
Atchison  county,  Missouri.  The  following  year  he  was  elected  surveyor  of 
that  county,  which  position  he  held  but  a  short  time,  however,  having  resigned 
to  become  superintendent  of  the  schools  at  Hamburg,  Iowa,  where  he  remained 
for  a  period  of  fourteen  years.  From  there  he  went  to  Maryville,  Missouri, 
as  superintendent  of  schools,  which  position  he  held  for  a  period  of  eight 
years.  In  1892  he  came  to  Newlon,  Iowa,  as  superintendent  of  schools  and 
here  he  has  continued  to  reside,  having  thus  been  in  charge  of  the  schools 
here  for  a  period  of  twenty  years.  In  this  time  he  has  l^rought  the  high  school 
of  Xewton  up  to  a  standard  of  efficiency  and  equipment  that  ranks  with  any 
high  school  in  the  state.  He  has  taken  great  interest  in  his  teachers,  all  of 
whom  are  selected  with  especial  reference  to  their  ability  to  fill  acceptably  the 
positions  to  which  assigned.  He  encourages  many  of  the  high  school  gradu- 
ates to  enter  the  teacher's  profession  and  to  this  end  devotes  considerable  time 
to  pedagogic  lectures  and  instruction  on  this  important  and  far-reaching  sub- 
ject, which  are  greatly  prized  by  those  contemplating  making  the  school-room 
their  chosen  arena  of  endeavor.  That  the  advantage  of  a  liberal  education 
may  be  generally  disseminated  he  has  encouraged  young  people  of  the  county 
to  attend  high  school  by  giving  them  every  possible  consideration.  His  great 
force  of  character  and  ripe  scholarship,  together  with  his  ability  as  an  organ- 
izer, has  enabled  Professor  Beard  to  bring  to  his  work  in  this  city  the  results 
of  his  professional  experience  with  marked  effect,  and  it  was  not  long  until 
the  schools  under  his  supervision  advanced  to  the  high  standard  of  efficiency 
for  which  they  are  now  noted.  The  teaching  force  during  his  incumbency 
has  been  increased  and  the  enrollment  of  pupils  has  constantly  grown,  while 
many  things  tending  to  lessen  the  teacher's  labors  and  at  the  same  time  make 
them  effective  have  been  introduced ;  the  course  of  study  throughout  has  been 
modified  and  improved,  the  latest  and  most  approved  appliances  installed  and 
everything  in  keeping  with  modern  educational  progress  tested,  and  where 
practical,  retained.  He  has  shown  himself  to  be  a  man  of  progressive  ideas, 
broad-minded,  and  he  has  kept  fully  abreast  of  the  times  in  all  matters  per- 
taining to  his  profession.  His  work  in  every  department  of  education  is  char- 
acteristically practical  and  in  teaching,  in  superintending  and  in  devising  and 
modifying  the  course  of  study,  he  possesses  to  a  remarkable  degree  the  sense 
of  proportion  and  fitness.  Continuous  application  through  a  period  of  forty- 
five  years  has  given  him  a  clear  and  comprehensive  insight  into  the  philosophy 
of  education  and  the  largest  wisdom  as  to  method  and  means  of  attainment  of 
ends,  while  his  steady  growth  in  public  favor  wherever  he  has  labored  and  his 
popularity  with  teachers  and  pupils  have  won  for  him  educational  standing 
in  several  states  in  the  Middle  West. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  45 1 

Although  a  school  man  in  the  broadest  and  best  sense  of  the  term,  and 
as  such  making  every  other  consideration  secondary  to  his  professional  and 
official  duties,  Prof.  Beard  has  never  become  narrow  or  pedantic,  as  have  so 
many  whose  lives  have  been  spent  in  intimate  association  with  the  immature 
minds  within  the  four  walls  of  the  school-room.  He  is  a  well  rounded,  sym- 
metrically developed  man.  fully  alive  to  the  demands  of  the  times,  thoroughly 
informed  on  the  leading  questions  before  the  puljlic  and  takes  broad  views  of 
men  and  things.  He  believes  in  progress  in  other  than  the  profession  to 
which  he  belongs  and  to  attain  the  end  manifests  an  abiding  interest  in  what- 
ever makes  for  the  material  advancement  of  the  community,  encouraging  all 
worthy  enterprises  and  lending  his  influence  to  means  whereby  his  fellowmen 
may  be  benefited  and  made  better.  A  reader  and  thinker,  he  very  naturally 
gives  considerable  thought  to  politics,  his  studies  and  investigations  along  this 
line  leading  him  to  espouse  the  Republican  party.  Fraternally,  he  holds  mem- 
bership with  the  Masons,  in  which  he  has  attained  the  Knight  Templar  degree, 
and  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  he  belongs  to  Garrett  Post,  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic.     He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Congregational  church. 

In  addition  to  the  duties  of  the  superintendency,  Professor  Beard  is 
deeply  interested  in  educational  matters  throughout  the  state  and  from  time 
to  time  he  has  been  honored  with  important  official  positions  in  various  soci- 
eties and  associations  which  make  for  the  good  of  the  work  and  the  advance- 
ment of  the  teacher's  profession.  He  is  active  and  influential  in  the  State 
Teachers'  Association,  having  been  president  of  the  same,  discharging  the 
duties  of  that  important  position  with  an  ability  and  fidelity  that  reflected 
much  credit  upon  himself  and  elicited  the  hearty  approval  of  all  concerned. 
Besides  taking  an  active  part  in  the  discussions  and  general  deliberations  of 
the  organization,  advocating  certain  measures  with  masterly  force  and  skill 
and  opposing  whatever  he  deems  dangerous  to  the  progress  of  educational 
thought,  his  influence  has  always  been  felt,  while  his  suggestions  have  com- 
manded respect  and  carried  weight.  As  a  lecturer  on  educational  topics  he 
is  an  easy,  forceful  and  not  infrequently  a  truly  eloquent  speaker,  his  familiar- 
ity with  the  subject  under  consideration,  with  his  full  command  of  strong, 
vigorous  English  and  his  pleasing,  direct  style,  making  him  popular  with  his 
audiences  and  to  no  small  degree  a  master  of  public  assemblages. 

The  domestic  life  of  Professor  Beard  began  on  November  30.  1868, 
when  he  led  to  the  hymeneal  altar  Lura  Alexander,  a  lady  of  culture,  talent 
and  refinement,  the  daughter  of  ]\Iajor  Samuel  P.  Alexander  and  wife,  a 
prominent  family  of  Beloit,  Wisconsin,  and  this  union  has  been  graced  by  the 
birth  of  four  children,  namely:  Lura  Vesta  is  one  of  the  popular  teachers  of 


^^2  JASPER    COUNTY.    1()\V.\. 

Newton,  having  been  engaged  with  her  father  in  high  school  work  for  the 
l)ast  twenty-three  years ;  Grace  L.  is  the  wife  of  J.  B.  Baumer,  of  Independ- 
ence. Kansas ;  Ezra  G.,  who  went  to  the  Spanish-American  war  and  died  of 
typhoid-malarial  fever,  was  a  bright,  promising  and  finely  educated  young 
man;  Gertrude,  the  youngest  child,  is  the  possessor  of  rare  musical  talent  and 
she  is  engaged  in  teaching  music  in  Newton.  This  family  has  long  been 
prominent  in  the  social  life  of  the  city  and  county. 


SIMEON  HICKS  GALUSHA. 

Among  Newton's  prominent  and  most  highly  respected  citizens  is  Simeon 
Hicks  Galusha.  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  this  locality  and  for  a  good  many 
years  a  prominent  figure  in  its  political  and  official  affairs.  His  days  of  activ- 
ity now  over,  he  is  leading  a  retired  life  as  befits  his  years,  having  passed  his 
seventy-seventh  milestone,  but  up  until  the  last  fifteen  years  there  were  few 
men  in  all  Jasper  county  whose  lives  were  so  full  and  varied  as  his,  for  he 
has  been  a  most  conspicuous  actor  in  the  drama  of  civilization  as  played  here 
in  this,  one  of  the  most  favored  sections  of  the  great  ^Middle  West,  having" 
taken  an  active  and  influential  part  in  its  growth  from  the  pioneer  epoch  to 
tlie  opulent  present. 

Mr.  Galusha,  like  manv  of  the  leading  business  men  of  this  part  of 
Iowa,  is  a  native  of  the  old  Empire  state,  his  birth  having  occurred  on  April 
14,  1834.  in  Cattaraugus  county,  New  York.  He  is  the  son  of  David  and 
Marilla  (Hicks)  Galusha,  both  natives  of  VeiTnont,  the  father  born  near  Ben- 
nington and  the  mother  near  East  Arlington.  David  Galusha,  who  devoted 
his  life  principally  to  school  teaching,  was  the  son  of  Simeon  Galusha  and 
wife,  an  early  New  England  family.  When  Simeon  H.  Galusha  was  thirteen 
years  of  age  his  parents  moved  from  New  York  to  Mt.  Vernon,  Ohio,  and 
there  he  received  most  of  his  schooling.  When  he  was  twenty-one  years  of 
age  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Iowa,  settling  first  at  Marion,  Linn  county, 
in  1855.  He  had  previously  learned  the  trades  of  l)rick  mason  and  plasterer, 
and  he  followed  these  lines  most  of  his  active  life.  About  a  year  after  he 
came  here  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and  after  a  short  stav  there  came  again  to 
Iowa,  this  time  locating  at  Newton,  where  he  has  made  his  home  continuouslv 
to  the  present  time,  his  life  history  and  that  of  the  town  l)eing  closely  inter- 
woven, rp  to  fifteen  years  ago  hardly  a  brick  Iniilding  was  erected  that  he 
(lid  not  l)uil(l.  wholly  or  in  part:  he  helped  erect  the  old  Central  school  build- 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  453 

ing  which  has  withstood  the  storms  of  over  half  a  century.  He  is  one  of  the 
two  men  now  surviving  who  assisted  in  building  the  court  house  in  Xewton. 
erected  in  1858,  and  which  lias  but  recentl}-  been  replaced  by  the  stone  Iniild- 
ing  which  now  occupies  its  site;  in  fact,  the  major  part  of  the  t(jwn  of  Xewton 
stands  as  a  monument  to  his  skill  as  a  builder. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1858,  Mr.  Galusha  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Harriett  Newell,  daughter  of  Samuel  Fleming  and  Julia  A.  (Fugard)  Newell, 
the  former  a  native  of  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  mother  of  New 
Hampshire.  ]\Ir.  Newell  was  a  carpenter  by  trade.  He  came  to  Newton. 
Iowa,  from  Mt.  \>rnon,  Ohio,  in  1855,  ^^^  here  he  became  well  known,  was 
regarded  as  a  very  fine  workman  and  was  highly  respected,  and  here  his  death 
occurred  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years,  his  wife  ha\ing  died  when  forty- 
three  years  old.  Airs.  Galusha  was  born  in  Ohio  on  December  15,  1839,  she 
being  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  five  children;  the  others'are  Jackson  F.,  who 
was  killed  in  one  of  the  principal  battles  during  the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  in 
Company  C,  Twenty-second  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry;  Adaline.  now  deceased, 
married  Henry  AIcFarland;  Margaret  E.  wife  of  John  M.  Steele,  lives  at 
Olympia,  Washington ;  Elsworth  L.  owns  and  operates  a  ranch  near  Stock- 
ton. California. 

Air.  Galusha.  of  this  review,  was  one  of  a  family  of  seven  children, 
namely :  Julius  died  in  Wisconsin ;  Ruben  died  at  St.  Paul,  Minnesota ; 
David  Henry  died,  it  is  presumed,  during  a  yellow  fever  epidemic  in  the  South, 
having  been  a  soldier  in  the  Third  Wisconsin  A'olunteer  Infantry  during  the 
Civil  war.  at  least  he  was  never  heard  from  after  that:  Delia.  Lydia  and  Julia 
are  all  deceased.  The  father  of  these  children  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-four 
years,  the  mother  reaching  the  age  of  ninety-one  years,  and  Grandfather  Hicks 
lived  to  be  one  hundred  years  old. 

Air.  and  Airs.  Galusha  nre  the  parents  of  six  children,  namely:  Samuel 
Henrv  is  living  at  Wichita,  Kansas :  he  was  formerly  treasurer  of  Jasper 
countv.  Iowa;  Edward  died  in  infancy:  Julius  AI.,  who  is  now  living  in  Des 
Moines.  Iowa,  was  formerly  department  treasurer  of  Jasper  county,  and  he 
is  now  manager  of  the  Western  Newspaper  Union;  David  Murray,  who  lives 
at  Alemphis.  Tennessee,  is  connected  with  the  Western  Newspaper  Union : 
Reuben  G.  who  is  deceased.  A\as  associated  with  the  \\'estern'  Newspaper 
Union  and  A.  N.  Kellogg  Newspaper  Company  at  Chicago,  Omaha  and 
Wichita,  as  manager,  and  was  a  brilliant  and  forceful  young  man:  Ned  L..  a 
brick  mason  and  plasterer  at  Newton. 

Simeon  H.  Galusha  was  a  member  of  the  Home  Guards  during  the  war 
nf  the  Rebellion.     He  was  at  one  time  department  auditor  of  the  county  and 


_^-_|  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

he  was  township  clerk  for  many  years.  He  was  elected  on  the  Republican 
ticket  and  served  two  terms  as  treasurer  of-  Jasper  county.  He  and  his  wife 
belong  to  the  Congregational  church  of  Newton,  she  having  been  a  member 
since  the  age  of  nineteen. 

Air.  Galusha  was  employed  as  bookkeeper  in  Morgan's  store  at  Xewton 
for  se\eral  years.  He  is  the  owner  of  tw^o  valuable  and  desirable  properties 
in  Xewton.  Fraternally,  he  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows and  has  attained  the  Knights  Templar  degree  in  Masonry ;  all  his  sons 
except  Ned  are  ]\Iasons.  The  subject  spent  a  few  years  in  Los  Angeles,  Cali- 
fornia, for  his  health. 


NELLIE  SLAGHT,  D.  O.  and  M.  D. 

This  alert,  capable  and  energetic  \\oman  is  a  splendid  example  of  what 
courage,  coupled  with  ability,  may  accomplish.  Although  a  woman,  she  has 
entered  a  held  of  human  effort  commonly  given  over  to  men,  and,  while  not 
sacrificing  one  jot  of  the  feminine  daintiness  which  is  hers,  she  has  been  very 
successful  in  her  chosen  profession,  that  of  a  physician  of  the  osteopath  school. 

Nellie  Slaght  was  born  September  3,  1872,  in  Tiffin,  Iowa,  the  daughter 
of  Charles  Parker  and  Philena  (Higgins)  Slaght.  Her  mother  was  born 
July  29,  1840,  at  Mount  Vernon,  Ohio,  and  her  father  was  a  native  of  New- 
Jersey,  born  in  Morris  county,  that  state,  March  25,  1835.  He  was  the  fifth 
child  born  in  a  family  of  six  children  to  Jeremiah  Slaght  (born  1798,  in  New^ 
Jersey).  Se\eral  years  after  his  marriage,  Jeremiah  Slaght  took  his  family 
and  moved  to  the  state  of  Ohio ;  here  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits  for  a 
numl)er  of  years  and  in  1853  he  removed  to  Iowa  and  settled  on  a  farm  near 
Iowa  City.  At  this  time  Charles  Parker,  father  of  the  subject,  was  a  young 
man  of  eighteen  years,  and  came  with  his  father's  family  to  Iowa.  He  learned 
the  stonemason's  trade  in  an  early  day  and  worked  at  this  trade  and  also 
farming  throughout  his  life.  He  was  a  man  of  good  parts  and  great  public 
spirit.  He  invented  a  hay  rake  and  loader,  known  as  the  "Clean-sweep  Hay- 
rake  and  Loader,"  now  manufactured  by  the  Sandwich  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany of  Illinois.  This  invention  has  been  exhibited  at  the  world's  fairs  held 
in  Chicago,  Paris,  Buffalo,  etc.,  and  is  sold  and  shipped  to  Australia,  South 
America,  and,  in  fact,  to  all  parts  of  the  world.  He  was  also  a  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war,  serving  with  distinction  throughout  the  struggle.  1)eing  a  meniljcr 
of  the  Twenty-seventh  Iowa  Regiment.  He  was  always  prominent  and  active 
in  j)oHtics.  being  identified  with  the  interests  of  the  I'JeiJublican  party:  was  a 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  455 

member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Repubhc,  and  was  also  prominent  in  church 
work,  and  in  all  affairs  for  the  benefit  of  the  public.  He  was  a  class  leader 
and  of^cer  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  TifBn  for  a  great  many  years. 
In  1881  he  moved  to  Iowa  City  and  here  his  death  occurred  in  1890,  from  in- 
juries received  from  falling  from  a  roof  of  a  barn.  He  was  twice  married,  his 
first  marriage  occurring  October  8.  1857,  when  he  was  united  to  Rachel  A. 
Chamberlin.  To  this  union  there  were  three  children  born,  namely :  Mar- 
garet, Mary  and  George,  none  of  whom  are  now  living,  and  only  one  of 
whom,  Margaret,  grew  to  maturity.  She  died  at  the  age  of  thirty,  unmarried, 
and  his  first  wife  died  June  20,  1864,  ^ii^^  iJii  September  13,  1866,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Philena  Higgins,  mother  of  the  subject,  as  stated  above. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Sophronia  (Van  W'ormer)  Higgins.  To 
this  second  marriage  were  born  three  children,  namely :  Sophronia  Celia, 
born  September  3,  1867,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-six;  Agnes,  born  in  iVugust, 
1869,  died  at  the  age  of  four;  and  Xellie,  the  subject  of  this  review.  The 
mother  died  May  10,  1903,  at  Monroe,  Iowa,  where  she  was  living  with  the 
subject,  leaving  her  the  only  Ii\ing  member  of  her  family.  Her  father's  peo- 
ple were  all  long-lived  people.  The  family  is  of  German  descent.  Two  of  her 
aunts,  on  the  father's  side,  Lucinda  Wolf  Drake  and  Xancy  Doty,  are  still 
living,  aged  respectively  eighty-eight  and  eighty-two.  Mrs.  Drake  lives  in 
Newton,  Iowa,  Mrs.  Doty  at  Sparta,  Ohio. 

Nellie  Slaght  graduated  from  the  high  school  at  Iowa  City,  after  which  she 
taught  two  terms  of  school  in  Johnson  county,  and  one  term  in  the  schools 
of  Washington  county,  this  state.  She  then  took  up  the  study  of  osteopathy, 
and  entered  the  S.  S.  Still  College  of  Osteopathy  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  from 
wliich  institution  she  was  graduated  in  June,  1901.  Slie  then  moved  with  her 
mother  to  Monroe,  where  she  began  the  practice  of  osteopathy.  About  a  year 
later  she  gave  up  her  practice  in  Monroe  and  went  to  Chicago  and  taught 
there  in  the  Chicago  School  of  Osteopathy  in  the  winter  of  1902-3.  She  also 
took  up  the  study  of  homeopathy,  from  which  branch  of  medicine  she  was 
graduated  in  April,  1904.  After  her  graduation  she  entered  St.  Hedwig's 
Hospital  in  Chicago  as  interne  and  served  there  during  the  winter  of  1904-5. 
The  following  July  she  came  to  Newton  and  opened  an  office  for  the  practice 
of  osteopathy.  Success  crowned  her  efforts,  and  during  the  years  she  has  been 
in  Newton  she  has  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  practice  and  is  recognized  as 
one  of  its  leading  and  prominent  physicians. 

She  is  an  active  member  of  the  state  and  district  osteopathic  associations 
and  is  eligible  to  meml)ership  in  the  National  Osteopathic  Association.  She 
is  a  zealous  member  and  actixe  worker  in  the  United  Pres])vterian  church. 


_|.56  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

GEORGE  C.  HART. 

In  studving  the  interesting  life  histories  of  many  of  the  better  class  of 
men,  and  the  ones  of  unquestioned  merit  and  honor,  it  will  be  found  that  they 
have  been  compelled,  very  largel}'.  to  map  out  their  own  career  and  furnish 
their  own  motive  force  in  scaling  the  heights  of  success,  and  it  is  such  a  one 
that  the  biographer  writes  of  in  these  paragraphs. 

George  C.  Hart,  a  jjrominent  citizen  of  Newton.  Jasper  county,  is  the 
son  of  Cyrus  \\'.  and  Agnes  M.  (  Duff )  Hart,  the  former  a  native  of  Ohio 
and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania.  The  paternal  grandfather  was  also  named 
Cvrus ;  the  latter  married  Susan  Ewing.  who  emigrated  from  Ireland  with  her 
parents  when  three  years  of  age  and  they  located  near  Pittsburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  grandfather  was  born  in  Vermont  and  after  his  marriage  lived 
in  Ohio  and  reared  a  family  of  seven  children.  He  was  quite  a  talented  man, 
being  a  musician  and  an  author  of  note  in  that  locality.  Those  of  the  children 
who  came  West  were  Theodore  Plart,  a  former  physician  of  Galesl)urg.  this 
county,  and  also  of  Xewton,  now  deceased.  Harriet  Denniston,  whose  hus- 
band mysteriously  disappeared  while  on  a  trip  to  Philadelphia  with  a  load  of 
horses;  George  Denniston,  of  Xewton,  is  their  son.  Susan  was  the  wife  of 
\A''ilson  Tompson,  now  deceased;  he  was  a  farmer  in  Buena  A'^ista  township; 
James  Hart  was  also  a  farmer  in  that  township;  Cyrus,  father  of  the  subject, 
and  Lucy,  who  married  James  Irwin,  were  twins;  she  is  deceased.  Air.  Irwin 
was  a  farmer  in  Buena  Vista  township  and  hardware  merchant  in  Xewton. 

Cyrus  Hart,  the  father,  was  born  in  1833.  and  his  wife,  who  was  the 
daughter  of  a  farmer,  was  born  in  183^).  The}-  emigrated  to  Iowa  in  the 
pioneer  days,  descending  the  Ohio  river,  and  thence  up  the  ^Mississippi  ri\er 
to  Keokuk,  then  hauled  their  goods  overland  with  ox  teams  to  Mahaska 
county,  where  they  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixtv  acres  of  land.  X'^ot 
having  been  used  to  a  prairie  country  they  found  the  winters  uncomfortably 
severe,  and  the  following  spring  sold  their  place  and  mo\ed  to  Jasper  county 
and  bought  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  the  timber,  in  Buena  Arista  town- 
ship. There  was  a  stone  quarry  upon  the  place  wln'cli  proved  to  l)e  a  lucrative 
source  of  revenue.  Some  of  the  stone  which  entered  into  the  construction  of 
the  old  Jas])er  county  court  house  was  taken  from  this  quarry.  In  1866  Mr. 
Hart  traded  this  place  for  one  hundred  :>nd  sixty  acres  in  section  29,  Buena 
\^i.sta  township:  later  he  added  to  this  until  he  owned  four  hundred  and 
seventy-eight  acres,  which  he  retained  until  1892,  when  he  retired  and  moved 
to  Xewton.  having  laid  by  a  competency  and  become  one  of  the  substantial 
men  of  his  communitv,  but  he  was  not  eniraeed  in  farminij-  all  that  time.     He 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  457 

owned  a  house  and  lot  where  the  present  opera  house  now  stands,  and  he  was 
at  one  time  engaged  in  the  shipping  ])usiness.  He  was  the  first  citizen  of 
Jasper  county  to  start  a  dairy  and  creamery ;  however,  there  was  one  here  be- 
fore his,  but  it  was  operated  by  outside  capital.  While  on  his  farm  he  was  a 
heavy  stock  shipper  and  before  the  railroad  was  put  through  he  was  compelled 
to  drive  his  stock  to  Kellogg  for  shipping.  Mr.  Hart  died  in  Newton  in  1907, 
honored  and  respected  by  all;  one  of  the  county's  early  settlers,  he  was  one  of 
its  successful  and  progressive  as  well  as  influential  business  men.  public 
spirited  and  active  in  the  advance  movements  of  his  day  and  generation.  It  is 
a  singular  coincidence  that  his  death  and  that  of  all  the  other  deceased  mem- 
bers of  the  Hart  family  occurred  in  February.  The  family  of  Cyrus  Hart 
consisted  of  six  children,  namely:  John  died  in  infancy;  Emma,  who  married 
Dr.  I.  H.  ]^loore.  of  Monroe,  now  lives  at  Seattle,  Washington ;  until  recent 
years  he  was  superintendent  of  the  Treadwell  mine  in  Alaska;  Madge  mar- 
ried Jesse  McClintock,  and  they  live  in  Missouri ;  Charles  is  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  at  Blackfoot.  Idaho;  Fanny,  who  married  Milt  Carrier, 
lives  in  Xewton.  Iowa:  and  George  C,  of  this  review.  The  mother  of  these 
children  was  called  to  her  rest  in  February.  1904. 

George  C.  Hart,  the  third  child  in  order  of  birth  in  his  father's  familv, 
was  born  in  Jasper  county,  October  6,  1858.  He  received  a  good  education 
and  when  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  from  his 
father,  and  that  year  the  father  started  in  the  creamery  business  and  he 
induced  his  son  to  remain  and  manage  the  same  for  him.  and  in  order  to  fully 
equip  himself  for  this  line  of  endeavor  he  went  to  a  college  where  dairying 
is  taught  and  took  a  course  in  the  same,  then  returned  and  took  charge  of  the 
business,  which,  under  his  able  management,  rapidly  grew  to  large  proportions 
and  was  a  \erv  paying  enterprise.  Four  years  later  lie  operated  a  dairy  at 
Lynnville;  later  he  rented  his  father's  place  and  successfully  operated  the  farm 
for  six  vears.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  bought  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  in  Palo  Alto  township,  in  section  13.  Eight  years  later  he  sold  this  and 
for  two  vears  he  engaged  in  the  stock  and  meat  market  business  in  Xewton. 
He  then  bought  land  in  South  Dakota,  also  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in 
Buena  Msta  township,  about  a  mile  from  his  birthplace.  In  all  these  business 
ventures  he  was  successful. 

On  Februarv  18.  1885,  Mr.  Hart  was  united  in  marriage  with  Alma 
Eaton,  who  was  born  November  14,  1858.  the  daughter  of  Fred  and  Carrie 
(Hodges)  Eaton,  the  father  a  native  of  Ohio  and  the  mother  was  born  in 
the  state  of  New  York.  Mr.  Eaton  came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  many  year; 
ago  and  is  todav  one  of  the  county's  prominent  citizens:  he  was  elected  county 


_^-S  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

recoixler  for  two  terms.  He  and  his  wife  live  in  Newton.  Twelve  children 
were  born  to  them,  namely :  Frank  died  when  thirteen  years  old ;  \\'illiam  is 
fanning  in  Newton  township;  Carrie  married  Gus  Ericson  and  lives  at  Red 
Oak.  Iowa:  Arthur  lives  in  Newton;  Truman  makes  his  residence  in  Kellogg 
township;  Harry  lives  at  Shenandoah,  Page  county;  Horace  is  deceased; 
Fred,  jr.,  lives  in  California;  Sherman  is  deceased;  Addie  married  Alton 
Reynolds  and  lives  in  Denver,  Colorado ;  Anna  Belle  is  deceased. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  C.  Hart  three  children  have  been  born:  Grace, 
born  Februarv  14.  1886,  married  Dr.  \\'illiam  Nelson,  a  dentist  at  Essex. 
Page  county;  Mabel,  born  ]\Iay  13.  1888,  married  Dr.  H.  D.  Bergman,  mem- 
ber of  the  faculty  of  Ames  College,  Ames,  Iowa ;  C.  Fred,  born  January  29, 
1896.  also  lives  at  home.  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Hart  are  the  fond  grandparents  of 
one  little  baby  girl,  Marjorie,  born  May  20,  1909,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Nelson.     Mrs.  Hart's  grandfather  Hodges  was  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

George  C.  Hart  has  long  been  prominent  in  political  affairs,  and  in  1900 
he  was  elected  county  supervisor,  and  has  since  been  re-elected.  He  is  the 
inventor  of  a  combination  street  fountain  for  the  watering  of  both  man  and 
beast,  that  has  many  unique  features  which  bids  fair  to  become  very  popular. 
Mr.  Hart  is  the  owner  of  good  city  property  and  his  home  is  an  attractive  and 
commodious  one. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Hart  is  a  member  of  Modern  Woodmen  Camp  No.  182 
at  Newton.  He  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Alethodist  Episcopal  church  of 
this  city  and  are  liberal  supporters  of  the  same. 


CHARLES  C.  McCONKEY. 

To  the  strong,  defeats  are  but  mile-stones  on  the  highway  tit  Aictory. 
This  truth  seems  to  have  been  borne  out  by  Charles  C.  McConkey,  one  of 
Jasper  county's  progressive  citizens  and  an  honored  representative  of  one  of 
her  old  i)ioneer  families,  members  of  which  have  done  a  great  deal  in  various 
ways  in  contributing  to  the  general  development  of  this  favored  section  of  the 
great  Hawkeye  state.  Mr.  McConkey  has  never  permitted  obstacles  to  d<»\\n 
him  or  turn  him  aside  when  once  he  has  determined  upon  a  legitimate  course 
of  action,  and  therefore  he  has  succeeded  in  his  life  work. 

Mr.  McConkey  was  born  May  18,  1872,  in  this  county,  and  he  is  the  son 
of  Cobane  and  Sarah  J.  (Read)  McConkey,  early  settlers  of  Jasper  county. 
The  paternal  grandfather  was  Samuel  McConkey.     Cobane  :\IcConkey  was  a 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  459 

native  of  Ohio,  born  near  Hopedale,  Harrison  county.  When  a  young  man 
be  went  to  Virginia  and  was  married  there,  by  Alexander  Campbell,  the 
founder  of  the  Campbellite  church  at  Bethany. 

Cobane  McConkey  devoted  his  life  to  farming  and  in  1853  he  brought 
his  young  wife  to  Scott  county,  Iowa,  where  they  engaged  in  farming  two 
years.  He  then  moved  to  Jasper  county  and  bought  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  good  land  in  Newton  township,  which  he  retained  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death,  having  improved  it  into  a  splendid  farm.  He  spent  his  last  vears  in 
retirement  in  Newton  and  died  there  in  1896  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  vears. 
He  was  a  good  man  and  had  the  respect  of  all  who  knew  him.  His  widow 
survives,  making  her  home  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Sumner  E.  Gates,  just 
north  of  the  city  of  Newton. 

The  son.  Charles  C.  was  one  of  ten  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy :  the  others  are  ]\Iargaret  I.  Gates,  widow  of  Sumner  E.  Gates,  a  prom- 
inent Jasper  county  citizen,  his  death  haxing  occurred  in  1900;  their  sketch 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Jane  McConkey,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Frank  Graham,  is  now  deceased ;  Alice  married  John  Alunn,  of  Newton  town- 
ship; Edward  died  when  seventeen  years  old;  Mary  died  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen ;  Lillie  married  Bert  Beatty,  of  Newton  township ;  William  remained  sin- 
gle and  died  when  twenty-nine  years  old. 

Charles  C.  A'IcConkev  attended  the  common  schools,  also  Hazel  Dell 
Academy  two  years.  He  began  life  for  himself  when  about  sixteen  years  of 
age,  doing  various  things  whereby  he  could  earn  honest  money,  but  most  of 
his  labors  were  confined  to  the  farm.  He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  when  a 
young  man,  which  he  has  followed  practically  ever  since. 

On  June  28.  1893,  Mr.  McConkey  was  united  in  marriage  with  Alice 
Stuver,  who  was  born  in  Iowa  in  October,  1874,  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Sarah  (Palmer)  Thomas.  \\'hen  but  a  small  child  she  was  legally  adopted 
bv  Aaron  and  Josephine  Stuver,  who  had  no  children  of  their  own.  She  has 
two  sisters  living,  Mrs.  Sarah  Davis  and  Mrs.  Zoa  King,  both  in  Colorado. 
When  but  a  girl  of  sixteen  she  taught  scliool  two  years,  being  .married  at  the 
age  of  eighteen.  Not  long  after  they  were  married  Mr.  and  Mrs.  ]\IcConkey 
moved  to  Brule  county.  South  Dakota,  where  they  purchased  a  quarter  sec- 
tion of  land,  which  they  disposed  of  a  few  years  later  and  returned  to  Jasper 
countv,  locating  on  the  old  home  place,  which  Mr.  McConkey  farmed  for  two 
years,  then  moved  to  the  city  of  Newton  and  followed  the  carpenter's  trade 
until  the  desire  for  a  change  again  seized  him;  thus  three  years  later  he 
moved  his  familv  to  Chickasha.  Grady  county,  Oklahoma;  but  he  returned  to 
lasper  countv  in  1909,  since  which  time  he  has  been  following  his  trade,  being 


_j.6o  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

\ery  successful  as  a  contractor  and  builder.  He  is  regarded  as  a  high  grade 
workman  and  his  contract  jobs  are  always  turned  out  quickly  and  well  done. 

yir.  and  Mrs.  McConkey  are  the  parents  of  four  children,  namely : 
Charles  Harold,  born  in  .\ugust,  1905;  Bertram,  born  in  1897,  *^1'^<^  i"  i'"*" 
fancv ;  Edward,  born  in  May,  1902:  Margaret,  born  in  Alay.  1909. 

Mr.  McConkev  has  been  very  successful  in  a  business  way  and  he  is  now 
the  owner  of  three  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land  in  Kaddo  county.  Okla- 
homa. Fraternallv.  he  belongs  to  the  Alasonic  lodge  in  Xewton.  and  he  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  \\'orkmen,  in  Brule  county. 
South  Dakota,  and  of  the  Relief  Association  of  Oklahoma,  Xo.  59.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Congregational  church. 


ANDREW  J.  BROKAW. 

Abram  Brokaw,  the  grandfather  of  the  subject,  was  born  in  New  Jersey 
in  1773,  the  son  of  Caleb  Brokaw,  who  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  and  a  brother  of  Caleb,  named  Isaac,  served  as  private  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  Abram  Brokaw  was  married  to  Mariah  Stryker.  a  native 
of  New  Jersey,  in  the  year  1791,  and  to  them  were  born  fifteen  children.  In 
the  year  1822  the  family  removed  from  Xew  Jersey  to  Ohio  and  settled  in 
Jefferson  county,  that  state,  and  there  Abram  Brokaw  departed  this  life  in  the 
year  1826. 

John  A.  Brokaw.  the  father  of  Andrew  J.,  was  the  se\enth  child  born 
to  Abram  and  ]\lariah  Brokaw,  and  was  Ijorn  July  4,  1804.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  he  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade  and  began  working  for  himself. 
When  the  family  moved  to  Ohio,  he  went  with  them,  but  eighteen  months 
later  he  went  back  to  X^ew  Jersey.  A  year  later  he  returned  again  to  Ohio 
and  remained  there  until  after  the  death  of  his  father,  when  he  took  his  mother 
and  went  back  to  New  Jersey.  Upon  tliis  trip  he  married  Caroline  Bush,  a 
native  of  Xew  Jersey,  having  been  born  in  that  state  on  June  20,  1809.  In 
183 1  John  Brokaw  took  his  wife  and  family,  consisting  at  that  time  of  two 
children,  and  again  removed  to  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  but  one  year  later  he 
moved  to  Knox  county,  in  the  same  state,  and  there  he  remained,  working 
at  his  trade  and  farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  January  17,  1893. 
at  the  \enerable  age  of  eighty-nine.  At  the  time  he  arrived  in  Knox  county, 
his  entire  worldly  possessions  consisted  of  one  horse  and  a  wagon  and  three 
dollars  and  twelve  and  one-half  cents  in  monev.   B\    inchistrv  and  thrift  he 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  461 

acquired  quite  a  handsome  campetence.  His  wife,  Caroline  Brokaw.  the  mother 
of  Andrew  J.,  died  at  Mt.  Liberty,  Knox  county,  Ohio,  in  1878.  This  couple 
were  the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  as  follows:  Sarah,  Ixtrn  in  1829,  died 
in  1852,  was  the  wife  of  Henry  Slack;  Maria  was  the  wife  of  Peter  Sprack- 
len,  born  February  21.  1831,  died  1855;  Effa,  born  Februarys  26,  1833.  mar- 
ried George  Barr  in  1853,  and  is  now  living  at  Manilla,  Crawford  county, 
Iowa,  her  husband  being  deceased ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  D.  L.  Brackenridge, 
was  born  in  November,  1834,  and  died  in  Tama  county,  Iowa,  December  2t,, 
1872;  a  daughter,  born  January  25,  1837,  died  in  infancy;  Phoebe  A.,  born 
June  17,  1838,  married  Frank  Lambert  in  1859,  and  lives  in  Manilla,  Craw- 
ford county,  Iowa;  Caroline,  born  January  27,  1842.  married  John  Bird.  Sep- 
tember 7,  1865.  and  lives  at  Mt.  Vernon.  Knox  county,  Ohio;  Mary  L..  lx>rn 
in  February,  1843.  niarried  Smith  Gearhart  in  1865,  and  lives  at  Mt.  Liberty, 
Knox  county,  Ohio ;  Andrew  J.,  the  subject  of  this  review,  born  June  6,  1845 ; 
William  B.,  born  August  8.  1847,  lives  in  Richland  county,  Ohio;  Abraham 
G..  born  February  4.  1850.  lives  in  Manilla,  Crawford  county,  Iowa;  John  B.. 
born  July  25,  1852,  lives  at  Hollywood,  California,  has  a  real  estate  Ijusiness 
in  Los  Angeles,  that  state;  Marcus,  born  July  8.  1855,  died  in  infancy. 

Andrew  J.  Brokaw,  who  was  the  ninth  child  born  to  John  and  Caroline 
Brokaw.  received  his  early  educational  training  mainly  in  the  country  schools  in 
Knox  count}',  Ohio.  .\t  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  started  out  to  work  for 
himself,  and  a  few  years  later.  1870.  he  came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  and 
worked  as  a  farm  hand  around  at  different  places,  making  his  home  the 
m.eanwhile  with  a  sister.  Phoebe  Lambert,  at  that  time  living  on  a  farm  in 
Xewton  township,  this  county.  For  a  little  over  four  years  he  continued 
working  thus,  at  which  time  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Bishop,  who  was  the  widow  of  Miles  S.  Bishop  and  the  daughter  of  Marcus 
A.  and  Lydia  (Nichols)  ^Morton,  her  father  being  a  native  of  Massachusetts, 
born  at  Middlebury.  that  state,  and  her  mother  a  native  of  Vermont.  lx)rn 
at  Well  ford,  that  state.  The  family  came  from  Massachusetts  in  the  year 
1832  to  Licking  county,  Ohio,  and  settled  on  a  farm  not  far  from  Gran\ille. 
that  state.  Here  they  lived  until  the  year  1848.  when  they  removed  to  Wood 
county,  in  the  same  state,  where  they  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until 
the  death  of  the  husband  and  father,  which  occurred  on  December  18.  1855, 
The  next  vear.  the  family,  consisting  of  the  mother  and  children,  came  to 
Iowa,  and  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  just  north  of 
Newton,  in  Newton  township,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Farmer  College. 
Here  the  mother  departed  this  life  on  October   14,    i860.     There  were  ten 


_|(i2  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

children  in  this  family,  as  follows:  George,  born  November  7.  1830.  lives 
in  Wood  county,  Ohio;  A\'illiam  W.,  born  ^lay  22,  1832,  died  May  19,  1901, 
at  Newton,  leaving  a  family  of  three  children.  He  owned  a  feed  yard,  the 
first  one  of  its  kind  established  in  Newton,  where  Simpson's  feed  yard  is 
now  located;  Hiram  M.,  born  January  8,  1834,  died  at  Winterset,  Iowa,  in 
1873.  leaving  four  children;  Sarah,  wife  of  George  Bacon,  was  born  Decem- 
ber 18,  1836,  lives  at  Horton,  Kansas;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Andrew  J.  Brokaw. 
was  born  November  i,  1838;  Silas  \\'..  born  April  21,  1840,  died  in  1906 
at  Council  Bluffs.  Iowa,  leaving  two  children;  Elias  A  died  in  infancy;  Lydia 
E.,  born  December  9.  1844,  married  James  Trussel,  and  died  in  1865,  leaving 
five  children;  Julia,  born  September  14.  1846,  wife  of  Thomas  Helphrey, 
lives  in  Chicago;  Mattie,  wife  of  Jolin  B.  Johnson,  was  l)orn  April  22,  1848, 
died  at -Council  Bluffs,  Iowa,  March  12,  1880,  leaving  three  children. 

At  the  time  the  Morton  family  came  to  and  located  at  Farmer  College 
the  country  was  very  sparsely  settled,  there  being  only  three  houses  Ijetween 
their  place  and  the  village  of  Newton.  In  1859  Elizabeth  Morton  married 
Miles  L.  Bishop,  a  young  farmer,  who  died  in  1870.  leaving  her  with  five 
small  children,  namely:  Eva,  born  November  12,  i860,  is  the  wife  of  John 
Mclllece,  and  lives  in  Webster  county,  Nebraska,  where  they  own  a  farm 
of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres;  George  ]\I.  and  Charlie,  twins,  born  June 
5.  1862.  George  Hves  in  Scott  county.  Iowa,  and  Charlie  lives  at  Baxter, 
Iowa,  where  he  is  engaged  in  business.  He  also  owns  land  in  North  Dakota ; 
Hattie  L.,  born  June  7,  1864,  married  Frank  Truman,  lives  at  Lemoyne,  \Vood 
county,  Ohio;  Delbert  E..  born  July  20,  1866.  lives  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 
On  February  2,  1875,  Mrs.  Bishop  married  Andrew  J.  Brokaw,  and  to  them 
were  born  three  children,  namely:  Mina,  born  March  7,  1877,  married 
Charles  Earl  in  1899,  lives  in  Rock  Island,  Illinois;  J.  A.,  born  December  8, 
1880,  married  Ethel  Taylor  December  9.  1907.  lives  at  Newton,  Iowa,  and 
a  boy  who  died  in  infancy. 

In  1901  Mr.  and  ]Mrs.  Brokaw  sold  the  home  farm,  where  she  had 
lived  since  a  girl  for  over  forty  years,  and  purchased  property  in  Newton. 
Their  home  is  located  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  city,  where  they  have 
three  acres  of  land.  They  also  own  a  small  tract  of  timber  land  in  Kellogg 
township.  Mr.  Brokaw  retired  from  active  life  when  he  left  the  farm  in 
1901.  His  family  is  of  French  extraction,  while  Mrs.  Brokaw  is  of  Scotch 
descent  on  her  mother's  side  and  English  on  her  father's.  She  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  Newton,  active  and  zealous  in  all  the 
branches  of  that  institution. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  463 

W.  M.  GUESSFORD. 

The  methods  of  \V.  M.  Guessford,  well  known  real  estate  and  insurance 
man  of  Newton,  who  for  many  years  was  a  leading  farmer  of  Jasper  county, 
have  always  been  progressive,  and  he  is  quick  to  adopt  new  ideas  wiiich  he 
believes  will  be  of  practical  value  in  his  work.  Indolence  and  idleness  have 
been  entirely  foreign  to  his  nature  and  owing  to  his  close  application  to  his 
business  and  his  honorable  methods  he  has  won  the  prosperity  that  he  richly 
merited,  while  he  enjoys  the  friendship  and  esteem  of  the  people  throughout 
the  county. 

Mr.  Guessford  was  born  in  Adair  county,  Kentucky,  November  20.  1848. 
He  is  the  son  of  \\'illiam  D.  and  Emily  J.  (Smith)  Guessford,  both  natives 
of  Kentucky.  The  father  emigrated  to  ^lissouri  in  1850,  coming  on  to 
Iowa  in  1856,  locating  four  miles  south  of  Newton  where  he  remained  until 
seventeen  years  ago,  when  he  moved  to  Newton  and  died  here  in  October, 
1906.  He  devoted  his  life  to  farming  and  his  efforts  were  crowned  with 
abundant  success.  He  was  a  good  citizen,  but  plain  and  retiring,  seeking 
no  public  honors.  The  mother  of  the  subject  passed  away  when  he  was  but 
seven  years  old.  in  1855.  preceding  her  husband  to  the  grave  over  half  a  cen- 
tury. They  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  living,  namely  : 
Mrs.  Louise  Booyer,  of  Viola,  Illinois:  Mrs.  Anngemona  Springer,  of  Har- 
lan, Iowa:  D.  ]M.,  of  Sumner,  Nebraska;  and  W.  M.  of  this  review.  The 
father  of  these  children  married  a  second  time,  his  last  wife  being  Lucy 
Evart,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  this  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of  five  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  Joshua  and  Leander,  both  of  New- 
ton :  George  lives  southeast  of  Newton ;  and  Ida  lives  in  Newton. 

W.  M.  Guessford  grew  to  maturity  on  his  father's  fann  and  assisted  in 
the  general  work  about  the  place.  He  received  a  ^ery  good  education  in 
the  public  schools,  and  he  has  made  farming  his  chief  life  work,  following 
the  same  with  unabated  success  for  a  period  of  thirty-five  years  in  Jasper 
county,  having  maintained  a  very  desirable,  productive  and  well  im.proved 
place  ten  miles  southeast  of  Newton.  Seven  years  ago  he  gave  up  farming 
and  moved  to  Newton  where  he  has  since  engaged  in  real  estate  and  the 
insurance  business  with  singular  success,  having  succeeded  in  building  up  a 
very  satisfactory  patronage.  He  is  well  infonned  on  the  various  grades  and 
range  in  prices  of  real  estate  in  this  locality  and  his  scrupulous  honesty  in  all 
his  dealings  with  his  fellow  men  has  given  him  an  excellent  standing  in  the 
business  world,  so  that  he  has  both  the  good  will  and  the  confidence  of  all 
who  know  him. 


464  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Mr.  Guessford  is  the  owner  of  two  valuable  farms,  one  of  eighty  acres 
a  mile  south  of  Xewton,  and  one  of  one  hundred  sixty-se\en  and  a  half  acres 
near  Colfax. 

On  September  29,  1869,  he  married  Catherine  I.  Blakely,  a  native  of  Ohio. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Z.  A\'.  and  Elizabeth  Blakely,  who  came  to  Jasper 
county,  Iowa,  in  1866. 

The  following  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Guessford : 
Cora;  Edward  lives  east  of  Xewton;  Mrs.  Lucretia  Donald  lives  in  Wayne 
county,  Iowa,  near  Corydon ;  Elmer  lives  near  Cambria,  Wayne  county, 
Iowa ;  Tames  R.  is  associated  with  his  father  and  is  also  in  the  auction  busi- 
ness; Earl  C.  is  employed  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Xewton.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Guessford  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  Mr.  Guessford 
being  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school;  their  children  also  belong  to  this  church. 
Mr.  Guessford  is  an  enthusiastic  worker  in  the  church  and  Sunday  school 
and  has  held  every  official  position  in  the  church.  Fraternally,  he  belongs 
to  the  ^^'oodmen  of  the  World. 


HON.  ELI  E.  DOTSON. 

Herein  is  recorded  the  life  history  of  a  man  who  has  been  long,  actively 
and  prominently  concerned  in  the  affairs  of  Colfax  and  vicinity,  one  who  dur- 
ing his  life  has  been  a  practical  and  progressive  teacher,  an  able  and  successful 
farmer,  an  efficient  servant  of  the  people  in  his  state's  legislative  halls,  and  is 
now  a  prominent  banker  and  business  man  of  Colfax,  a  man  whom  the  people 
trust  implicitly,  because  they  have  seen  him  tried  in  so  many  situations  in  life 
— Hon.  Eli  E.  Dotson. 

Eli  E.  Dotson  was  born  in  Edgar  county,  Illinois,  on  February  20,  1847, 
and  was  brought  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  in  June,  1848,  by  his  parents.  He  is 
the  son  of  Charles  A.  Dotson,  whose  sketch  see  in  this  w^ork.  He  was  reared 
on  the  home  farm,  two  and  one-half  miles  north  of  Colfax,  and  attended  the 
common  schools.  Then,  showing  a  fondness  for  books  and  education  be- 
yond that  of  most  farm  boys,  he  attended  Grinnell  College.  For  several  terms 
he  taught  school  in  Jasper  county,  and  for  a  time  in  Colfax,  and  in  this  capac- 
ity became  well  known,  and  because  of  his  forceful  personality  and  mastery 
of  his  profession  he  exerted  a  strong  influence  for  good  on  the  pupils  who 
came  under  his  instruction.  He  became  the  owner  of  a  large  tract  of  land 
west  of  Colfax  in  Washington  township,  and  resided  on  the  farm  from  1876 
to  1897,  during  which  time  he  prospered.     In  1897  he  moved  to  Colfax  and 


O^'-'A^^ 


"Y^-^-i-^ 


^d-t\jl 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  465 

now  resides  there,  1)iit  still  manages  his  farm  of  five  hundred  acres  personally, 
with  the  same  capability  which  he  exercised  when  he  lived  upon  it.  At  the 
organization  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Colfax  Mr.  Dotson  became  vice- 
president  and  later  cashier,  and  his  ability  has  had  much  to  do  wnth  the  prog- 
ress and  prosperity  of  that  institution,  one  of  the  soundest  of  Jasper  county's 
banking  establishments. 

Mr.  Dotson  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  early  held  the  offices  of  town- 
ship clerk,  trustee,  member  of  the  school  board,  and  other  local  offices.  In 
1879  he  was  elected  to  the  Iowa  Legislature  from  Jasper  county,  and  re-elected 
in  1881.  He  served  in  the  sessions  of  1880  and  1882,  and  in  the  latter  session 
was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  schools,  which  w^as  in  that  session  one  of 
the  most  important  committees,  as  several  significant  laws  in  regard  to  educa- 
tion were  considered  by  the  Assembly.  Here  Mr.  Dotson's  experience  and 
reputation  as  a  teacher  had  equipped  him  to  render  efficient  service.  Mr.  Dot- 
son  has  been  chairman  of  the  county  central  committee  and  has  long  been 
veiy  active  in  county  and  state  politics.  In  fraternal  relations  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Masons,  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

In  1868  Mr.  Dotson  was  married  in  Jasper  county  to  Mary  Ellen  Hurst, 
the  daughter  of  Alfred  Hurst,  of  Jasper  county.  She  bore  to  him  the  follow- 
ing children:  Ulysses,  now  principal  of  schools  at  Salem.  Oregon;  the  Rev. 
Charles  A.,  of  Portland,  California,  pastor  of  the  Christian -church;  Doctor 
Eli  E.,  of  Corning,  Oregon;  Seymour  H.,  and  Sarah  Belle,  the  wife  of  Ed 
Bolen,  of  Poweshiek  county,  Iowa.  Mr.  Dotson  was  married  a  second  time 
to  Anna  Triplett,  of  Jasper  county.  To  this  marriage  one  child  was  born, 
Hugh  L.,  of  the  United  States  navy,  on  the  flagship  "Tennessee"  of  the 
North  Atlantic  squadron. 

Mr.  Dotson  is  well  known  to  the  people  of  Colfax,  and  they  fully  realize 
the  value  o^his  services  to  the  community  and  the  worth  of  his  character.  For 
this  reason  w^ords  of  encomium  are  unnecessary,  beyond  saying  that  he  is 
known  in  such  a  way  as  to  create  respect  for  the  man  who  has  builded  his 
life  so  admirably. 


RALPH  ROBINSON. 


Ralph  Robinson,  who  died  July  2r,  J911.  was  tor  man}-  years  the  able 
editor  of  the  Nezvton  Journal.  He  was  born  in  Washington  county.  Penn- 
sylvania, September  11,  1830.  But  little  information  is  before  the  writer 
regarding   the   earlv   history   of   the    Robinson    family.      \\'c   learn.    hn\\c\'er, 

(30) 


_^t,r>  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

that  they  originated  in  the  north  of  Ireland  and  w  ere  all  Protestants,  and  by 
(-(ccupation  small  farmers  and  weavers.  The  paternal  great-grandfather  was 
quite  a  leader  in  his  community,  and  was  at  one  time  master  of  the  grand 
lodge  of  the  Orangemen  of  Ireland. 

The  famil}'  was  numbered  among  the  early  ^lethodists  of  Ireland,  and 
John  Wesley,  when  in  the  neighborhood,  visited  the  subject's  grandfather, 
to  whom  he  wrote  a  number  of  letters.  Large  families  have  always  been 
characteristic  of  the  Robinsons.  In  his  great-grandfather's  family  there  were 
fifteen  children;  in  his  grandfather's  thirteen,  and  in  his  father's  family  nine, 
consisting  of  seven  sons  and  two  daughters.  Of  these  last,  two  brothers  and 
one  sister  are  now  living. 

William  Robinson,  father  of  the  subject,  was  ])rought  to  this  country 
when  a  voung  man.  together  with  two  others  bearing  the  same  name  as  he. 
bv  an  uncle  whose  name  was  also  William  Robinson.  This  uncle  was  a 
unique  character,  of  liberal  education  and  a  bachelor.  The  object  of  his  life 
was  to  free  Ireland,  and  he  came  to  America  with  the  determination  to  make 
a  fortune  and  eventually  use  it  in  bringing"  about  the  accomplishment  of  the 
aim  of  his  life.  He  possessed  a  remarkable  memory  and  in  all  his  numerous 
business  transactions  never  kept  a  book,  depending  on  liis  memory  for  every- 
thing in  this  line.  He  was  always  very  reticent,  and  never  conversed  with 
relatives  or  friends  of  his  business  transactions  unless  obliged  to  do  so.  It 
is  believed  that  he  accumulated  a  fortune  of  some  two  or  three  million  dollars. 
and  was  doubtless  preparing  to  devote  it  to  the  object  for  which  it  was  made, 
when  he  was  seized  with  a  stroke  of  apoplexy  and  died  without  lea\ing  any 
information  to  his  relatives  or  friends  of  where  his  accumulations  were  in- 
vested, and  the  lawyers  in  the  large  cities  where  his  interests  were  supposed 
to  be.  being  discreet  enough  to  keep  silent  after  his  death,  neither  Ireland  nor 
his  relati\'es  received  anv  benefit  from  his  large  fortune. 

The  father  of  the  subject  was  one  of  a  pair  of  twins,  the  tenth  addition 
to  the  family.  He  settled  in  A\'ashington,  Washingt(jn  county.  Pennsylvania. 
where  he  opened  a  small  weaving  shop,  and  early  in  life  married  ^fargaret 
Bushfield,  of  Greensburg,  Westmoreland  count\-.  I'ennsvhania.  Energetic 
and  industrious,  a  man  of  keen  intelligence  and  judicious  management,  he 
prospered  in  business,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  \\hich  occurred  in  \\'ash- 
ington,  I'ennsyhania,  in  1834.  he  was  a  wealtlu'  man.  While  engaged  in 
wea\ing".  he  em])lo}-ed  man\-  apprentices,  flaxing  always  been  a  Methodist. 
he  was  an^ong  the  first  to  join  the  Methodist  Protestant  church  after  the 
division  of  the  ^lethodist  Episcopal  church,  and  was  a  very  devoted  member 
of  the  denomination.      To  aid  the  cause,  he  made  it  a  point   to   "graduate" 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  467 

preachers  from  among  his  apprentices  at  the  weaver's  bench,  and  in  that 
way  he  added  a  dozen  or  more  ministers  to  the  pulpit  of  the  chiircli.  the  most 
prominent  of  them  being  Doctor  A[cCHntock,  of  Philadelphia. 

Since  coming  to  this  country  the  Robinson  family  has  been  largely 
engaged  in  business  enterprises,  more  particularly  in  the  weaving,  paper 
and  iron  business.  One  of  the  subject's  uncles  built  the  Benwood  Iron  Mills, 
at  Benwood.  three  miles  south  of  Wheeling.  West  \'irginia,  and  a  brother 
was  extensively  interested  in  paper  mills,  owning  an  interest  in  several  large 
concerns.  Quite  a  number  of  his  immediate  family  have  been  newspaper 
publishers.  His  eldest  brother,  Samuel,  was  for  a  time  connected  with  the 
Washington  (Pennsylvania)  Reporter.  His  bfother,  James  G.,  in  company 
with  D.  R.  Locke  (the  famous  "Xasby"),  first  published  the  Advertiser,  at 
Plymouth,  Richland  county.  Ohio,  afterward  the  Mansfield  Herald,  at  Mans- 
field. Ohio,  and  then  the  Bncyrns  Journal. 

Subsequently  the  subject  of  this  sketch  purchased  Mr.  Locke's  interest 
in  the  last  named  paj)er,  after  which  he  and  his  brother  published  it  for  sev- 
eral years.  Another  brother.  William  T..  learned  the  printer's  trade  in 
Washington  county.  Pennsyhania.  and  first  published  the  Republican  at 
Knoxville,  Illinois,  then  the  Juurtiol  at  Leon.  Decatur  county.  Iowa,  and  is 
now  puljlishing  the  Opinion  at  Glenwood.  Iowa,  having  been  a  publisher  for 
nearly  forty  vears.  When  the  senior  ^Ir.  Robinson  died,  in  1834,  the  subject 
was  a  child  of  four  years,  and  his  mother  was  left  a  widow  with  seven  chil- 
dren. Soon  afterwards  financial  reverses  came,  and  in  1837  the  family  re- 
moved to  Beverly.  Washington  county.  Ohio,  from  which  point  the  children 
began  to  scatter.  In  1840  the  mother  and  three  children  removed  to  ]\Iorris- 
town.  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  thence  to  Camliridge,  and  finally  returned  to 
Beverly,  where  she  died  in  1841. 

A^erv  earlv  in  life  the  struggle  for  existence  began  with  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  At  eleven  years  of  age,  he  having  determined  to  learn  the  trade 
of  a  printer,  we  find  him  at  ^leadow  Farm.  Muskingum  county.  Ohio,  where 
he  found  a  place  with  the  Rev.  Cornelius  Springer,  who  was  then  publishing 
the  Western  Recorder,  Methodist  Protestant  paper.  There  he  remained 
about  two  and  one-half  years,  after  which  he  worked  for  a  time  on  the 
Zanes^iille  Aurora,  and  from  there  went  to  \\'heeling.  West  \'irginia.  where 
he  entered  the  office  of  the  J  J 'heeling  Times,  then  under  the  management  of 
James  E.  Wharton.  In  that  office  his  term  of  apprenticeship  was  completed, 
after  which  he  attended  school  in  \Mieeling  for  two  terms. 

We  next  find  Mr.  Robinson  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  for  one  year. 
This  profession.  howe\er.  did  not  suit  his  taste,  for  while  he  desired  to  be  a 


468  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

teacher,  he  wanted  to  do  liis  work  through  the  columns  of  a  newspaper  and 
not  in  the  school  room.  Removing  to  Pittsburgh,  he  Ijecame  a  journeyman 
and  reporter,  and  also  filled  the  position  of  foreman  in  several  offices  in  that 
citv.  He  was  a  member  of  the  second,  if  not  the  first,  typographical  union 
in  this  country.  \\'hile  engaged  as  foreman  on  the  Chronicle  in  Pittsburgh, 
he  gave  to  a  man  who  afterward  became  famous  his  first  work  in  a  [)rinting 
office.  This  was  no  less  a  personage  than  David  R.  Locke,  who  is  noted  as 
the  author  of  the  "Xasby  Letters",  and  who  made  a  great  success  as  editor 
and  publisher  of  the  Toledo  Blade. 

As  ]\Ir.  Robinson  grew  older  and  gained  additional  experience,  he  dis- 
covered that  a  more  thorough  education  would  be  of  ad\'antage  to  him. 
Accordingly  he  went  to  Waynesburg,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  entered  college 
and  attended  several  terms,  but  did  not  graduate.  Later  he  became  proprietor 
of  a  book  store  in  Wheeling,  which,  after  conducting  for  little  more  than  a 
year,  he  sold.  For  a  time  he  managed  a  straw  paper  mill,  in  which  a  brother 
was  interested.  On  account  of  failing  health,  he  removed  from  Wheeling 
to  Fairfield,  Huron  county.  Ohio,  and  returned  to  his  ''first  love,"  the  news- 
paper business.  At  that  time  he  purchased  an  interest  in  the  Fairfield 
Gazette,  and  continued  its  publication  for  two  years.  He  then  accepted  a 
position  as  local  editor  of  the  Peoria  (Illinois)  Transcript,  and  after  a  short 
time  thus  s[)cnt  he  purchased  the  Republican  at  Middleport,  Iroquois  county, 
Illinois.  The  fever  and  ague  drove  him  out  of  that  town,  and  he  went  to 
Bucyrus,  Ohio,  where  he  bought  an  interest  in  the  Journal  and  remained  for 
six  and  one-half  years. 

Meantime  the  Civil  war  was  in  progress.  Mr.  Robinson  assisted  in 
raising  two  companies  of  volunteers  for  Union  services,  notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  Crawford  county  was  relied  upon  for  a  Democratic  majority  of 
nineteen  hundred,  and  the  blue  coat  of  a  soldier  upon  the  street  was  oftentimes 
the  signal  for  a  knock-down.  Though  desirous  of  enlisting,  Mr.  Robinson 
realized  that  to  do  so  meant  to  discontinue  a  Republican  paper  in  Crawford 
county,  and  on  consulting  with  Ohio's  old  war  governor,  David  Todd,  he  was 
told,  ''Stick  to  your  paper,  Ralph.  You  can  do  more  good  for  the  L^nion 
cause  there  than  }0u  can  by  fighting  rebels  at  the  front."  Therefore  his  fighting 
was  done  through  his  paper,  and  he  did  his  full  share  of  it,  too.  ^Moreover, 
he  has  the  honor  of  a  lieutenant's  commission,  having  been  commissioned  in 
Company  B,  First  Ohio  Regiment,  "Squirrel  Hunters,"  at  the  ''siege  of 
Cincinnati,"  and  partook  of  six-weeks  rations  of  hardtack  and  "pig's  bosom." 

AVhile  in  Bucyrus,  Mr.  Robinson  married  Fannie  J-  Hamilton,  whose 
lnjme  was  in  ^lonroeville,  Ohio.  From  Bucyrus  he  came  to  Iowa  and  pur- 
chased a  half  interest  in  the  Fairfield  Ledger  with  W.  A\".    Junkin.  remaining 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  469 

there  for  six  and  one-half  years.  He  then  went  to  Clarinda,  where  he  pur- 
chased the  entire  interest  of  the  Clarinda  Herald,  running  it  until  1877,  when 
he  came  to  Xewton  and  bought  a  half  interest  in  the  Newton  Journal,  and 
subsequently  purchased  the  entire  paper,  in  the  publication  of  which  he  was 
engaged  until  his  death.  Socially,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  was  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  having  taken  the  first 
three  degrees  in  Wheeling  Lodge  Xo.  128,  in  1853.  when  he  lived  in  that 
city.  He  was  made  a  chapter  Alason  in  McCord  Chapter  of  Fairfield,  Iowa, 
and  received  the  council  degrees  at  Newton. 

In  all  his  newspaper  venturings  and  wanderings  ^Ir.  Robinson  was 
successful  as  a  publisher  and  gained  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  people 
among  whom  he  resided.  He  was  thrice  honored  by  being  chosen  as  a 
delegate  to  national  editorial  conventions.  Since  his  residence  in  Iowa,  he 
visited  all  parts  of  the  country,  from  Manitoba  on  the  north  to  the  old  city  of 
Mexico  on  the  south,  and  from  Boston  on  the  east  to  San  Diego  on  the  west, 
travel  being  his  principal  recreation.  In  politics  he  was  always  a  Republican. 
He  was  a  member  of  an  old  Whig  family,  and  his  first  Republican  vote  was 
cast  for  John  C.  Fremont,  and  every  vote  afterwards  was  cast  for  the  nominees 
of  the  partv  he  represented,  without  an  exception  or  a  scratch  on  the  tickets. 
The  great  good  accomplished  by  the  party  during  all  these  years  of  his  con- 
nection therewith  furnished  him  with  reliable  evidence  that  he  had  made  no 
mistake  in  his  political  affiliations.  From  1854  to  the  Emancipation  Proc- 
lamation of  President  Lincoln,  he  was  more  or  less  identified  with  the  "Old 
Liberty  Guard'"  and  knew  much  of  the  workings  and  passengers  of  the 
underground  railway  and  of  the  travel  of  the  latter  from  slavery  of  the 
South  to    their  Mecca  of  freedom  in  Canada. 

Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Robinson  became  the  parents  of  two  daughters  and  two 
sons.  The  eldest  daughter,  Margaret,  now  the  wife  of  Rev.  R.  F.  Chambers, 
of  Jackson.  Minnesota,  is  an  entliusiastic  and  earnest  worker  in  church  mat- 
ters. The  eldest  son.  Roy,  is  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  JJ'alsenburg 
(Colorado)  Independent.  The  second  son,  S.  ^ilona.  is  manager  of  the  Xewton 
Manufacturing  Company.  The  younger  daughter,  Daisee,  now  Mrs.  ^Mark 
Evans,  is  now  with  her  mother  since  the  father's  death.  Mr.  Robinson's 
fifty-two  vears  of  hard  continued  labor  in  and  about  a  printing  office  was  a 
limit  few  men  have  attained,  and  he  was  continually  found  in  his  printing 
establishment,  guiding  and  directing,  and  at  his  editorial  desk.  His  editor- 
ials attracted  no  little  attention.  When  he  supported  an  enterprise,  he  did 
it  with  his  whole  soul,  and  what  he  condemned  through  his  paper,  his  friends 
were  apt  to  let  alone. 


_^yO  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

HENRY  SILWOLD. 

Henry  Silwold,  well  known  attorney  and  substantial  citizen  of  Newton, 
Jasper  county,  was  born  in  Sheboygan  county,  Wisconsin,  January  12,  i860. 
He  is  the  son  of  Henry  and  Charlotte  (Depping)  Silwold,  both  natives  of 
Germany  where  they  spent  their  childhood,  emigrating  to  America  when 
young.  The  elder  Silwold  devoted  his  life  to  farming  and  by  hard  work 
and  good  management  became  well  established.  He  came  to  Iowa  in  1866, 
located  in  Malaka  township,  Jasper  county,  where  he  bought  land  which  he 
placed  under  excellent  improvements  and  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
where  he  continued  to  live  until  his  death,  in  October,  1901,  his  wife  surviv- 
ing until  ^larch,  1908.  They  were  highh-  respected  in  their  community 
and  had  a  host  of  friends  where^•er  they  were  known.  Six  children  were 
born  to  them,  five  of  whom  are  living,  namely :  Henry,  of  this  review ;  Mrs. 
Herman  Claussen,  who  lives  four  miles  north  of  Newton;  Mrs.  W.  J.  Kelly,  of 
Grovont,  Wyoming;  Fred  is  living  on  the  old  home  farm  in  this  county; 
Marv  is  also  living  on  the  old  homestead. 

Henry  Silwold  was  six  years  of  age  when  his  parents  brought  him  to 
Jasper  county ;  here  he  grew  to  maturity  on  the  home  farm  which  he  worked 
during  the  crop  seasons,  attending  the  common  schools  in  the  wintertime; 
after  which  he  took  a  preparatory  course  at  Hazel  Dell  Academy  at  Newton 
before  entering  Drake  University,  in  1885,  at  Des  Moines,  from  which  insti- 
tution he  was  graduated  in  1890,  having  completed  the  collegiate  course.  He 
remained  under  his  parental  roof-tree,  with  the  exception  of  the  time  spent 
in  school,  until  he  was  t\\enty-five  years  of  age.  He  had  long  entertained  a 
laudable  ambition  to  study  law,  and  after  leaving  college  he  plunged  into 
Blackstone  and  other  authorities  in  earnest  and  made  rapid  progress  with  W. 
O.  McElroy,  of  Newton,  and  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  October,  1892,  and 
soon  thereafter  began  active  practice  at  Baxter,  Iowa,  where  he  gained  a 
good  foothold  at  once,  remaining  there  three  years.  Seeking  a  wider  field 
for  the  exercise  of  his  talents,  he  moved  to  Newton  in  May,  1898,  and  has 
remained  in  the  practice  here  to  the  present,  proving  himself  to  be  a  painstak- 
ing and  careful  advocate,  and  he  is  regarded  as  a  logical  and  earnest  pleader  at 
the  bar.  He  keeps  fully  abreast  of  the  times  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  his 
professifjn.  such  as  the  latest  decisions  in  important  cases,  new  codes  and 
revised  statutes,  anrl,  judging  from  his  past  worthy  and  eminently  honorable 
and  satisfactory  career,  he  bids  fair  to  become  one  of  tin-  leading  attorneys 
of  the  state  in  due  course  of  time. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  4/1 

yiv.  Sihvold  has  never  assumed  the  responsibilities  of  the  married  state. 
PoHtically,  he  is  a  RepubHcan  and  has  been  more  or  less  active  in  political 
affairs  for  a  number  of  years,  always  lending  his  support  to  any  movement 
having  for  its  object  the  general  development  of  his  locality.  He  was  county 
attorney  from  April,  1900,  to  January  1,  1902,  holding  this  important  office 
in  a  manner  that  reflected  much  credit  upon  himself  and  to  the  entire  satis- 
faction of  all  concerned.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order, 
and  in  religious  matters  he  belongs  to  the  Congregational  church. 


MILTON  A.  McCORD. 

Milton  A.  McCord  has  long  been  recognized  as  one  of  Jasper  county's 
foremost  citizens,  having  long  had  the  interests  of  the  county  at  heart  and 
which  he  has  ever  striven  to  promote  in  whatever  laudable  manner  that  pre- 
sented itself.  His  life  has  been  led  along  high  planes  of  endeavor  and  has 
been  true  to  every  trust  that  has  been  reposed  in  him.  Thus  for  many  reasons, 
not  the  least  of  which  is  the  fact  that  he  is  an  honored  veteran  of  the  greatest 
of  the  world's  wars,  in  which  he  valiantly  upheld  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  he  is 
eminently  entitled  to  specific  mention  in  a  history  of  this  character. 

Mr.  McCord  is  the  son  of  David  and  Eleanor  (Temple)  Macord,  the 
father  born  in  Virginia  and  the  mother  in  Tennessee.  Milton  A.  was  the 
eighth  in  a  family  of  eleven  children,  and  he  was  born  in  Paris,  Illinois,  Feb- 
ruary 5,  1845.  He  lived  in  his  native  state  until  he  was  ten  years  of  age,  the 
family  emigrating  from  Illinois  in  1855  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  making  the 
trip  overland,  locating  in  Newton  township  where,  as  pioneers,  they  settled 
on  an  unimproved  farm  which  they  developed  and  on  which  a  good  home  was 
established,  the  elder  Macord  becoming  one  of  the  county's  well-to-do  men, 
owning  at  one  time  over  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land.  Here  IMrs. 
Alacord  died  in  1873,  ^^  ^^e  age  of  sixty-five  years,  the  father's  death  occur- 
ring in  1884  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  The  family  has  been  identified 
with  the  business  interests  of  Jasper  county  from  its  infancy  and  has  borne  an 
unsullied  reputation. 

Milton  A.  .McCord  grew  to  maturity  on  the  home  farm,  and  when  but  a 
boy  he  assisted  in  the  general  work  about  the  place,  attending  the  common 
schools  in  the  winter  time.  He  remained  on  the  parental  homestead  until  .\u- 
gust  I,  1862,  when,  heeding  his  country's  call,  although  yet  a  mere  boy.  he 
enlisted  in  Company  K,  Twenty-eighth  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  in  which  he 


_^j2  JASPER    COUNTV,    IOWA. 

served  very  faithfully  for  three  years  and  nineteen  days,  during  which  time 
he  participated  in  the  battles  of  Champion's  Hill,  r>iege  of  Vicksburg,  Port 
Gibson,  Fisher's  Hill.  Black  River,  Cedar  Creek  and  many  others.  His  broth- 
ers, William  l'..  Thomas  T.,  James  PI.  and  David  X.,  were  also  in  the  service 

After  receiving  an  honorable  discharge,  Mr.  McCord  returned  home  and 
began  freighting  across  the  plains  with  ox  teams,  making  two  trips  to  Denver, 
later  engaging  in  farming  and  stock  raising,  being  thus  successfully  engaged 
lip  to  1890.  He  has  always  been  more  or  less  interested  in  ])uljlic  affairs  and 
always  stood  ready  to  support  such  measures  as  made  for  the  progress  of  his 
county,  and  his  loyalty  has  been  rewarded  by  his  friends  electing  him  to  sev- 
eral positions  of  trust  and  responsibility,  having  been  elected  sheriff  of  Jasper 
county  in  1891,  in  which  capacity  he  served  for  two  terms  in  a  manner  that 
reflected  much  credit  upon  himself  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  con- 
stituents. On  March  i,  1898,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Newton,  which 
position  he  held  to  October  i,  1910,  and  in  which  he  further  demonstrated 
his  eminent  fitness  as  a  public  servant,  pleasing  both  the  department  and  the 
people  of  the  town  and  vicinity.  Mr.  ]\IcCord  was  a  delegate  to  the  Republi- 
can national  convention  in  1908. 

On  November  26,  1868,  Mr.  McCord  married  Gertie  M.  Reed,  who  was 
born  in  Indiana,  and  this  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three  children.  Percy 
R..  Hettie  and  Stella  M. 


WILLIAM  CLAYTON  POR\^IN. 

The  history  of  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  would  be  lacking  should  there  be 
failure  to  give  mention  to  William  Clayton  Porvin,  who,  though  he  spent  the 
greater  portion  of  his  life  in  his  native  state  of  New  York,  was  for  many 
years  a  well  known  citizen  of  Newton,  Iowa,  where  he  took  a  leading  part  in 
all  enterprises  which  promised  the  development  of  the  community,  and  be- 
came influential  in  business  and  financial  matters. 

William  Clayton  Porvin  w^as  born  on  January  11,  1828,  the  son  of  John 
and  Sarah  Porvin.  His  parents  moved  to  Philadelphia  when  he  w-as  nine 
years  old.  and  remained  there  until  he  was  eighteen,  when  they  returned  to 
New  York.  Here  his  father  died,  and  here  the  son  lived  \yith  his  mother 
until  he  was  forty-six  years  old.  On  June  22,  1875,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
at  Middletown.  New  York,  to  Elizabeth  Hamilton,  who  was  born  on  January 
30.  1839.-  She  was  the  daughter  of  James  W.  and  Catherine  (Taylor)  Hamil- 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  473 

ton,  of  .Middletown,  New  York.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and 
came  with  his  parents  when  eight  years  old  to  Philadelphia.  After  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Porvin  and  his  wife  remained  for  three  years  at  Middletown.  While 
living  in  Xew  York  he  had  been  a  wholesale  druggist,  and  had  been  very  suc- 
cessful, but  on  account  of  failing  health,  he  and  his  wife  m.oved  to  Xewton. 
Jasper  county,  Iowa,  in  1879. 

To  ]\Ir.  and  ]\Irs.  Porvin  were  born  two  children:  Edith  C.  at  Middle- 
town.  Xew  York,  on  June  26,  1876,  who  is  now  deputy  county  superintendent 
of  Jasper  county,  and  is  residing  at  home  with  her  mother;  and  Hamilton, 
who  was  born  at  Middletown,  New  York,  on  May  31,  1878,  and  is  employed 
as  a  bookkeeper  with  the  Hawkeye  Feeder  Company. 

Mr.  Porvin  died  on  Xovember  14.  1893.  His  remains  were  interred  in 
Newton  cemetery.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church,  and  gave 
to  it  his  strong  support.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  but  took  little  active 
part.  William  Clay  Porvin  was  not  a  relative  of  Theodore  S.  Porvin.  but 
William  Porvin,  who  was  killed' at  the  battle  of  the  Alamo,  near  Porvin, 
Texas,  was  an  uncle  of  W^illiam  Clay  Porvin. 

William  C.  Porvin  was  a  man  of  high  ideals  and  culture.  He  ^\•as  a  man 
of  the  strictest  integrity  in  business  dealings  and  of  keen  judgment  in  finan- 
cial affairs.  He  was  free  with  charity  for  the  poor  and  needy,  and  was  the 
friend  of  those  in  want,  supplying  their  needs  with  pleasure.  He  was  a  man  of 
strong  intellect,  and  agreeable  presence.  Though  his  marriage  occurred  late 
in  life,  he  was  very  much  devoted  to  his  wife  and  children,  and  no  cloud  ever 
occurred  to  shade  their  recollection  of  him  as  a  kind  and  loving  husband  and 
father.  As  in  his  later  days  his  business  did  not  occupy  all  of  his  attention, 
he  was  enabled  to  give  to  his  family  much  of  his  time  and  .society.  This  man 
of  splendid  character  and  attainments  was  one  whose  loss  was  deeply  felt  in 
Newton,  for  he  had  during  his  residence  there  strongly  impressed  his  individ- 
ualitv  on  the  people  of  that  city,  and  they  fully  recognized  the  character  of 
the  man  who  had  gone  from  their  midst,  and  who  had  given  so  freely  of  his 
life  and  his  talents  to  the  service  of  the  community,  which  had  learned  to 
honor  and  respect  him. 

Mrs.  AA^illiam  Clay  Porvin,  an  accomplished  woman,  whose  appearance 
belies  her  age,  is  living  with  her  children  at  No.  445  West  McDonald  street. 
Newton,  and  takes  her  full  share  in  all  the  activities  of  the  city,  both  social, 
religious  and  philanthropic,  while  Mr.  Porvin's  son  and  daughter  are  taking 
active  and  responsible  parts  in  the  work  of  the  world. 


^j^  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

RICHARD  LAMB. 

Fealty  to  facts  in  the  analyzation  of  a  citizen  of  the  type  of  the  late 
Richard  Lamb,  of  Newton,  Jasper  county,  is  all  that  is  required  to  make  a 
biographical  sketch  interesting  to  those  who  have  at  heart  the  good  name  of 
the  community,  because  it  is  the  honorable  reputation  of  the  man  of  standing 
and  affairs,  more  than  any  other  consideration  that  gives  character  and  stabil- 
ity to  the  body  politic  and  makes  the  true  glory  of  a  city  or  state  revered  at 
home  and  respected  abroad.  In  the  broad  light  which  things  of  good  report  ever 
invite  the  name  and  character  of  Mr.  Lamb  stand  revealed  and  secure  and 
though  he  is  remembered  as  a  man  of  modest  demeanor,  with  no  ambition  to 
distinguish  himself  in  public  position  or  as  a  leader  of  men,  his  career  was 
signally  honorable  and  it  may  be  studied  with  profit  by  the  youth  entering 
upon  his  life  work. 

Mr.  Lamb  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  North  Carolina,  September  9, 
1829,  and  he  was  four  years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  mother  from  his 
native  hills  to  Hendricks  county,  Indiana,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and 
received  his  education.  His  early  youth  was  spent  on  the  farm  with  his 
mother,  two  brothers  and  one  sister,  John.  Caleb  and  Elizabeth. 

The  subject  was  about  four  years  old  when  his  father,  Albert  Lamb, 
died, — in  fact,  death  took  him  from  his  family  while  enroute  to  their  new 
home  in  the  North,  to  which  the  mother  bravely  pushed  on  and  established  in 
the  Hoosier  state. 

Richard  Lanib  came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  in  1852,  located  at  Newton 
and  remained  here  three  years.  Here  he  met  Nancy  Thompson  and  they  were 
married  on  February  25,  1855.  She  was  born  on  September  3,  1834,  and 
she  was  the  daughter  of  Jerry  and  Jessie  Thompson,  of  Kentucky.  His  par- 
ents moved  from  Wayne  county,  Kentucky,  to  Clinton  county,  Iowa,  where 
they  located  on  a  farm.  After  his  marriage  Richard  Lamb  remained  in  New- 
ton but  a  short  time,  when  he  took  his  mother  back  to  Indiana,  their  old  home, 
and  remained  there  five  years  on  a  farm  in  Hendricks  county.  Later  Mr. 
Laml)  Ijrought  his  wife  and  mother  back  to  Newton,  Iowa,  in  the  fall  of  i860, 
and  in  1865  they  bought  eighty-five  acres  of  good  land  and  there  Mr.  Lamb 
and  wife  made  their  home  for  a  period  of  twenty-three  years,  during  which 
time  they  enjoyed  a  liberal  reward  for  their  labors  and  developed  one  of  the 
choice  little  farms  of  this  part  of  the  county.  Finally,  his  health  failing,  he 
moved  back  to  Newton,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death,  on  No- 
vember 13,  1 901,  at  the  cozy  and  neatly  furnished  home,  No.  425  West  North 
street,  where  Mrs.  Lamb  continues  to  reside. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  475 

They  were  the  parents  of  two  children,  a  daughter  and  a  son.  Frances 
Jane,  born  April  i6,  1856,  is  now  the  wife  of  E.  C.  Ogg,  of  Xewton,  and  the 
mother  of  two  sons  living,  Harry  and  George  R  ,  the  latter  being  now  in 
school  at  Monmouth  College,  Illinois.  Albert  Lamb,  the  subject's  other  child, 
died  in  infancy. 

Religiously,  Richard  Lamb  held  to  the  Baptist  faith,  and  he  was  always 
a  stanch  Republican,  taking  a  very  active  part  in  public  affairs  in  his  earlier 
years.  Fraternall}-.  he  belonged  to  Lodge  Xo.  59,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  at  Xewton,  and  he  was  also  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows. 

Mr.  Lamb  was  very  successful  in  a  material  wav  and  as  he  prospered 
through  hard  work  and  good  management  he  added  to  his  original  eighty-fi\-e 
acres  until  he  had  a  valuable  place  of  two  hundred  acres,  also  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  another  part  of  Jasper  county,  which  was  well 
located  and  desirable  land.  He  also  owned  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
good  land  in  Dakota,  besides  his  home  in  X^ewton,  adjoining  which  is  one  acre 
of  land.  He  was  one  of  the  substantial  and  popular  citizens  of  the  county 
and,  owing  to  his  upright  life,  his  kind  and  genial  nature,  he  enjoyed  the  con- 
fidence, good  will  and  friendship  of  all  who  knew  him. 


WALTER  J.  MORGAX. 

It  is  probable,  as  a  rule,  that  few  of  the  present  generation  have  ever 
realized  in  the  dimmest  way  the  transcendent  possibilities  that  rested  upon  the 
shoulders  of  the  pioneers  of  this  country,  of  which  worthy  band  the  well 
remembered  late  Walter  J.  Morgan,  of  X'ewton,  Jasper  county,  was  an  hon- 
ored member.  Grant  it  that  their  lives,  in  certain  instances,  were  somewhat 
narrow  and  that  they  realized  but  little  the  great  results  that  ultimately 
crowned  their  efforts ;  yet  there  exists  the  supreme  fact  that  they  followed 
their  restless  impulses,  took  their  lives  in  their  hands,  overspread  the  wild 
prairies  of  the  Hawkeye  state  and,  with  patient  energ}',  resolution  and  self- 
sacrifice  that  stands  alone  and  unparalleled,  they  worked  out  their  allotted 
tasks,  accomplished' their  destinies  and  today  their  descendants  and  others 
enjov  undisturbed  the  fruitage  of  their  lalx)rs. 

Mr.  ^Morgan  was  born  May  17,  1830,  at  Marshall.  Xew  York,  and  when 
he  was  a  small  boy,  his  parents,  \\'alter  and  Louisa  Morgan,  came  to  Erie 
countv.  X'ew  York,  and  there  the  subject  remained  with  his  parents  until  he 


_^y6  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

was  seventeen  }ears  old.  when  he  went  to  Wisconsin,  locating  at  Kenosha, 
where  he  remained  for  a  number  of  years,  and  while  there  he  learned  his  trade 
as  cabinet  maker,  and  while  living"  there  he  was  married,  on  December  lo, 
1855,  to  Delia  Derbyshire,  the  daughter  of  S.  S.  and  Delia  Derbyshire,  Mrs. 
Morgan's  birth  having  occurred  on  December  14,  1834,  and  she  was  living 
with  her  parents  in  Kenosha  at  the  time  of  her  marriage.  This  union  was 
without  issue. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morgan  remained  in  Kenosha  for 
nine  years,  and  in  1864  they  came  to  Jasper  county.  locating  on  a  farm  of  four 
hundred  acres  in  Clear  Creek  township,  where  they  remained  two  years,  then, 
late  in  the  spring  of  1867.  they  moved  to  another  farm  near  Newton  of  two 
hundred  acres,  but  remained  there  only  a  short  time,  moving  to  Newton  in 
1867,  where  Mr.  Morgan  launched  in  the  furniture  business  and  remained 
here  until  his  death,  on  December  7.  1883,  dying  at  the  home  where  his  widow 
has  since  lived,  No.  306  East  \\^ashington  street,  and  he  is  buried  in  Newton 
cemetery. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Morgan  was  a  prominent  Mason  and  Woodman  at  New- 
ton. He  held  to  the  creed  of  the  Congregational  church,  although  he  was  not 
a  member  of  the  same,  but  he  was  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  local  church  and  a 
great  worker  in  the  same.  He  was  always  a  friend  to  the  poor  and  did  many 
charitable  acts,  not  for  any  show  or  approval  of  the  public,  but  out  of- the 
largeness  of  his  heart.  In  political  affairs  lie  was  always  a  stanch  Republican 
although  he  never  took  an  active  part  in  public  affairs.  He  was  very  success- 
ful as  a  business  man  and  left  his  widow  a  beautiful  and  commodious  home 
and  cjuite  a  competency.  She  has  long  been  a  favorite  with  a  wide  circle  of 
friends  in  Newton  and  vicinity,  being  the  possessor  of  many  estimable  traits 
of  character. 


THOMAS  SMITH,  JR. 

Prominent  in  the  affairs  of  Newton  and  Jasper  county  and  distinguished 
as  a  citizen  whose  influence  was  far  extended  beyond  the  limits  of  the  com- 
munity honored  by  his  residence,  the  name  of  the  late  Thomas  Smith,  Jr., 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century  the  able  and  popular  street  commissioner,  stands 
out  a  conspicuous  figure.  Characterized  by  breadth  of  wisdom  and  strong 
individuality,  and  in  all  of  his  enterprises  and  undertakings  actuated  by  noble 
moti\es  and  high  resolves,  his  success  and  achievements  but  represented  the 
result  of  fit  utilization  of  innate  ralent  in  directing  effort  along  those  lines 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  477 

where  mature  judgineiit  and  rare  discriniinatioii  led  the  way,  and  he  long 
enjoyed  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  classes,  having  done  much  for  the 
general  upbuilding  of  the  city  and  community  and  led  a  clean,  upright  life 
from  his  youth  up. 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  England  on  ]\Iarch  lo,  1S34,  and  after  a  long 
and  busy  career  he  passed  to  his  reward  at  Xewton,  Iowa,  on  Februar\-  25, 
1907,  at  the  attractive  modern  residence  at  No.  623  South  Farmer  street, 
where  Mrs.  Smith  still  resides.  He  grew  to  manhood  and  was  educated  in 
England,  emigrating  to  New  York  City  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  but 
remained  there  only  a  short  time  when  he  came  west,  and,  finding  Jasper 
county  a  place  of  future  possibilities  and  delightful  surroundings,  he  decided 
to  make  this  locality  his  permanent  home,  Iowa  then  being  in  her  first  stages 
of  development.  He  first  located  in  Newton  township,  but  soon  afterwards 
came  to  the  town  of  Newton,  where  he  made  his  home  until  his  death,  being' 
very  active  up  to  within  a  year  and  a  half  of  that  time,  having  resigned  his 
position  with  the  city  in  order  to  spend  his  declining  days  in  retirement,  ill 
health  forcing  him  to  take  this  step.  He  spent  his  early  life  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  having  in  his  youth  worked  with  his  father,  Thomas  Smith. 
Sr.,  a  native  of  England  and  a  prosperous  farmer  there. 

In  1856  Thomas  Smith,  Jr.,  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  Jackson, 
of  Newton,  Iowa,  and  to  this  union  three  children  were  born,  onlv  one  of 
whom  survives,  Frank,  who  is  married  and  resides  at  Colfax,  this  county. 

The  first  wife  of  Thomas  Smith,  Jr.,  died  in  1872,  and  in  1874  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Martha  Hanson,  of  Newton,  who  was  born  Septem- 
ber 14,  1849,  tl''^  daughter  of  Thomas  Hanson  and  wife,  of  Birmingham. 
England.  To  this  union  four  daughters  were  born,  three  of  whom  are  now 
living,  namely :  Minnie  married  John  Gardner,  a  large  land  owner  and 
farmer  of  Jasper  county;  Ida  May  married  William  Gardner,  a  brother  of 
John  Gardner;  thev  live  on  a  farm  four  and  one-half  miles  from  Newton  and 
have  two  daughters,  Mabel  and  Florence;  Katie  Belle  married  Guy  Finch,  of 
Newton. 

Mrs.  Martha  (Hanson)  Smith  is  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Jane 
Hanson,  of  Newton,  to  which  city  they  came  in  1865  from  Birmingham,  Eng- 
land. Here  he  soon  began  working  at  his  trade,  that  of  brick  maker  and 
molder.  Their  family  consisted  of  fourteen  children,  namely :  Emma,  Mrs. 
Liza  Lister,  of  Newton;  William:  ^^Irs  Anna  Beach,  who  now  resides  in 
Birmingham,  England;  Mrs.  Fannie  Newton,  also  of  that  city;  ]\Iartha,  now 
iMrs.  Smith,  of  this  review  ;  Mrs.  Jane  Ferguson,  who  lives  in  Adel,  Iowa ; 
Mrs     John   Woodrow,   of   Newton.    Iowa;   Mrs.   Clara   Clasby,   of   Newton; 


^-8  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

George  is  deceased;  Arthur  lives  in  Oklahoma;  Charles  is  deceased;  Anna 
Norris  is  now  deceased;  Thomas  lives  in  the  state  of  Washington. 

Mrs.  Thomas  Smith,  Jr.,  is  the  owner  of  considerable  valuable  property 
in  Xewton.  including  a  substantial  and  well  furnished  residence,  surrounding 
which  are  three  acres  of  ground. 

Mr.  Smith  was  a  Republican  in  politics  and  always  took  an  active  interest 
in  local  affairs.  He  was  not  a  member  of  any  church,  being  liberal  in  his 
religious  views,  although  he  inclined  to  the  doctrine  of  the  Methodists  and  at- 
tended thai  church  in  Xewton  with  his  family,  they  lieing  members  of  the 
same. 


AUGUST  WENDT. 


But  a  few  years  ago  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  re\'iew  was  a 
familiar  figure  in  the  city  of  Newton,  where  he  was  recognized  as  one  of  the 
prominent  and  successful  merchants  of  that  municipality.  Born  in  Germany, 
he  came  to  this  country  a  poor  immigrant,  and  by  thrift  and  industry,  and  by 
adhering  in  the  dealings  of  his  business  life  to  the  principles  of  that  church  to 
which  he  was  so  greatly  devoted,  he  gained  a  competence,  became  prosperous, 
and  a  leader  in  the  community  in  which  he  resided,  and  which  lost  one  of  its 
ablest  citizens  in  his  death. 

August  Wendt  was  born  on  May  26,  1845,  ^^^  Shieder,  Lippe-Dettmold. 
Germany.  In  infancy  he  was  baptized  in  the  Lutheran  church,  and  in  early 
life  entered  by  confirmation  into  full  communion  with  the  church,  throughout 
life  making  the  service  of  his  Master  and  his  church  his  first  object,  literally 
obeying  the  injunction  of  his  Master,  ''Seek  }'e  first  the  kingdom  of  heax'en." 
In  1865,  seeking  for  greater  opportunities,  young  August  Wendt  came  to 
America  and,  locating  at  Freeport,  Illinois,  resided  there  for  four  years,  then 
came  to  Newton,  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  where  he  thenceforward  cast  his  lot. 
He  engaged  in  the  grocer)-  and  dry  goods  business,  in  wiiich  he  greatly  pros- 
pered, and  was  enabled  to  gain  a  competency  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  greatly 
assist  in  church  work,  to  keep  his  family  in  comfort,  and  to  accumulate  a 
considerable  amount  of  property  in  addition.  He  was  prominent  and  respected 
among  the  business  men  of  his  city  and  active  in  every  work  which  had  for  its 
object  the  betterment  of  the  community,  as  well  as  in  all  kinds  of  philan- 
thropic movements. 

On  Easter  Monday,  1873,  August  Wendt  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Emelinc  Hanke.  the  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Matilda  Ilanke,  natives  of 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  479 

Germany,  later  residents  of  Freeport,  Illinois.  To  this  marriage  were  born 
five  children,  Louise,  Matilda,  August,  Grace  and  Frederick.  Fred- 
erick died  in  infancy;  the  others  are  living.  Mrs.  Emeline  Wendt 
died  at  Newton,  Iowa,  on  April  23,  1886,  and  on  August  25,  1887, 
Mr.  Wendt  was  married  to  Matilda  Hanke,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife.  To  this 
marriage  was  born  one  son,  William,  now  a  student  in  Iowa  State  College  at 
Ames,  Iowa,  in  his  fourth  year's  work.  August  Wendt  was  a  stanch  Republi- 
can, the  principles  of  which  party  he  adopted  shortly  after  coming  to  this 
country.  He  died  on  July  26,  1896,  and  his  remains  were  interred  in  the 
cemetery  of  Newton,  Iowa. 

Extremely  successful  as  was  the  business  career  of  ]Mr.  Wendt,  perhaps 
he  will  be  best  remembered  on  account  of  the  unceasing  energy  which  he  de- 
voted to  the  work  of  the  Lutheran  church,  of  which  he  was  a  mainstay,  and 
the  aid  which  he  gave  to  charity  and  his  kindness  toward  the  needy  and  de- 
serving. He  united  with  the  Newton  Evangelical  church  July  12,  1874.  His 
place  in  the  Lutheran  congregation  was  one  which  cannot  be  filled,  for,  able 
church  workers  though  there  be,  there  are  none  with  quite  his  tireless  zeal, 
and  strong  and  cheery  personality.  He  was  superintendent  of  its  Sunday 
school  for  many  years,  and  a  deacon  in  the  church.  In  public  life  he  was  a 
man  of  agressiveness  and  force,  in  his  family  he  was  a  kind  and  tender  com- 
panion, devoted  to  his  wife  and  children,  whose  loss  in  his  death  was  inestima- 
ble. 


GEORGE  W.  HICKMAN,  JR. 

The  present  re^■iew  records  the  events  in  the  life  of  a  man  who  was  well 
known  in  Newton,  Iowa,  and  to  the  people  of  Jasper  county  as  a  man  of 
unswerving  honor  and  integrity,  and  one  capable  of  fulfilling  his  duty  in  all 
the  situations  of  life  where  he  was  placed.  He  was  yet  but  in  his  prime  at  the 
time  when  he  was  taken  away,  and  the  loss  of  his  cheering  presence  and  of  his 
strong  and  upright  manhood  was  greatly  felt  by  those  who  had  occasion  to  be 
associated  with  him,  for  though  there  are  many  who  have  become  more 
famous  and  wealthier  tlian  he.  still  no  one  can  ever  fill  the  individual  place 
which  he  so  ^\ell  filled,  and  no  one  can  e\er  take  the  place  of  George  W. 
Hickman  in  the  memories  of  his  friends,  his  wife  and  his  family.  Their 
consolation  is  that  they  hope  to  meet  him  later  in  his  heavenly  home. 


480  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

George  W.  Hickman.  Jr..  was  born  in  Campbell  county.  Kentucky,  on 
June  2,  1847.  ''^"*^  ^'^^^  ^^  ^^^^  home  in  Newton,  Iowa,  on  March  31,  1905.  He 
was  brought  up  by  his  grandparents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  North,  his  mother  having 
died  when  he  was  six  years  old. 

In  1864,  though  but  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  enlisted  in  the  service  of 
his  country,  and  was  for  one  year  a  member  of  Company  C,  Fifty -third  Ken- 
tucky Mounted  Infantry.  During  this  period  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  was 
confined  for  three  months  in  Libby  prison,  where  he  suffered  great  exposure, 
and  almost  starvation,  the  effects  of  which  permanently  injured  his  health. 
While  in  active  service  he  was  in  a  number  of  battles,  and  in  all  of  them 
showed  himself  as  a  brave  and  efficient  soldier,  though  but  a  lad,  not  vet  fully 
grown. 

On  September  29,  1867,  Mr.  Hickman  united  with  the  ^Methodist  church 
at  Asbury  chapel,  near  Newport,  Kentucky,  and  there  began  his  career  of 
Christian  service.  A  few  years  later  he  came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming,  and  then  he  transferred  his  membership  to  the  First 
Methodist  church  of  Newton,  of  which  he  was  an  acti\"e  and  leading  member 
until  his  death. 

Mr.  Hickman  was  married  on  January  16.  1876.  to  Jane  Hickman,  the 
daughter  of  Samuel  Hickman  and  wife,  who  were  pioneers  of  Jasper  county. 
To  this  union  was  born  one  son,  Melville  Clifford. 

George  W.  Hickman  was  very  successful  in  his  farming  operations,  and 
was  a  capable  and  upright  business  man  in  whom  the  people  had  confidence. 
To  all  mankind  he  was  a  friend,  and  no  one  in  need  could  appeal  in  vain  to 
his  generous  heart.  He  was  an  active  member  of  Garrett  Post  of  the  Grand 
Army,  and  was  always  glad  to  meet  in  its  hospitable  halls  the  comrades  of  the 
great  struggle  to  preserve  American  liberty.  To  his  wife  and  son  he  was 
especially  kind  and  loving,  for  he  was  a  man  who  cared  much  for  his  family, 
and  lavished  on  them  the  wealth  of  a  strong  affection. 


LEWIS  C.  S.  TURNER,  M.  D. 

Among  the  leaders  in  the  medical  profession  in  central  Iowa  the  name 
of  Dr.  Lewis  C.  S.  Turner,  of  Colfax.  Jasper  county,  must  be  included,  for 
his  practice  here  of  nearly  thirty  years  has  won  him  a  wide  reputation  among 
his  contemporaries,  who,  with  his  wife,  also  a  physician  of  well  established 
re])ute,  is  proprietor  of  the  Turner  Rest  Flome  and  Sanitarium,  which  has  a 


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2 

m 

73 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  481 

prestige  second  to  none  of  its  kind  in  the  state.  But,  indeed,  no  man  possess- 
ing the  heritage  of  character  and  ahility  which  Doctor  Turner  has  received 
from  his  ancestors  could  fail  to  live  a  life  of  usefulness,  controlled  by  correct 
principles  and  high  ideals,  his  progenitors  including  that  sterling  patriotic 
stock  which  helped  successfully  to  establish  the  early  American  colonies, 
who  sacrificed  life  in  Washington's  army  in  the  struggle  for  independence, 
who  bore  the  vicissitudes  of  the  great  Rebellion  on  the  sanguinary  battle 
fields  of  the  South,  who,  as  pioneer  physician,  faced  the  dangers  and  hard- 
ships on  the  western  frontier  in  the  service  of  administering  to  the  ills  to 
which  humanity  is  heir- — men  and  women  who,  in  their  station,  nobly  ful- 
filled their  myriad  duties.  Such  an  inheritance  is  more  to  be  desired  than 
'"much  fine  gold." 

Doctor  Turner  was  born  in  Poweshiek  township,  Jasper  county,  Iowa, 
on  November  2,  1854,  the  son  of  Charles  Carroll  Turner  and  Ann  E.  (Parks) 
Turner,  the  father  born  in  Oxford  county,  Elaine,  in  1826,  the  son  of  Joseph 
Turner,  whose  birth  occurred  on  June  12.  1799,  the  latter's  home  being  at 
Dedham,  Massachusetts,  and  whose  wife  was  known  in  her  maidenhood  as 
Nancy  Shaw.  Joseph  Turner  was  the  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Polly  (Sum- 
ner) Turner,  the  former  born  in  1772,  the  son  of  Lieutenant  Edward  and 
Hannah  (Fisher)  Turner.  Edward  Turner  was  an  officer  in  the  colonial 
army  and  he  fought  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  and  while  in  the  service  for 
freedom  he  contracted  smallpox  which  caused  his  death  at  Half  Aloon, 
Massachusetts,  in  December,  1777.  The  first  American  ancestor  of  the  Turn- 
ers came  to  Massachusetts  in  the  early  colonial  days  and  settled  twenty  miles 
from  Boston.  The  family  of  Joseph  Turner  came  to  Mindon,  Adams  county, 
Illinois,  in  1834,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  being  then 
eight  years  of  age,  and  there  he  grew  to  maturity,  the  Prairie  state  at  that 
time  being  practically  a  wilderness.  He  remained  in  Illinois  until  1850,  when 
he  came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  among  the  very  early  settlers,  and  located 
on  a  farm  three  miles  north  of  the  present  site  of  Colfax,  which  land  is  still 
owned  by  his  widow,  Mrs.  Mary  C.  (Pease)  Turner,  and  their  son,  Ed  S. 
Turner.  Charles  C.  Turner  became  one  of  the  influential  farmers  of  the 
county  in  his  day.  He  was  the  owner  of  over  two  hundred  acres  of  good 
land  and  he  was  an  extensive  breeder  of  fine  grades  of  live  stock.  He  was 
active  in  public  affairs,  first  as  a  Whig,  then  as  a  Republican.  He  was  elected 
clerk  of  the  district  court  of  Jasper  county,  holding  ofifice  from  1854  to  1857; 
he  was  also  county  sun-eyor  for  two  terms,  from  1868  to  1872,  and  he  was 
iustice  of  the  peace  and  assessor  for  four  full  terms.     He  was  a  charter  mem- 

(31) 


^^2  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

Ijer  uf  Xewtoii  Lodge  Xo.  5.9,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  He 
proved  his  patriotism  in  i8()2  when  he  enhsted  in  the  Federal  army  and 
proved  to  be  a  gallant  soldier  in  the  Fortieth  Iowa  V^okmteer  Infantry.  For 
a  time  he  was  sent  home  on  recruiting  service.  \\'hile  in  the  field  he  was  at 
Columbus  and  Paducah.  Kentucky ;  Satarsia.  Mississippi,  Haines  Bluff  and 
Snvder  Bluff,  and  after  the  fall  of  Vicksburg  he  was  on  reserve  duty.  He 
was  in  Arkansas  at  the  taking  of  Little  Rock,  and  he  was  the  first  with  his 
brother-in-law,  Hugh  A.  Pease,  to  cross  the  river  on  a  pontoon  bridge,  October 
10,  1863.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  on  April  i,  1864.  His 
death  occurred  on  August  7,  1907,  at  an  advanced  age,  after  a  useful  and 
honorable  career.  Andrew  Pease,  father  of  ^Irs.  Alary  C.  (Pease)  Turner. 
Avas  also  one  of  the  worthy  "boys  in  blue,'"  having  served  in  Company  I, 
Thirty-seventh  Iowa  \'olunteer  Infantry. — the  noted  "Greybeard  Volunteers," 
— he  having  enlisted  when  fifty-eight  years  of  age,  on  December  15,  1862,  and 
his  death  occurred  while  in  the  service,  at  Alton,  Illinois,  on  January  10,  1863, 
he  having  been  on  guard  duty  there. 

Ann  E.  Parks,  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  Dr.  Lewis  C.  S.  Turner, 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Noble  county,  Indiana,  October  2,  1836,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Dr.  Hiram  S.  Parks,  who  was  one  of  the  pioneer  physicians  of  Powe- 
shiek township.  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  and  he  practiced  medicine  here  until 
1863.  when  he  went  to  Kansas.  He  made  his  calls  on  horseback,  going  long 
distances  in  all  kinds  of  weather,  enduring  great  hardships,  following  Indian 
trails,  often  swimming  or  fording  dangerous  streams,  sometimes  in  the 
roughest  winter  weather.  He  was  a  good  doctor  and  was  highly  esteemed  by 
the  entire  locality.  The  death  of  Mrs.  Ann  E.  Turner  occurred  on  May  10, 
1856. 

On  June  4.  1857,  Charles  C.  Turner  was  married  a  second  time,  his  last 
wife  being  Alary  Catherine  Pease,  one  of  the  early  teachers  of  this  county, 
who  taught  the  first  school  in  her  district.  She  was  a  woman  of  high  edu- 
cational attainments  and  a  strong  character.  She  directed  the  education  of 
her  only  step-child;  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  Lewis  C.  S.  Turner,  of  this 
sketch.  l)egan  teaching  in  the  common  schools  of  this  county.  He  entered 
Simpson  College,  Indianola,  Iowa,  in  1873,  and  he  also  attended  Central 
University  at  Pella.  Iowa,  in  1874.  In  June.  1877.  he  finished  the  course  at 
the  Baylies  Mercantile  College  at  Keokuk,  this  state,  and  in  1878  he  was 
graduated  from  Pierce's  Xormal  Institute  of  Penmanship  of  the  last  named 
city.  He  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Doctors  Tillman  Seems,  of 
Mitchellville,  Iowa,  and  J.  J.  M.  Angear.  of  Fort  AFadison.  Iowa,  later  of 
Chicago.  Since  March  i.  1882.  Doctor  Turner  has  been  successfully  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Colfax  and  has  built  up  a  large, 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  483 

Iiicrati\e  and  ever-.s^rowing  patronage.  He  has  kept  well  abreast  of  the  times 
in  everything  that  pertains  to  his  practice,  having  always  been  a  profound 
student  and  a  vigorous  and  independent  researcher.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Jasper  County,  the  Des  Moines  District  and  the  Iowa  State  Medical  societies. 
Since  1888  he  has  been  health  officer  of  Colfax  and  a  member  of  the  school 
board  from  1892  to  1895.  A  graduate  pharmacist,  he  dispenses  his  own 
drugs.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  eye,  nose  and  throat  and  obstetrics,  and  his 
skill  in  these  lines  has  placed  him  in  the  front  rank  of  his  professional 
brethren. 

On  October  21,  1878,  Doctor  Turner  was  united  in  marriage  with  Alice 
B.  Sams,  one  of  the  leading  lady  practitioners  of  medicine  in  central  Iowa, 
an  individual  sketch  of  whom  appears  on  another  page  of  this  work.  This 
union  has  been  graced  by  the  birth  of  two  children :  Vera,  who  married  J.  W. 
Preston,  of  Port  Lavaca,  Texas.  They  have  one  daughter,  Ruth  Alice,  born 
July  13,  191 1.  She  is  a  graduate  of  Wellesley  College,  and  for  a  time  she 
taught  in  the  Jasper  county  schools ;  she  is  a  member  of  the  Des  Moines 
chapter  of  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution.  Carroll  J.  Turner 
was  graduated  from  the  Colfax  high  school  and  is  now  at  college,  preparing 
to  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  his  parents  and  devote  his  life  to  the  medical 
profession. 

Doctor  Turner  is  a  man  of  agreeable  social  nature,  pleasing  personality. 
Religiously,  he  is  a  Unitarian.  He  has  been  active  in  many  works  in  Colfax, 
always  ready  to  do  what  he  could  in  furthering  the  interests  of  the  city  in 
any  way.  He  is  best  known  as  the  proprietor,  jointly  with  his  wife,  of  the 
Turner  Rest  Home  and  Sanitarium,  which  they  established  in  1904.  Prior 
to  this  they  had  been  proprietors  of  the  Victoria  Sanitarium,  and  for  three 
years  previously  they  maintained  public  bath  parlors,  using  in  all  these  the 
mineral  waters  for  which.  Colfax  is  famous.  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Turner  went 
to  Chicago,  Illinois,  in  1898  and  there  remained  two  years,  returning  to 
Colfax  in  1900  and  have  since  devoted  most  of  their  attention  to  their  mod- 
ern, well  equipped  and  popular  sanitarium,  which  has  proven  to  be  a  boon  to 
thousands. 


ALICE  BELLVADORE  (SAIMS)  TURNER,  M.  D. 

Women  are  entering,  in  this  advanced  epoch  of  the  world's  history,  many 
of  the  professions,  and,  as  a  rule,  they  have  met  w-ith  exceptional  success,  this 
being  particularly  true  of  medicine,  and  the  town  of  Colfax,  Jasper  county, 
has  a  resident  woman  who  has  been  longer  in   practice  than  most  women 


_|^84  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

doctors,  and  one  who  stands  at  the  top  of  the  profession,  irrespective  of  sex. 
Dr.  Ahce  Bellvadore  (Sams)  Turner  is  a  descendant  of  a  sterling  old  family 
of  courageous,  useful  men  and  women,  who  have  been  leaders  in  various 
lines  wherever  they  have  dispersed,  faithful  citizens  in  whatever  situation 
they  were  placed,  whether  fighting  for  their  country's  independence  or  living 
quietly  in  times  of  peace,  whether  blazing  new  trails  on  the  frontier  of  civiliza- 
tion or  laboring  to  better  material,  civic  and  moral  conditions  in  some  seat  of 
modern  culture.  ]Mrs.  Dr.  Turner  is  a  native  of  this  county,  having  been 
bom  at  Greencastle  on  ]\Iarch  13,  1859,  the  daughter  of  John  and  Evaline 
(Humphreys)  Sams,  the  former  the  son  of  Edmund  and  Sarah  Sams,  and 
her  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Moses  and  Rebecca  (Boyd)  Humphreys. 
Both  her  grandfathers  served  in  the  war  of  1812  with  the  Tennessee  troops, 
[ohn  Sams  was  born  in  Sullivan  county,  east  Tennessee,  in  181 3  and  there  he 
spent  his  boyhood,  moving  to  Logan  county,  Illinois,  in  1833,  when  that  coun- 
try was  practically  a  wilderness.  From  there  he  came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa, 
in  1853  and  again  began  life  as  a  pioneer.  He  first  married  Mary  Vande- 
vender,  who  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1834  and  her  death  occurred  in  1851, 
leaving  three  children,  David  E.,  Margaret  and  Sarah,  deceased.  In  1852, 
u'hile  a  resident  of  Logan  county,  Illinois,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Rvaline  (Humphreys)  Hilton,  who  was  born  May  10,  1824,  in  the  eastern 
part  of  Tennessee.  To  this  marriage  four  children  were  born :  Alfred  is 
living  in  Jasper  county;  Emily,  widow  of  Dr.  A.  S.  Warner;  Alice  Bellvadore, 
subject  of  this  sketch,  and  Francis  M. 

John  Sams,  born  January  8,  1813,  was  a  successful  farmer,  in  fact,  for 
many  years  he  was  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  the  county,  being  the 
owner  of  about  six  hundred  and  forty  acres  here.  He  was  influential  in  the 
affairs  of  his  community,  serving  as  township  trustee  and  school  director.  He 
was  an  active  Democrat,  and  a  good  and  useful  man.  His  death  occurred 
on  April  9.  1891.  his  widow  surviving  until  August  19,   1902. 

The  subject's  paternal  grandparents,  Moses  and  Rebecca  (Boyd)  Hum- 
i;hreys.  were  natives  of  Carter  county,  Tennessee,  and  in  an  early  day  they 
moved  to  Logan  county,  Illinois,  where  they  lived  until  1853.  when  they  came 
to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  thus  starting  life  twice  under  ])ioneer  conditions,  and 
here  they  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives. 

Alice  B.  Sams  grew  to  womanhood  and  received  her  common  school 
training  in  her  home  community,  later  attending  Lincoln  University,  at  Lin- 
coln, Illinois,  also  Simpson  College  at  Indianola,  Iowa,  and  the  Mitchell 
Seminary  at  Mitchellville,  Iowa,  and  for  a  time  she  successfully  taught  school 
in  Jasper  and  Shelby  counties.     She  studied  medicine  under  Dr.  J.  J.  M. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  485 

Angear  of  Keokuk.  Lnva.  making  rapid  progress,  and  thus  well  equij^ped  for 
her  life  work,  she  hegan  practicing  medicine  in  Colfax  in  1884  and  with  the 
exception  of  two  years,  from  1898  to  1900,  inclusive,  spent  in  Chicago,  this 
vicinity  has  been  the  arena  of  her  endeavors,  during  which  time  she  has 
enjoyed  a  profitable  and  growing  practice  and  has  taken  a  position  in  the 
front  rank  of  her  compeers. 

On  October  21,  1878,  the  subject  was  united  in  marriage  with  Dr.  Lewis 
C.  S.  Turner,  a  complete  sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  history, 
and  has  since  been  associated  with  him  in  practice  and  in  the  management  of 
the  famous  Turner  Rest  Home  and  Sanitarium,  but  the  success  of  the  same 
has  been  due  as  much  to  her  efforts  as  to  his.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Iowa 
State  Aledical  Society.  She  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Colfax  Public 
Library,  of  which  she  has  been  president  for  many  years ;  she  also  belongs  to 
the  Chautauqua  Literary  and  Scientific  Circle,  the  Woman's  Christian  Temper- 
ance Union  and  the  \\'oman's  Relief  Corps.  In  1886  and  1887  she  filled  the 
position  of  health  officer  of  Colfax,  being  the  first  woman  in  Iowa  to  fill  such 
a  position.  She  has  read  many  able  papers  before  the  above  named  literarv 
and  medical  societies.  She  is  a  scholarly,  cultured  and  refined  ladv  whom  to 
know  is  to  esteem  for  her  many  commendable  attributes  of  head  and  heart 
and  she  numbers  her  friends  only  by  the  limits  of  her  acquaintance.  She  is 
a  worthy  member  of  the  Unitarian  church.  Although  necessarily  \er\r  busy 
in  her  professional  and  club  work,  she  is  none  the  less  a  faithful  mother  and 
home-loving  woman.  On  July  24.  1874.  she  began  keeping  a  diary,  a  daily 
record  of  transpiring  events  of  interest  which  she  has  continued  to  the  pres- 
ent time,  and  she  has  induced  her  son  and  daughter  to  begin  keeping  a  dailv 
journal.  These  children  are.  Vera,  born  October  2.  1881.  who  was  gradu- 
ated from  Wellesley  College  in  1895,  married  J.  A\'.  Preston,  now  a  resident 
of  Colfax,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  one  child,  Ruth  Alice,  born  fulv  13. 
191 1 ;  Carroll  John  Turner,  who  was  born  March  28,  1893,  was  graduated 
from  the  local  high  school  and  he  is  now  attending  Drake  Universitv  at 
Des  Moines,  intending  to  follow  the  medical  profession. 


WILLIA^r  ADAMSON. 

The  importance  that  attaches  to  the  lives,  character  and  work  of  those 
who  took  the  initiative  in  the  work  of  transforming  the  country  from  its  wild 
condition  into  its  present  high  state  of  development,  and  the  influence  they 
have  exerted  upon  the  cause  of  humanity  and  civilization  is  one  of  the  most 


486  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

absorbing  themes  that  can  possibly  attract  the  attention  of  the  local  chroni- 
cler or  historian.  If  great  and  beneficent  results — results  that  endure  and 
bless  mankind — are  the  proper  measure  of  the  good  men  do,  then  who  is  there 
in  the  world's  history  that  may  take  their  places  above  such  men  as  the  late 
William  Adamson,  one  of  the  best  remembered  of  Jasper  county  citizens  of  a 
past  generation  whose  good  deeds  will  ne\er  be  forgotten? 

Mr.  Adamson  was  born  March  27,  1841,  at  Huntsville,  Indiana,  the  son 
of  Enos  and  Mar}^  Adamson.  Enos  Adamson  died  at  Savannah.  Missouri, 
and  the  widow  came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  when  William  Adamson  was 
about  four  years  old.  She  entered  land  from  the  government  and  developed 
a  very  comfortable  home.  \\'illiam  Adamson  remained  at  home  with  his 
mother  until  he  enlisted  in  the  defense  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes  on  April  i, 
1861.  becoming  a  member  of  Company  B,  Fifth  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry, 
from  Jasper  county,  this  regiment  being  known  as  the  ''Jasper  Grays."  He 
fought  in  the  battles  of  Missionary  Ridge,  Lookout  Alountain,  Vicksburg.  luka, 
Fort  Donelson,  Fort  Henry  and  Shiloh.  !Mr.  Adamson  saw  much  hard  ser- 
vice and  was  in  many  tight  places,  and  was  once  wounded  on  the  head  and 
was  sent  to  the  hospital,  rejoining  the  army  after  his  recovery  and  he  was 
honorably  discharged  and  returned  to  his  mother,  who  was  still  living  on  the 
home  farm  in  Jasper  county.  He  taught  schools  in  the  winter  months  and 
farmed  in  the  summer  for  several  years.  On  December  12,  1867,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Angeline  Poore.  a  native  of  W'ichester,  Randolph 
county,  Indiana,  where  she  was  born  May  27,  1841,  and  she  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Edwar'd  and  Nancy  A.  Poore,  who  came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  in  an 
early  day  when  their  daughter,  Angeline,  was  young,  and  here  they  became 
well  established  and  were  prominent  in  the  days  of  the  first  settlers.  To  this 
union  two  sons  were  born :  Paul  M.  Adamson.  who  married  Leah  J.  Wheldon, 
of  Marshalltown,  Iowa,  and  they  have  one  child.  Maxwell  W\,  who  is  attend- 
ing school  at  Marshalltown;  Earl  C.  Adamson,  the  second  son  of  the  subject, 
was  married  to  Daisy  M.  Lindsey,  and  to  this  union  two  children  were  born, 
one  of  whom  died  in  infancy ;  Marcella  B.  now  resides  in  Newton  with  his 
grandmother,  Mrs.  William  Adamson,  his  mother  having  passed  away  when 
he  was  a  small  boy.  The  second  marriage  of  Earl  C.  Adamson  was  to  Elois 
Allen,  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  and  to  this  union  one  child,  Joseph  F.,  was  born. 

W^illiam  Adamson  grew  up  in  Jasper  county,  received  his  education  in 
the  old-time  public  schools  here  and  he  went  to  school  for  a  time  at  the  Hazel 
Dell  Academy.  He  and  his  family  were  members  of  the  ^^lethodist  church  at 
Newton  and  he  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic 
post  at  Newton  and  he  always  upheld  the  policies  of  ihc  I\cpublican  party.  For 


JASPKR    COLXTV,    IOWA.  487 

a  number  of  years  he  a\  as  assessor  of  Sherman  township,  and  he  became  one  of 
the  prominent  men  of  liis  county.  Air.  Adamson  was  more  than  an  average 
man,  and  had  a  fine  education. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Adamson  remained  on  the  farm  only  a  few 
years,  then  on  account  of  faihng  health,  he  moved  to  Xewton  and  purchased 
the  home  where  his  widow  now  resides  and  there  he  lived  until  his  death, 
January  15,  1897,  and  he  was  buried  at  Xewton  cemetery.  He  left  his  family 
a  beautiful  home  and  several  valuable  lots  in  Newton,  also  another  valuable 
residence  property,  these  holdings  of  Mrs.  Adamson  being  well  situated  on 
East  South  street  in  a  \'ery  desirable  residence  district  of  the  citv.  Airs. 
Adamson  is  a  woman  of  estimable  characteristics  and  has  a  host  of  warm 
personal  friends  who  often  visit  her  in  her  beautiful  home.  Her  family  were 
influential  in  their  locality,  and  two  of  her  brothers,  Thomas  J.  and  George  W. 
Poore,  were  in  the  Civil  war,  the  former  being  in  the  same  company  with  her 
husband,  William  Adamson.  and  the  latter  was  in  the  Iowa  Cavalr}-  and  he 
died  while  in  the  service. 


Z.  \\\  BLAKELY 


Among  the  representati\e  farmers  of  Sherman  township,  Jasper  county, 
the  name  of  Z.  W.  Blakely,  who  has  now  departed  from  this  life  for  his  heav- 
enly home,  is  that  of  a  man  whose  ability  and  character  are  often  mentioned  by 
those  who  were  familiar  with  him.  Unfaltering  in  the  performance  of  his 
duty,  whatever  that  may  have  been;  a  thorough  and  persevering  Christian 
throughout  all  the  days  of  his  life,  he  was  a  citizen  of  the  type  to  whom  the 
state  of  Iowa  owes  her  greatness. 

Z.  \\'.  Blakely  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  Pike  town- 
ship, on  January  29,  1830,  the  son  of  Hugh  and  Catherine  Blakely.  His  father 
spent  his  days  in  farming,  and  his  son  early  took  up  his  father's  occupation 
and  followed  it  to  the  end  of  his  days.  He  remained  on  the  home  farm  until 
he  was  married,  on  November  8,  1849,  to  Elizabeth  Ivunckel.  who  was  born 
in  the  same  township  as  he,  on  December  2,  183 1,  the  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Elizabeth  Kunckel.  After  marriage  Mr.  and  Airs.  Blakely  remained  on  the 
farm  of  Airs.  Blakely's  parents  for  three  years,  lived  on  different  farms  in 
Knox  county,  and  in  i860  moved  to  Aluscatine  county,  Iowa,  shortly  after- 
ward to  Cedar  county,  where  they  lived  for  eight  years,  then  in  1870  came  to 
Jasper  county.  Here  they  lived  each  year  accumulating  and  adding  slowly 
to  their  property,  until  Air.  Blakely 's  death,  on  Alarch  2-j ,  1898.     At  the  time 


^88  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

of  his  death,  he  was  tlie  owner  of  an  excellent  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  the  cultivation  of  which  had  well  repaid  him. 

To  the  union  of  Z.  \\'.  Blakely  and  Elizabeth  Kunckcl  nine  children 
were  born,  of  whom  three  are  now  living.  Catherine  Isabella  is  the  wife  of 
W.  M.  Guessford,  of  Newton,  and  the  mother  of  six  children:  Cora,  Ed- 
ward W.,  Elmer,  James,  Lula  and  Earl.  ^lary  married  Jacob  Klein,  of  Jas- 
per county,  to  whom  she  has  borne  two  children,  Thelma  and  Florence  E. 
Maggie  is  married  to  O.  N.  Green,  of  Newton,  and  has  one  son,  Lester.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Blakely  also  reared  another  child,  Fanny,  now  the  wife  of  O.  G. 
Braley.  near  Kellogg,  Iowa. 

In  politics  Z.  \\'.  Blakely  was  a  Democrat  before  the  war,  then  became  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  in  his  later  life  voted  the  Prohibitionist  ticket.  At  the 
age  of  seventeen  he  united  with  the  Methodist  church,  and  was  ever 
afterward  a  faithful  meml^er.  He  was  a  class  leader  in  the  church  at  Newton, 
and  took  a  leading  part  in  all  the  affairs  of  the  congregation.  Honest  and 
hardworking,  of  honor  and  integrity  above  reproach,  he  was  a  successful 
farmer,  and  left  his  family  well  provided  for.  He  was  much  liked  by  those 
who  knew  him.  for  in  his  daily  life  he  exemplified  the  teachings  of  the  Christ 
in  whom  he  had  faith,  and  showed  to  the  world  a  most  lovable,  and  at  the  same 
time  a  strong  character.  To  his  wife  and  family  he  was  a  model  husband 
and  father,  ranking  his  duty  to  his  family  as  only  next  to,  and  indeed  as  a  part 
of.  his  dut\-  to  his  God.  and  his  tenderness  towards  the  members  of  his  family 
was  very  noticeable.  Such  were  the  excellencies  of  the  character  of  this  man, 
that  his  taking  off  wrought  an  especial  hardship  on  those  who  were  intimately 
associated  with  him.  and  thus  received  the  advantages  of  his  advice  and  his 
presence,  and  to  them  tlie  loss  was  great,  their  grief  consoled  onK-  l)y  the 
knowledge  that  he  had  gone  to  a  fitting  reward. 


.MADISON  TICE. 


To  point  out  the  way,  to  make  possi])le  our  present  advancing  civilization, 
its  happy  homes,  its  arts  and  sciences,  its  discoveries  and  inventions,  its  edu- 
cation, literature,  culture,  refinement  and  social  life  and  joy.  is  to  be  truly 
great  benefactors  of  mankind  for  all  time.  This  was  the  great  work  accom- 
plished by  the  early  settlers  and  it  is  granted  by  all  that  they  builded  wiser 
than  they  knew.  Such  a  one  was  the  well  remembered  and  highly  revered  late 
Madison  Tice.  a  sterling  character,  whose  life  was  fraught  with  many  good 


JASPER    COUXTV,    IOWA.  489 

deeds  and  whose  record  was  above  reproach,  a  man  whom  to  know  was  to 
honor  and  admire  and  whose  record  may  be  held  up  as  worthy  of  imitation 
by  the  youth  of  this  locahty  whose  destinies  are  still  matters  for  the  future  to 
determine. 

Mr.  Tice  was  born  September  28,  1827,  near  Wheeling.  West  Virginia, 
and  he  was  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Jane  Tice,  who  lived  on  a  farm  there,  and 
who,  later  in  life,  moved  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Menard  county  on  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  they  purchased  in  1847,  i^i  which  year 
their  son.  ]^fadison,  of  this  review,  came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  and  located 
on  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  near  Monroe,  being  among  the  pioneers. 
Here  he  set  to  work  with  a  will  and,  although  beset  with  many  obstacles,  he 
developed  a  good  farm  and  home,  which  he  sold  in  1850  and  moved  to 
Mahaska  county,  this  state,  where  he  purchased  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  which  is  now  owned  by  his  widow.  It  is  \ery  well  located,  being  four 
miles  from  Pella.  There  ^Ir.  Tice  lived  until  his  death,  April  30,  1896.  He 
developed  an  excellent  farm  by  hard  work  and  good  management  and  accumu- 
lated a  competency. 

On  September  5.  1854.  ]\Ir.  Tice  was  united  in  marriage  with  Xancy 
Mays,  who  was  born  March  8.  1836.  in  Highland  county,  Ohio,  near  Chilli- 
cothe.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Charles  and  Mary  Mays,  who  came  to  Iowa 
in  an  early  day  and  were  living  on  a  fann  near  Oskaloosa  when  tneir  daughter 
Xancv  was  married. 

To  Mr.  Tice  and  wife  eleven  children  were  born,  namely :  One  died  in 
infancv;  the  ten  living  are,  Theopolus  D.  married  Harriet  A.  Godby,  and  they 
have  five  children.  Lester  C,  William  M..  Delia  J.,  May  B.  and  Veda  G. : 
Manella  Tice  married  J.  E.  Hull  and  they  liave  five  children,  Madison,  O.  K., 
Homer  H.,  Pearl  and  Frank:  Alary  Tice  married  J.  W.  Straughan.  l)ut  this 
union  has  been  without  issue ;  Louisa  Tice  married  Luther  Lawrence,  and  they 
have  three  children,  Lucy  I.,  Nancy  M.  and  Harvey  T.  Minnie  Tice  married 
E.  X.  Grimes,  and  they  have  two  children,  Gladys  C.  and  Ruth  W. ;  C.  G. 
Tice  married  Lovina  Jarard.  which  union  has  been  without  issue:  Cora  Tice 
married  F.  P.  McAdoo  and  they  have  four  children.  Avis  C,  Irene  E., 
Frances  C.  and  Beulah  K. :  Hattie  M.  Tice  married  O.  L.  McAuley,  which 
union  has  been  without  issue:  Daniel  T.  Tice  married  Gertrude  Williamson 
and  they  have  one  child,  Ruth  J. ;  Lottie  Tice  has  remained  single  and  is  living 
with  her  mother  and  assisting  in  keeping  their  beautiful  and  well  furnished 
home  at  Xo.  319  X^'orth  Mechanic  street. 

Madison  Tice  held  to  the  creed  of  the  Christian  church,  which  he  at- 
tended, although  he  was  not  a  member.     He  was  active  as  a  member  of  the 


^yO  •  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Peoria,  Iowa,  and  in  political  affairs 
he  was  always  a  stanch  Democrat. 

After  his  death,  Mrs.  Tice  remained  on  the  farm  near  Pella,  Mahaska 
county,  for  seven  years,  then  came  to  Newton  on  ]^Iarch  lo,  1902,  and  pur- 
chased the  home  where  she  now  resides,  mentioned  above. 

Mr.  Tice  was  a  successful  and  enterprising  farmer  and  he  was  a  man  who 
was  popular  among  his  neighbors,  being  charital)le.  hospitable  and  always 
honest. 


R.  H.  BAILEY. 


Every  human  being  either  submits  to  the  controlling  intluence  of  others 
or  wields  an  influence  which  touches,  controls,  guides  or  misdirects  others. 
If  he  be  honest  and  successful  in  his  chosen  field  of  endeavor,  investigation 
will  brighten  his  reputation  and  point  the  way  along  which  others  may  follow 
with  like  success.  Consequently  a  critical  study  of  the  life  record  of  the 
honored  young  man  whose  name  forms  the  caption  of  this  paragraph  will 
be  of  interest  to  many  readers  of  this  history,  for  it  is  one  of  usefulness  and 
correct  conduct. 

R.  H.  Bailey,  the  present  popular  and  efficient  county  recorder  of  Jasper 
county,  was  born  in  Des  Aloines  township,  near  \"andalia,  this  county,  June  23, 
1880.  He  is  the  representative  of  one  of  the  sterling  early  families  of 
Jasper  county,  being  the  son  of  N.  P.  and  Xancv  J.  (Keating)  Bailey.  The 
elder  Bailey  w«s  a  native  of  Illinois,  from  wliich  state  he  came  to  Jasper 
county,  Iowa,  in  1855,  locating  on  a  farm  in  Des  ]\Ioines  township,  which 
he  soon  had  under  excellent  improvements  and  had  esta1)lished  a  good  home 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  in  1901,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
six  years.  His  wife  was  a  native  of  Penns\l\ania.  from  which  state  she 
moved  with  her  parents  to  Ohio  and  thence  to  Iowa  about  1855.  with  her 
parents.  She  is  still  living,  making  her  home  in  Vandalia ;  she  is  a  woman 
or  fine  Chri-stian  characteristics. 

Five  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  X.  P.  Bailey,  namely:  H.  C, 
deceased;  J.  E.  lives  in  Des  Moines;  Edna  Pearl  is  the  wife  of  W.  J.  Bruner, 
of  St.  Louis;  M.  Coral  is  the  wife  of  F.  A.  Vaughan,  of  Primghar,  Iowa; 
R.  11.,  of  this  review.  These  cliildren  received  good  common  school  educa- 
tions and  are  well  situated  in  life,  respected  in  \vliate\  cr  cr)mmnnity  they  liave 
cast  their  lot. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  49I 

R.  H.  Bailey,  of  this  review,  grew  to  maturity  on  the  home  farm  where 
he  assisted  with  the  general  work  about  the  place  and  during  his  youth 
attended  the  neighboring  schools  in  the  winter  time,  receiving  a  good  educa- 
tion which  has  been  supplemented  in  later  life  by  general  home  reading  and 
study.  He  remained  on  the  parental  acres  until  he  was  elected  county  re- 
corder in  1908  on  the  Republican  ticket,  in  which  year  he  moved  to  Xewton 
and  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  has  long  taken  an  acti\e  part  in  the 
affairs  of  the  party,  and  his  selection  to  the  important  positicjn  he  now 
occupies  is  looked  upon  as  a  very  fortunate  one.  owing  to  the  fact  that  he  has 
discharged  his  duties  in  this  capacity  in  a  most  effective  and  praiseworthy 
manner,  giving  entire  satisfaction  to  all  concerned.  So  faithful  and  well 
did  he  discharge  his  duties  during  his  first  term  that  he  was  his  partv's  choice 
for  re-election  in  19  lo. 

Fraternally,  I\Ir.  Bailey  is  a  memlier  of  the  Knights  of  FVthias.  the 
Masonic  order  and  the  ]\Iodem  \A'oodmen,  standing  high  in  each,  and  in 
religious  matters  he  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church. 

Mr.  Bailey  was  married  June  7.  1911,  to  Anna  L.  Sauerman,  daughter  of 
C.  F.  Sauerman.  of  Xewton. 


FRANK  SELLMAN. 


It  is  not  the  weaklings  who  accomplish  worthy  ends  in  the  face  of  op- 
position, but  those  with  nerve  and  initiative  whose  motto  is  "He  never  fails 
who  never  gi\es  up,"  and  with  this  terse  aphorism  ever  in  view,  emblazoned 
on  the  pillar  of  clouds,  as  it  were,  before  them,  they  forge  ahead  until  the 
sunny  summits  of  men  are  reached  and  they  can  breathe  the  purer  air  that 
inspires  the  souls  of  men  in  respite.  Such  has  been  the  history  of  Frank  Sell- 
man,  a  leading  business  man  of  Newton,  who  was  born  October  4,  1868.  in 
Jasper  county,  Iowa,  on  a  farm  in  Elk  Creek  township.  He  is  the  son  of 
Charles  O.  and  Lucinda  ((iraffis)  Sellman,  the  father  a  native  of  ^Maryland 
and  the  mother  of  Ohio.  They  grew  to  maturity  in  the  East  and  were  edu- 
cated there,  and  they  came  to  Iowa  in  1855,  locating  among  the  early  settlers 
of  Elk  Creek  township.  Jasper  county,  where  they  became  well  established, 
developed  a  good  farm  and  became  influential  in  the  community.  Grandfather 
Beal  Sellman  came  to  ]\Iarion  county,  Iowa,  in  an  early  day  and  he  operated 
there  one  of  the  first  mills  in  the  state.  The  death  of  Charles  O.  Sellman  oc- 
curred in  Tune.  1886.  while  middle  aged,  having  been  born  in  1842.     His  wife 


_|Qj  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

is  living  in  Buena  \'ista  township,  this  county.  The  father  devoted  his  life 
to  farming  and  he  held  a  nnnil)er  of  minor  local  offices.  He  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Civil  war,  having  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Fortieth  Iowa  \'olunteer  In- 
fantrv.  in  which  he  served  faithfully  for  three  years.  He  was  in  the  siege 
of  \'icksburg  and  many  other  engagements.  His  family  consisted  of  four 
children,  two  of  whom  are  living:  Hattie  died  when  seven  years  old;  Blanche 
is  the  wife  of  Grant  Wheatcraft.  of  Buena  A'ista  township:  Jessie  died  in  in- 
fancv :  Frank,  of  this  review. 

Frank  Sellman  worked  on  the  home  farm  during  his  youth  and  lived 
there  until  he  came  to  Newton  in  1906.  He  received  a  good  education  in  the 
common  schools,  which  has  since  been  supplemented  by  home  reading  and 
actual  business  experience.  He-  was  seventeen  years  old  when  his  father  died, 
and  after  that  he  farmed  for  himself.  (The  father  died  from  the  effects  of  a 
kick  from  a  horse.) 

The  subject  received  his  business  training  in  the  Western  Normal  Col- 
lege at  Shenandoah,  Iowa,  from  which  he  was  graduated.  In  igo6  he  was 
elected  county  auditor  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  he  made  such  an  ex- 
cellent record  that  he  was  re-elected  in  1908,  filling  the  duties  of  this  office 
in  a  manner  that  has  reflected  much  credit  upon  himself  and  gained  the  ad- 
miration of  all  concerned.  His  term  expired  January  i,  191 1,  and  he  is  now 
devoting  his  time  exclusively  to  the  hardware  business,  having  been  in  partner- 
ship with  H.  M.  Cox  for  some  time,  at  Newton.  They  carry  a  large  and  care- 
fullv  selected  line  and  have  built  up  a  very  satisfactory  patronage. 

Mr.  Sellman  was  married  on  February  17,  1895,  to  Laura  Cooper,  daugh- 
ter of  A.  V.  Cooper,  a  well  known  citizen,  living  near  Prairie  City,  Iowa,  and 
to  this  union  eight  children  have  been  born :  Jessie,  Jean,  Robert,  Florence, 
Arthur,  Urith,  Frances,  Esther,  all  at  home  and  all  in  school  except  the  two 
youngest. 

Mrs.  Sellman  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church,  and  fraternally  Mr. 
Sellman  is  a  Mason,  belonging  to  the  Knights  Templar  and  the  Shriners. 


TOHN  M.  EMERY. 


The  highest  claim  to  the  crown  of  good  citizenship  of  John  M.  Emery,  a 
gentleman  too  well  known  all  over  the  state  of  Iowa  to  need  any  introduction 
here,  is  his  universal  dedication  of  himself  to  all  moral  and  uplifting  public 
issues.     Point  out  the  right  side  of  all  questions  of  vital  public  and  general 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  493 

interest  and  there  you  will  hnd  ^Ir.  Emery  arrayed  as  an  advocate  and  tighter, 
and  his  popularity  is  well  deserved,  as  in  him  are  embraced  the  characteristics 
of  unabating  energy,  unbending  integrity,  unswerving  public  spirit  and  an  in- 
dustry that  never  flags,  having  gained  the  confidence  and  good  will  of  his 
fellow  men  in  all  the  relations  of  life  by  his  genial  address,  his  straightfor- 
ward business  policy  and  his  unquestioned  loyalty  to  life's  higher  ideals. 

Like  many  of  the  best  citizens  of  Jasper  county.  Mr.  Emery  hails  from 
the  old  Empire  state,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Steuben  county.  New  York, 
July  31,  1849,  h^  being  the  scion  of  a  sterling  old  family,  the  son  of  A.  G. 
and  Alice  (Chatfield)  Emery,  both  natives  of  New  York,  the  mother's  par- 
ents having  come  from  Massachusetts,  and  the  paternal  grandfather  served 
his  country  under  Washington  at  Valley  Forge.  A.  G.  Emery  was  a  Baptist 
minister  and  for  many  years  was  prominent  in  that  denomination.  He  grew 
to  maturity  and  was  educated  in  his  native  state,  and  in  1854  he  brought  his 
family  to  Iowa,  locating  in  Fayette  county,  and  the  following  year  he  entered 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Clayton  county,  and  there  began 
farming  and  preaching.  He  was  successful  and  to  his  original  holdings  he 
added  land  until  he  owned  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres.  In 
1875  he  sold  this  and  moved  to  Kansas,  where  he  homesteaded  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  also  took  up  a  timber  claim  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
and  there  he  spent  ten  years,  preaching  and  farming,  then  sold  out  and  moved 
to  Xorton,  Kansas,  where  he  lived  eight  years,  thence  moved  to  Boulder,  Colo- 
rado, where  he  spent  the  remaining  years  of  his  life,  dying  when  past  eighty- 
seven  years  of  age,  and  there  he  was  buried.  He  was  a  good  and  useful 
man  and  highly  honored  wherever  he  went.  His  wife  a  most  excellent  wo- 
man, died  at  Bennett,  Colorado,  two  years  later  at  the  age  of  eighty-five.  Rev. 
A.  G.  Emery  was  a  remarkable  man  in  many  ways ;  he  was  exceptionally 
alert,  vital  and  forceful,  and  possessed  the  magnetic  ability  to  sway  all  who 
came  into  contact  with  him.  His  voice  was  musical  and  at  the  same  time 
powerful  and  his  eloquence  impassioned  and  all-pervading.  He  was  a  born 
leader  of  men.  and,  whether  from  the  pulpit  or  lecture  platform,  he  always 
carried  his  audience  with  him.  He  took  a  deep  interest  in  politics  and  was 
ever  the  champion  of  things  worth  while.  He  was  a  fine  example  of  that 
sturdv  band  of  pioneer  citizens  who  ha\e  made  the  Middle  \\'est  the  great 
and  prosperous  land  that  it  is  today.  His  wife  was  a  woman  of  sweet  and 
gentle  character,  bringing  into  her  home  life  the  most  benign  and  uplifting 
influence  and  she  was  of  great  assistance  to  her  husband  in  his  work.  She- 
remained  at  home  and  took  care  of  the  family  while  he  took  a  course  in 
Hamilton  College.  Xew  York,  through  which  institution  he  worked  his  way. 
They  became  the  parents  of  nine  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy; 


_]Q_|.  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Ogden  L.  died  at  Xorton,  Kansas,  in  1885;  Eftie  married  Andrew  Gibson 
and  died  in  Smith  county,  Kansas,  in  1895,  leaving  five  children;  Hattie  mar- 
ried Charles  Frye,  and  she  died  in  Boulder,  Colorado,  in  1908;  those  living 
besides  John  ]\I.,  of  this  review,  are:  Charles  L.,  of  Bennett,  Colorado;  Dr. 
H.  G.,  of  Denver,  Colorado;  R.  D.,  of  Des  ]\Ioines,  who  is  secretary  of  the 
Great  \\'estern  Accident  Association ;  Lettie  married  William  Roundtree  and 
lives  at  Bennett,  Colorado. 

John  M.  Emery  received  a  good  education  in  the  home  schools  and  he 
started  out  for  himself  early  in  life.  In  1869  he  was  married  to  Ellen  L. 
Lawrence,  a  natixe  of  New  York.  Her  parents  spent  their  lives  on  a  farm 
and  are  now  both  deceased.  Mrs.  Emery  is  one  of  eleven  children,  six  of 
whom  are  living,  namely:  Mary  A.  is  the  widow  of  Benjamin  Hunt,  of  Ken- 
sington, Kansas ;  Estella  married  T.  J.  Piper  and  they  live  at  Greeley,  Colo- 
rado; ]\Iyra  is  the  wife  of  J.  A.  Lawrence,  living  in  Wisconsin;  A.  T.  lives  at 
Newton,  Iowa;  Ellen,  wife  of  Mr.  Emery,  was  the  youngest  of  the  family. 

After  renting  a  part  of  his  father's  farm  in  Clayton  county,  Iowa,  John 
M.  Emery  began  farming,  but  six  months  later  he  took  up  the  insurance 
business,  at  w  hich  he  worked  steadily  for  ten  years,  then  sold  out  and  took  a 
position  in  a  store  for  a  year,  after  which  he  went  on  the  road  as  traveling 
salesman  for  a  gents'  furnishing  house,  with  which  he  continued  for  five  years. 
He  then  took  his  present  position  with  the  Irwin-Phillips  Company,  of  Keo- 
kuk. ha\'ing  given  them  his  usual  high  grade  service  and  being  regarded  as 
one  of  their  most  efficient  and  trustworthy  employes. 

Mr.  Emery  has  made  a  special  study  of  many  languages,  devoting  special 
attention  to  the  Swedish,  mastering  the  same  so  perfectly  that  he  can  assume 
the  role  of  a  Swede  for  an  indefinite  time  without  being  detected,  even  among 
Swedes.  Added  to  this  accomplishment  is  a  rare  sense  of  humor  that  is  de- 
lightful in  the  extreme,  consequently,  being  a  good  mixer,  he  is  popular  with 
all  classes.  He  has  a  happy  faculty  of  making  after-dinner  speeches,  having 
frequently  appeared  at  banquets  and  public  gatherings,  and  his  company  is 
eagerly  sought  wherever  he  goes.  Personally,  he  is  a  man  whom  it  is  a 
pleasure  to  meet,  jovial,  kind,  hospitable,  unselfish. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Emery  have  been  born  the  following  children :  Bur- 
dett  R.  lives  in  Abilene,  Kansas ;  Theodosia  married  Jesse  T.  Tripp,  and  they 
are  living  at  Bennett,  Colorado;  Aveiy  lives  in  Newton. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Emery  belongs  to  Newton  Lodge  No.  59,  Ancient  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  of  Newton,  and  Gebal  Chapter  No.  12,  Royal  Arch 
Masons.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  at  Newton. 
He  has  a  pleasant  and  well  furnished  home  at  Newton. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  495 

THOMAS  R.  PHILLIPS. 

The  present  sketch  is  concerned  witli  the  Hfe  of  a  man  who  was  for- 
merly one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of  Jasper  county.  In  all  the  relations  of 
life  he  was  faithful  in  every  respect  to  the  highest  standard  of  duty,  whether 
in  the  service  of  his  country  in  war,  or  in  the  every-day  duties  of  his  peaceful 
farm.  Though  for  some  time  he  has  been  a  resident  of  the  better  land,  his 
memory  still  lives  in  the  hearts  of  his  affectionate  wife  and  children,  the  lat- 
ter of  whom  are  now  occupying  useful  positions  in  the  work  of  the  world  to- 
day. 

Thomas  R.  Phillips  was  born  in  Steubenville,  JefYerson  countv.  Ohio, 
on  December  22,  1833,  the  son  of  Henry  and  Maria  Phillips.  When  he  was 
seven  years  of  age  his  parents  came  to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and  here  he 
grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm  eight  miles  west  of  the  city  of  Mount  Vernon. 
On  the  9th  day  of  November,  1856,  he  was  married  to  Harriett  Rebecca 
Allfree,  of  Green  Valley,  in  the  same  county,  for  whom  his  friendship  dating 
from  boyhood  had  ripened  into  love.  In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the 
sendee  of  the  United  States  government  in  Company  E,  Ninety-sixth  Ohio 
Infantry,  thus  freely  offering,  if  need  be,  his  life  to  his  countr}-.  His  regi- 
ment was  under  the  command  of  Col.  W.  C.  Cooper,  of  Mount  Vernon,  and 
soon  after  joining  it  Mr.  Phillips  was  detached  from  his  company,  and  made 
wagon  master  of  his  division,  a  position  which  he  filled  honorably  and  effi- 
ciently until  he  was  honorabl}^  discharged  from  the  service  on  account  of  ill 
health.  In  1864  Mr.  Phillips  and  his  family  moved  to  Iowa,  where  he  ex- 
pected to  find,  and  did  find,  greater  opportunity  in  farming  than  in  his  native 
state.  He  lived  on  his  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  until  1883. 
when  he  removed  to  Newton,  there  erected  a  handsome  residence  at  No.  319 
South  Market  street,  and  lived  here  until  his  death,  on  March  4,  1903,  his 
life  lacking  but  a  few  months  of  reaching  the  three  score  and  ten  allotted  to 
man.  His  wddoAV  is  still  living  in  the  home  on  South  Market  street.  Mr. 
Phillips,  as  well  as  his  family,  was  d.  member  of  the  Methodist  church  of 
Newton,  and  took  an  active  part  in  church  work.  Fraternally,  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Masons  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  Grand  Army 
counted  him  as  one  of  the  most  enthusiastic  of  its  members. 

The  children  o£  Thomas  R.  and  Harriett  R.  Phillips  are :  Edward,  de- 
ceased; Arthur  A.,  deceased;  Ella  M.,  the  wife  of  William  Yost,  of  Newton, 
to  whom  she  has  borne  one  child,  Cecil  B. ;  Ida  M.,  deceased,  formerly  the 
wife  of  Charles  Downs,  of  Kansas. 


^g(j  JASPER    COUNTY^    IOWA. 

Thomas  R.  Phillips  was  a  man  liked  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him, 
on  account  of  the  many  strong  and  worthy  features  of  his  character.  Of  a 
companionable  disposition,  enjoying  the  society  of  his  brother  man,  welcome 
in  all  gatherings,  kind  and  generous  to  the  poor  and  needy,  he  was  in  the 
bosom  of  his  family  the  most  affectionate  of  husbands  and  kindest  of  fathers. 
In  war  a  brave  and  gallant  soldier,  in  peace  a  substantial,  public  spirited  citi- 
zen, to  all  mankind  a  friend,  to  his  family  all  in  all,  and  they  all  in  all  to 
liim — v^i^ich  was  Thomas  R.  Phillips,  whose  taking  away  left  a  vacanc)'  not  to 
be  tilled  in  the  ranks  of  the  citizens  of  Newton. 


w.  o.  Mcelroy. 


There  is  no  member  of  the  Jasper  county  bar  who  occupies  a  higher 
position  in  the  estimation  of  the  people  than  does  W.  O.  McElroy,  attorney, 
whose  office  is  over  the  Jasper  County  Bank.  During  his  many  years  of 
practice  he  has  built  up  a  very  large  clientele  and  he  occupies  a  peculiar  posi- 
tion before  the  people  in  that  he  is  regarded  as  an  exceedingly  safe  counselor 
in  all  matters  pertaining  to  legal  questions.  It  speaks  well  for  any  man  who 
may  have  the  confidence  of  the  people  to  such  an  extent  that  he  is  regarded 
as  especially  adapted  to  the  settlement  of  estates  and  matters  of  equity.  Mr. 
McElroy  holds  this  position.  His  serAdces  are  likewise  in  large  demand 
where  the  drawing  of  intricate  papers  is  involved,  in  fact,  as  a  lawyer,  he  is 
easily  the  peer  of  any  of  his  professional  brethren  throughout  the  state,  and 
the  honorable  distinction  already  achieved  at  the  bar  is  an  earnest  of  the  still 
wider  sphere  of  usefulness  that  he  is  destined  to  fill,  and  the  higher  honors 
to  be  achieved  in  years  to  come  as  he  is  yet  in  the  prime  of  manhood  and  a 
close  observer  of  the  trend  of  the  times  and  an  intelligent  student  of  the  great 
questions  and  issues  upon  which  the  thought  of  the  best  minds  of  the  world 
are  centered. 

Mr.  r^TcElroy  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Ohio,  February  2,  1858,  of 
a  sterling  old  family  of  the  Buckeye  state,  his  parents  being  Hugh  and  Martha 
(Kerr)  McElroy,  both  natives  of  Ohio,  where  they  grew  to  maturity,  re- 
ceived their  education  and  married,  and  where  they  began  life  on  a  farm, 
emigrating  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  when  their  son,  W.  O.,  of  this  review,  was 
eleven  years  of  age,  locating  about  five  miles  north  of  Newton.  Here  the 
father  continued  to  reside  for  forty  years,  becoming  well  established  and  an 
influential  man  in  his  community,  making  this  his  home  until  his  death,  De- 
cember 8,  1908,  having  attained  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-nine  years.     He 


Qir^^.^^iA^'e'^^ . 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  497 

spent  his  last  days  in  Xewtun.  where  his  death  occurred.  He  Hved  to  see  and 
take  part  in  the  wonderful  development  of  the  county,  being  one  of  the  hon- 
ored pioneers,  and  known  as  an  honest,  plain,  modest,  unassuming  gentle- 
man whom  to  know  was  to  respect.  He  owned  a  good  farm  and  was  in- 
du.strious  and  thrifty.  His  wife  passed  away  in  1880  at  the  age  of  fifty-four 
years.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  living:  J. 
K.  makes  his  home  near  Waterloo,  ]owa:  Mrs.  Lizzie  A.  Winstead,  of  Cir- 
cleville,  Ohio;  Margaret  H.  Vanatta,  of  Newton,  Iowa;  W.  O.,  of  this 
review;  Charles  S.  is  living  on  the  old  home  farm  five  miles  north  of  Xewton ; 
Hugh  E.  lives  in  Boise.  Idaho,  where  he  is  practicing  law;  Mrs.  Agnes 
McClain  died  when  thirty  years  of  age.  in  1876;  Mattie  died  when  eighteen 
years  old. 

W.  O.  McElroy  spent  his  early  life  on  the  home  farm  where  he  assisted 
with  the  general  work  during  the  crop  season,  attending  the  common  schools 
in  the  winter  time,  also  took  a  course  at  Hazel  Dell  Academy  at  Xewton, 
When  twenty-one  years  old  he  entered  Ames  College,  taking  a  course  in 
civil  engineering,  graduating  there  in  1881.  For  two  years  he  successfully 
followed  this  profession.  Ijut  ha\ing  entertained  a  laudable  ambition  to  enter 
the  legal  profession,  he  accordingly  began  the  study  of  law  in  1883  with 
Col.  David  R}an,  of  X'e\\ton,  and.  ha\ing  made  rapid  progress,  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  six  months  later.  In  May.  1884.  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his 
])receptor,  which  continued  most  success  full}'  until  Colonel  Ryan  went  on  the 
bench  in  January,  1887,  at  which  time  Mr.  McElroy  formed  a  partnership 
with  J.  A.  Kerr,  now  of  Seattle,  Washington,  this  partnership  continuing  for 
three  years,  Mr.  McElroy  having  been  alone  most  of  the  time  since,  taking  a 
first  ])lace  among  his  professional  brethren  in  this  section  of  the  state  and 
figuring  prominently  in  all  the  local  courts,  keeping  abreast  of  the  times  in 
all  matters  pertaining  to  his  profession  and  devoting  his  attention  almost 
exclusively  to  his  work. 

The  domestic  life  of  Mr.  McElroy  l)egan  on  September  6,  1888,  when 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Julia  Cavanagh.  of  Iowa  City,  a  lady  of  re- 
finement and  many  estimable  traits  and  the  representative  of  a  prominent 
family  there,  being  the  daughter  of  Matthew  Cavanaugh.  a  prominent  citizen 
of  Iowa  Citv.  He  and  Marv  Fellows  constituted  the  first  class  of  Cornell 
College  at  Mt.  A'ernon.  Iowa.  Mrs.  }kIcElroy  was  graduated  from  the  State 
University.  This  union  has  been  bjessed  by  the  birth  of  the  following  chil- 
dren:  Margaret,  who  is  a  junior  at  Cornell  University.  Ithaca.  Xew  York: 
Harold  is  attending  the  Iowa  State  College  at  Ames;  Richard  is  a  junior  in 
the  Xewton  high  school;  Carroll,  who  is  now  ten  years  old.  is  attending  the 
home  schools. 

(32) 


498  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Mr.  McElroY  has,  by  careful  and  prudent  management  and  methods  of 
strict  integrity,  acquired  a  handsome  competence.  He  is  a  director  in  the 
Jasper  County  Savings  Bank,  and  he  has  some  vahiable  landed  interests  in 
Idaho.  His  home  on  East  Main  street,  Newton,  is  a  commodious,  modern 
and  attractive  one  where  the  many  friends  of  the  family  frequently  gather. 

^Ir.  ]\IcElr(iy  has  e\  er  kept  in  touch  with  the  affairs  of  his  city  and 
countv  and  is  an  ardent  advocate  and  liberal  patron  of  all  worthy  enterprises 
making  for  their  advancement  and  prosperity.  His  activity  in  behalf  of  every 
movement  for  the  good  of  his  fellow  citizens  has  endeared  him  to  the  people 
among  whom  the  greater  part  of  his  life  has  been  spent,  and  his  popularity 
is  bounded  onlv  l)y  the  limits  of  his  accpiaintance.  He  has  served  as  city  so- 
licitor, countv  attorney,  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  and  he  has  been 
president  of  the  library  board  ever  since  the  library  was  built,  about  sixteen 
years  ago,  in  fact,  the  cit}-  is  largely  indebted  to  him  for  securing  the  hand- 
some donation  ])\-  Andrew  Carnegie  for  the  building,  and  Mr.  McElroy  spent 
a  great  deal  of  time  in  seeing  that  the  building  was  erected  according  to  plans 
and  specifications,  spending  a  great  deal  more  time  in  this  way  than  one  would 
naturally  suppose,  but  he  has  the  good  of  the  community  at  heart  and  has 
ever  sought  to  sen-e  the  public  well.  For  nearly  twenty  years  he  has  been 
trustee  of  the  Iowa  State  College  at  Ames,  and  he  was  chairman  of  the 
board  for  six  years.  He  has  been  elected  one  of  the  trustees  to  administer 
the  specific  fund  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  given  by  G.  A\\ 
Catt  to  the  State  College  at  Ames.  He  is  loyal  to  the  Republican  party,  but 
is  not  especially  active  in  political  affairs.  Fraternally,  he  stands  high  in 
Masonic  circles,  being  a  member  of  the  blue  lodge,  and  having  attained  the 
Royal  Arch  and  Knight  Templar  degrees.  He  and  his  family  worship  at  the 
Congregational  church. 

Mr.  McElroy  is  deepl\-  interested  in  educational  affairs  and  he  was 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  faculty  and  course  of  study  at  the  State  College 
at  Ames  for  more  than  ten  years,  this  being  the  most  important  committee  in 
the  college.  Mrs.  ^ilcFlroy  has  also  been  acti\e  in  educational  matters,  and 
she  A\  as  head  of  the  local  high  school  for  fwe  years  ]irevious  to  her  marriage. 

Ml'.  McElroy  is  always  master  of  himself  in  ihe  trial  of  cases  and  is 
rarely  not  at  his  best,  being  uniformly  courteous  and  deferential  toward  the 
court  and  forbearing  to  his  opponents.  His  treatment  of  his  case  is  always 
full  of  comprehension  and  accurate,  his  analysis  of  the  facts  clear  and  ex- 
hausti\'e,  and  he  seems  to  grasp  without  effort  the  relation  and  dependence  of 
facts,  and  so  groups  them  as  to  enable  him  to  throw  their  combined  force 
ui)on  tlie  point  they  tend  to  prove.     He  is  not  onl\-  an  able  and  reliable  coun- 


JASPER  COUNTY,  IOWA.  499 

selor,  with  a  thorough  acquaintance  of  the  principles,  intricacies  and  com- 
plexities of  jurisprudence,  but  his  honesty  is  such  that  he  has  frequently 
advised  against  long  and  expensive  litigation,  and  this,  too,  at  the  loss  of 
liberal  fees  which  otherwise  he  could  have  easily  earned.  He  is  a  man  of  the 
people,  cosmopolitan  in  his  ideas  and  of  such  sterling  qualities  as  to  render 
him  popular  with  all  classes;  however,  he  is  a  plain,  straightforward  and  un- 
assuming citizen  who  is  merely  seeking  to  live  a  wholesome  life  in  all  its  re- 
lations, and  while  benefiting  himself,  does  not  neglect  his  broader  duties  to 
the  county,  state,  nation  and  his  fellow  men  in  general. 


TOBIAS  SHAFFER. 


An  enumeration  of  those  men  of  a  past  generation  in  Jasper  county  who 
won  honor  and  puljlic  recognition  for  themselves  and  at  the  same  time  hon- 
ored the  locality  to  which  they  belonged,  would  be  incomplete  were  there  fail- 
ure to  make  mention  of  the  late  Tobias  Shaffer,  one  of  the  prominent  and  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  Xewton,  who,  through  all  life's  vicissitudes,  sustained  a 
ver}-  enviable  reputation  in  all  circles,  and  left  behind  him  the  greatest  of  all 
inheritances,  a  good  name,  something  to  be  desired,  according  to  Hoi}'  \\'rit. 
much  more  than  silver  and  fine  gold. 

Air.  Shaffer  ^^•as  born  May  24,  1839,  in  Bedford  county.  Pennsylvania, 
the  son  of  Philip  and  Rebecca  Shaffer,  of  that  county,  where  they  spent  their 
lives  engaged  in  farming  pursuits,  and  there  the  subject  grew  to  maturit}'. 
assisting  with  the  general  work  about  the  place  and  attending  the  public 
schools  during  the  winter  months,  remaining  with  his  parents  until  he  was 
married  to  Amanda  Ressler,  August  22,  1862.  She  was  born  May  29,  1842, 
in  Bedford  county.  Pennsylvania,  and  was  the  daughter  of  \\'illiam  and 
Elenor  Ressler,  of  that  county,  where  they  spent  their  lives  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. 

Four  days  after  his  marriage  Tobias  Shaffer  proved  his  patriotism  and 
his  loyalty  to  the  flag  by  enlisting  on  August  26,  1862,  in  Company  F,  One 
Hundred  and  Thirty-eighth  Pennsylvania  \'olunteer  Infantry,  and  he  re- 
mained in  the  army  nearly  three  years,  proving  to  be  a  very  gallant  soldier. 
He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Fisher's  Hill.  September  22,  1864,  having 
been  shot  through  the  left  knee.  Later  he  was  taken  to  a  hospital  at  Phila- 
delphia, where  his  limb  was  amputated.  After  he  recovered  he  returned  to 
his  wife  at  the  old  home  in  Bedford  county.  Pennsylvania,  and  tliere  they  re- 


:;e.O  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

mained  until  1871.  when  they  came  to  Jasper  county  Iowa,  and  located  on  a 
farm  near  \\'ittemberg.  Remaining"  there  three  and  one-half  vears.  they 
moved  to  Xewton  and  purchased  a  home.  Mrs.  Sliaffer  resides  at  Xo.  208 
East  Xorth  street,  lie  retired  from  actixe  life,  after  accumulating"  a  com- 
petency. 

Two  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  ]Mrs.  Shaffer,  Joe  W'..  born  Decem- 
ber 31.  1866,  in  Bedford  county.  Pennsxlxania,  married  Edith  Stine.  of  St. 
Joseph,  ^Missouri,  and  one  child  was  born  to  them  wlio  died  in  infancy.  The 
death  of  Joe  \\'.  Shaffer  occurred  in  St.  Louis.  August  10.  1904.  Alberta 
Mav  Shaffer  was  born  in  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  August  6,  1873.  She  married 
Andrew  Stewart  and  thev  live  at  Rockwell  City.  Iowa,  where  he  is  an  exten- 
sive farmer  and  cattle  dealer.  They  have  three  children,  namely :  Eugene, 
Ruth  and  Donald,  who  are  all  attending  school  at  Rockwell  City. 

Tobias  Shaffer  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  Mrs.  Shaffer 
belongs  to  the  Christian  church.  ]\Ir.  Shaft'er  was  an  active  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  at  N^ewton.  Iowa.  In  political  affairs  he  was  a 
Democrat,  but  later  in  life  became  a  stanch  Republican,  remaining  so  until  his 
death.  Owing  to  his  being  disabled  in  the  arm}-  his  government  remembered 
him  with  a  pension  of  fifty-seven  dollars  per  month  as  long  as  he  lived,  and 
his  widow  now  receives  twelve  dollars  per  month.  Her  beautiful  and  well 
furnished  home  in  X^ewton  is  often  the  gathering  place  for  her  many  warm 
friends. 


JOHX  MOSS. 


The  foundation  principles  of  all  American  institutions  are  English,  and 
no  nationality  of  people  who  have  come  to  this  country  have  so  affected  the 
destinies  of  the  country  as  have  the  English.  The  majority  of  the  earlies^t  set- 
tlers were  English  and  they  gave  the  type  to  our  institutions.  But  in  later 
days  immigration  from  England  has  greatly  Jessened,  in  comparison  with  that 
from  the  continental  countries,  so  that  it  is  the  exception  to  find  in  this  coun- 
try those  of  English  birth,  thus  directly  coming  from  that  little  island  whose 
people  rule  over  the  largest  empire  which  the  world  has  known,  whose  lan- 
guage is  spoken  by  far  more  persons  than  any  other  European  language,  and 
whose  sons  and  daughters,  wherever  found,  typify  the  elements  which  have 
made  their  country  so  great. 

John  Moss  was  born  in  Worsall,  Staffordshire,  England,  on  March  15, 
1832.  anrl  received  his  earlv  education   in  the  Blue  School,   from   whicli  lie 


JASPER  COUNTY,  IOWA.  5OI 

graduated  with  high  honors,  manifesting  in  his  boyhood  the  intellectual  abil- 
ity and  the  perseverance  which  were  characteristic  of  his  life.  In  England  he 
became  a  grainer  and  decorator,  and  followed  that  occupation  until  1869,  when 
he  came  with  his  wife  and  family  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  and  there  resided 
until  his  death,  on  December  8,  1885.  More  than  thirty  years  ago  he  estab- 
lished the  first  floristry  in  Xewton,  and  this  plant  is  still  in  operation  bv  his 
widow  and  children  as  the  only  one  in  Xewton  today.  The  business,  which 
was  quite  profitable  in  the  lifetime  of  Mr.  Moss,  has  greatly  increased,  and 
the  up-to-date  establishment  is  very  attractive. 

John  Moss  was  a  stanch  Republican  and  always  stood  up  for  the  i)rinci- 
ples  of  that  party,  in  which  he  was  an  active  worker.  In  religion  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Episcopal  church  and  took  a  prominent  and  leading  part  in 
the  church  work  at  Xewton.  for  as  a  true  Christian  he  believed  that  his  efforts 
could  be  nowhere  better  spent.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  and  vigorous  charac- 
ter, of  influence  in  the  affairs  of  his  community,  greatly  devoted  to  his  wife 
and  family,  to  whom  he  was  ever  a  kind  and  loving  husband  and  father.  Mr. 
yioss.  was  one  of  the  solid  and  substantial  citizens  of  Xewton.  of  whom  his 
adopted  countr}-  might  be  as  proud  as  he  was  of  her,  and  he  filled  a  unique 
place  in  the  city  of  X'ewton.  which  no  other  man  could  enter  into. 

Mr.  ]Moss  was  married  on  August  i,  1864.  to  Eliza  Hanson,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Jane  Hanson,  born  in  Birmingham,  England,  on  August 
19.  1844.  Five  years  after  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moss  came  to  America 
and  located  at  Xewton,  Iowa.  To  their  union  fourteen  children  were  born, 
of  whom  but  four  are  living:  Arthur  A.  ]\Ioss,  born  July  13,  1865,  in  Xorth 
Wales,  Great  Britain.  li\es  in  Ottumwa.  Iowa;  Charles  A.  ^loss,  of  Spartan- 
burg. South  Carolina:  Anna  E.  and  Sidney  H.  ]\Ioss.  living  in  Xewton  with 
their  mother  and  managing  the  fioristr}^ 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  ]^Ioss  his  widow  was  married  to  James  Lister. 

James  Lister  was  born  on  February  9,  1830,  in  Yorkshire,  England.  He 
began  his  business  career  in  Bradford,  England,  where  he  remained  for  seven 
years,  and  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  first  butcher  in  that  city.  In  1856  he 
came  to  Xewton.  Iowa,  and  engaged  with  Murhorn  &  Brothers,  millers,  for 
some  time.  Later  he  farmed  in  Jasper  county.  Iowa,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  was  the  owner  of  a  considerable  amount  of  property  in  Xewton.  On 
Julv  13.  1902,  he  passed  away,  and  his  remains  were  interred  in  Xewton 
cemeterv.  In  politics  Mr.  Lister  was  a  Republican  and  his  religious  affilia- 
tions were  with  the  ]\Iormon  church.  He  was  a  man  well  known  in  Xewton. 
a  good,  conservative  business  man.  w  ith  many  friends,  and  who  possessed  the 
esteem  and  respect  of  all  who  knew  him.  and  had  the  highest  reputation  for 
integritv  and  uprightness.     He  was  in  many  affairs  a  leader  of  his  neighbors. 


-Q2  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Tames  Lister  was  first  married  in  Bradford,  England,  to  Mrs.  Ann  Fos- 
ter, the  daughter  of  George  Ingle,  who  was  born  on  July  3.  1825,  in  York- 
shire. England.  She  was  the  mother  of  one  child  bv  her  previous  marriage, 
Diniah.  now  ]\Irs.  Needham.  Mrs.  Ann  Lister  died  in  Jasper  county  in  1890, 
and  on  April  25.  1895,  Mr.  Lister  was  married  to  Mrs.  John  Moss,  of  New- 
ton, and  after  this  marriage  he  lived  in  Newton  until  his  death. 

Mrs.  James  Lister  is  an  accomplished  lady  of  refinement,  who  herself 
attends  to  much  of  her  business  affairs,  and  takes  her  full  share  in  the  social, 
church  and  philanthropic  activities  of  Newton,  and  is  always  ready  to  aid  any 
deserving  person  who  is  in  need. 


SAMUEL  PIERCE  WILLIAMS. 

For  many  years  the  late  Samuel  Pierce  Williams  was  actively  identified 
with  the  life  of  Johnson  county,  playing  a  role  of  no  mean  consequence  in  her 
affairs  and  becoming  widely  known  as  one  of  her  honored  citizens.  His  well 
directed  efforts  in  the  practical  affairs  of  life,  his  capable  management  of  his 
own  business  interests  and  his  sound  judgment  brought  to  him  prosperity  and 
his  life  demonstrated  what  may  be  accomplished  by  the  man  of  energy  and 
ambition  who  is  not  afraid  to  work  and  has  the  perseverance  to  continue  his 
labors,  even  in  the  face  of  seemingly  discouraging  circumstances.  In  all  the 
relations  of  life  he  commanded  the  respect  and  confidence  of  those  with  whom 
he  was  brought  into  contact,  as  was  abundantly  evidenced  on  many  occasions, 
and  without  a  suitable  record  of  his  life  and  achievements  this  volume  would 
l)e  incomplete. 

Air.  Williams  was  born  on  February  6,  1838,  in  Huntingdon  county, 
Pennsylvania,  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Jane  B.  Williams,  prosperous  farmers 
of  that  place.  In  1843  his  parents  moved  to  Centerburg,  Knox  county,  Ohio, 
vhere  the  subject  received  his  education.  He  remained  at  home  with  his  par- 
ents until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  then  came  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa, 
locating  on  a  farm  and  the  following  year,  i860.  Mr.  Williams  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Mary  Elizabeth  Marhis,  of  that  place.  She  was  born  in  New 
Jersey,  April  17,  1841,  the  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Lucinda  Marhis.  She 
came  to  Ohio  when  she  was  a  small  girl,  where  she  remained  until  she  was 
fifteen  years  old,  then  came  to  Jolmson  county,  Iowa.  After  her  marriage,  she 
and  Mr.  Williams  moved  to  a  farm  and  there  remained  several  years,  later 
moving  to  a  farm  in  Shelby  county.  Iowa,  purchasing  a  fine  place  of  several 


JASPER  COUNTY,  IOWA.  503 

hundred  acres,  where  he  remained  until  his  death,  on  January  i.  1889.  He 
was  a  successful  farmer  and  was  highly  respected,  his  character  Ijeing  above 
reproach.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Williams  five  cliildren  were  born, 
namely:  Berton  died  in  infancy;  Lucinda  Catherine  married  Alpheus  Leigh, 
of  Shelby  county,  and  she  died  lea^•ing  one  daughter,  Bessie  Lee,  who  was 
raised  by  her  grandmother.  Airs.  Williams,  wife  of  the  subject,  with  whom 
she  still  makes  her  home.  Charles  E.  Williams  married  h^fiie  Davis  and  they 
are  now  living  in  Omaha,  Nebraska;  Samuel  C.  is  married  and  lives  at  Ames, 
Iowa. 

Samuel  P.  Williams,  of  this  review,  was  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Christian  church  of  Shelby  county,  and  he  was  a  stanch  Republican,  taking 
an  active  part  in  the  affairs  of  his  party.  He  cast  his  first  vote  for  Abraham 
Lincoln.  He  was  very  successful  as  a  business  man  and  left  an  ample  com- 
petency. A  few^  years  after  his  death  Mrs.  Williams  came  to  Xewton  and 
purchased  a  modern,  cozy  and  neatly  furnished  home  on  East  South  street, 
where  she  has  since  resided.     She  is  highlv  esteemed  by  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 


ISALVH  B.  CARNS. 


The  record  of  Isaiah  B.  Cams,  one  of  Xewton's  most  substantial  and 
highly  honored  citizens,  is  that  of  a  man  who  has  worked  his  way  from  a 
modest  beginning  to  a  position  of  considerable  prominence  by  ^his  efiforts. 
which  have  been  practicall}-  unaided,  which  fact  renders  him  the  more  worthv 
of  the  praise  that  is  freely  accorded  him  by  his  fellow  men  and  of  the  respite 
that  he  is  enjoying  in  his  declining  years.  The  major  part  of  his  life  has  been 
one  of  unceasing  industry  and  perseverance  and  the  notablv  systematic  and 
honorable  methods  he  has  ever  followed  ha\e  won  for  him  the  unbounded 
confidence  and  regard  of  all  who  have  formed  his  accjuaintance.  and  in  look- 
ing over  the  list  of  Jasper  county's  representative  citizens,  none  is  deemed 
worthier  of  a  place  in  the  pages  of  this  work  than  that  of  the  venerable  gen- 
tleman whose  name  appears  above. 

Mr.  Cams  was  born  of  a  sterling  old  Buckeye  family,  pioneers  of  Colum- 
biana county,  Ohio,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Springfield  township,  that 
county,  on  September  23.  1829.  He  is  the  son  of  Abraham  and  Elizabeth 
(Mishey)  Cams,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The  father  followed  farming  all 
his  life,  coming  to  Ohio  with  his  young  wife  in  1808  and  settled  in  what  was 
then  a  wilderness,  in  which  wild  game  was  plentiful  and  Indians  were  numer- 


:^04  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

ons.  Thev  bei^an  life  in  a  loj^'  ca])in  and  literally  hewed  (^ut  from  the  woods 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  lift\-  aeres,  and  it  was  there  that  Isaiah  !>.  was 
born  and.  his  father  d\  ini;"  when  he  was  hut  three  years  old.  he  was  compelled 
to  work  hard  as  soon  as  he  was  old  enough  to  go  to  the  fields,  his  mother,  by 
indomitable  pluck  and  courage,  keeping  the  family  together  until  the  subject 
was  fourteen  years  of  age,  then  she.  too.  closed  her  eyes  on  earthly  scenes. 
The  son,  Isaiah  W..  then  went  to  Stark  county.  Ohio,  and  li\ed  with  an  elder 
brother  two  years.  Although  ha\ing  only  a  limited  ojjportunity  to  attend 
school,  he  studied  hard  at  home  and  \yhen  only  sixteen  years  old  began  teach- 
ing in  the  winter  months,  working  on  the  farm  in  the  summer,  continuing 
thus  for  four  \  ears,  in  the  meantime  taking  a  general  course  of  instruction  in 
Twinsburg  Seminary.  He  then  entered  Allegheny  College,  at  ]\Ieadyille. 
Pennsvlyania.  w  here  he  remained  two  years,  and  he  made  a  splendid  record  in 
l)oth  these  institutions.  Later  he  returned  to  Ohio  and  resinned  teaching",  but 
after  four  months  he  began  the  regular  business  course  in  DufT's  Mercantile 
College,  at  Pittsburg,  Peniisylyania.  He  then  went  to  Cincinnati,  Louisyille, 
and  later  to  St.  Louis,  seeking  employment  as  bookkeeper,  but  failed  to  get 
suitable  work,  conse(|uentl}'  he  came  on  to  Keokuk,  Towa,  September  27,  1853, 
and  taught  in  Lee  comity  that  winter.  In  the  spring  following  he  was  called 
to  a  chair  in  what  was  then  known  as  the  Iowa  Wesleyan  Institute,  w  here  he 
remained  one  year,  when,  on  account  of  sickness,  he  was  compelled  to  return 
to  Ohio.  When  he  came  back  to  Iowa  he  located  at  h\armington  and  there 
organized  an  academy  in  which  he  taught  the  following  fall  and  winter.  In 
the  summer  of  1856  he  went  to  Pennsyhania.  where  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Margaret  Kiddoo.  daughter  of  John  Kiddoo.  of  Jefferson  county, 
Ohio.  Returning  with  his  wife  to  Farmington,  Iowa,  he  inidertook  to  con- 
tinue with  the  school,  but  the  panic  of  1857^ coming  on,  the  school  failed,  after 
which  Mr.  Cams  came  to  Jasper  county,  where  he  had  previously  secured  one 
hundred  and  twenty ^acres  of  wild  land.  This  he  moved  upon  and  began  im- 
proying,  remaining  there  for  foiu'  )-ears,  and  there  he  passed  some  of  the 
darkest  hours  of  his  life,  undergoing  some  of  the  hardships  and  priyations 
always  incident  to  a  life  in  a  new  country.  Then  the  war  between  the  states 
came  on,  and  excitement  was  high  in  his  locality,  neighbors  all  around  him 
began  enlisting,  so.  his  patriotism  being  aroused,  he  bade  adieu  to  his  young 
wife  and  three  small  children  on  August  15,  1862,  and  enlisted  in  the,  lu;rtieth 
Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry  at  Newton,  and  was  sent  at  once  to  (Cairo,  Illinois, 
thence  to  Columbus,  Kentucky,  where  the  winter  of  1862-3  '^^''^^  spent.  In 
the  early  spring  he  was  sent  to  Paducah  and  drilled  until  June  30th,  on  the 
night  of  which  they  embarked  for  A'^icksburg,  and  there  seryed  through  the 


.JASPER  COUNTY,  IOWA.  5OS 

siege:  later  Mr.  Cams  was  sent  to  Helena  and  f.ittle  Rock,  .Arkansas,  and 
from  there  he  was  sent  home  on  sick  leave.  After  remaining  at  home  a 
month,  he  was  placed  in  the  United  States  hospital  at  Keoknk.  .The  following 
February  he  joined  his  regiment  at  Little  Rock  and  in  the  fall  of  that  vear 
was  sent  to  Fort  Smith,  later  to  Fort  Gibson,  where  he  was  mustered  out 
August  15,  1865.  having  been  a  very  faithful  defender  oi  the  flag  for  three 
years.  Returning  home,  he  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business,  entering  the 
office  of  a  real  estate  dealer  who,  four  years  later,  he  bought  out.  jThen  he 
engaged  in  the  general  real  estate  business  for  a  period  of  thirtv-one  years 
continuously,  selling  lands  and  making  abstracts,  during  which  time  he  became 
very  well  established, and  took  rank  as  one  of  Jasper  county's  substantial  citi- 
zens, retiring  from  active  life  in  1896,  and  he  is  spending  his  old  age  in  an 
attractive,  commodious  and  neatly  kept  residence  in  Newton. 

Mr.  Cams  is  the  sole  survivor  of  a  family  of  eleven  children,  and  liis 
wife  is  the  only  one.  living  of  a  family  of  ten  children.  To  them  have  been 
born  three  children,  two  of  whom  are  living:  Fannie  is  at  home:  Jennie  is  the 
widow  of  A.  F.  Solmon,and  resides  at  home:  Lizzie  died  in  infancv.  This 
family  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Xewton.  ]Mrs.  Cams  being  an 
active  member  of  all  the  church  societies  and  as  active  in  church  work  as  her 
health  will  permit.  Mr.  Carns  has  served  his  church  as  elder  and  trustee. 
Prior  to  the  Civil  war  he  was  a  member  of  Mystic  Lodge  No.  55,  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  passing  through  all  the  degrees.  After  the  war  he 
dimitted  out.  He  is  an  active  temperance  worker, and  a  member  of  an  anti- 
saloon  league.  In  politics  he  is  Republican.  He  belongs  to  Garrett  Post  No. 
16,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  at  Newton.  ]\Irs.  Carns  was  for  a  number 
of  vears  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  and  is  a  woman  of  talent  and  culture. 
Her  brother.  Joseph  D.  Kiddoo,  was  a  brigadier-general  during  the  Civil  war, 
being  desperately  wounded  at  Petersburg.  Before  his  death  he  was  breveted 
major-general. 


ARTHUR  LISTER. 


Among  the  prominent  business  men  of  the  younger  generation  in  Jasper 
county  who  are  deserving  of  the  large  success  that  attends  their  efforts  and 
of  the  high  esteem  in  which  they  are  held  is  Arthur  Lister,  a  man  who  is  not 
only  endowed  with  indomitable  industry,  but  who  maintains  a  high  standard 
of  business  and  social  ethics  in  every  relation  of  life,  thereby  winning  and  re- 
taining the  good  will  and  confidence  of  all  who  come  into  contact  with  him. 


-q5  jasper    county,    IOWA. 

Mr.  Lister  comes  to  us  from  our  sister  nation  across  the  Atlantic,  and 
while   cherishing  patriotic   impulses    from   his   native   land,   he   has   become 
thoroughly  Americanized  and  is  an  ardent  supporter  of  our  institutions.  He 
was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  January   i8,   1865,  and  he  is  the  son  of 
William  and  Hannah  (Brown)  Lister,  both  natives  of  England,  where  they 
were  reared,  educated  and  married.     The  family  emigrated  to  America  in 
March,  1865,  landing  at  New  York.    The  father  at  once  went  to  Philadelphia 
and  engaged  in  the  wool  business,  having  worked  as  a  wool  sorter  in  his  native 
countrv.    After  remaining  in  the  Quaker  city  for  five  years  they  came  to  Iowa, 
locating  at  Xewton  in  1870,  the  elder  Lister  having  purchased  land  south  of 
the  city  before  coming  here  and  on  this  he  located  and  there  the  son  Arthur, 
of  this  review,  lived  until  he  was  seventeen  years  old,  when  he  engaged  in  the 
meat  business  for  his  father  in  Xewton.  After  conducting  this  for  about  three 
years  the  son  went  to  Rhode  Island  to  learn  the  wool  business  with  a  brother, 
James.    After  remaining  there  three  years,  he  returned  to  Xewton,  Iowa,  and 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  with  his  father  for  three  years,  after  which 
he  went  to  Denver,  Colorado,  thence  returned  to  Rhode  Island,  where  he 
again  took  up  the  wool  business.     In  a  little  more  than  two  years  he  returned 
to  Xewton,  and,  the  father  having  died  the  meanwhile,  he  engaged  in  the  gro- 
cery business  for  himself  for  nearly  five  years.     Closing  out  this  business,  he 
became  the  manager  of  the  opera  house  in  Newton  and  later  at  Grinnell.  He 
leased  the  opera  house  at  Grinnell  and  managed  it  for  about  two  years,  during 
which  time  he  purchased  the  opera  house  at  Kellogg,  which  he  retained  four 
years.     Later  he  went  to  Des  ]Moines  and  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business, 
having  disposed  of  his  opera  house  at  Kellogg.     He  is  at  present  manager  and 
part  owner  of  Lister's  Opera  House  at  Xewton,  and  owns  and  operates  bill- 
posting  plants  in  Colfax  and  Xew^ton.     In  1906  he  went  on  the  road  at  the 
head  of  the  Chase-Lister  Company,  a  theatrical  organization,  remaining  out 
one  year.     While  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in. Newton  and  as  manager 
of  the  local  opera  house.  Air.   Lister  was  united   in  marriage  with  Louise 
Schwerin,  of  Burlington,   from  whom  he  was  subsequently  divorced.     This 
union  was  without  issue. 

Mr.  Lister  has  met  with  some  success  as  a  business  man,  proving  that  he 
possesses  fair  business  acumen,  energy  and  foresight  by  his  able  management 
of  whatever  he  has  turned  his  attention  to,  having  had  experience  covering 
a  wide  range.  He  has  made  a  fair  success  of  the  local  opera  house  and 
brought  it  up  to  standard,  it  now  ranking  with  theaters  in  cities  much  larger 
than  Xewton,  a  good  class  of  attraction  being  constantly  booked.  He  keeps 
everything  in  fair  order  and  his  attractions  draw  large  crowds,  at  times  many 
from  other  towns. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  507 

Mr.  Lister  at  one  time  made  a  trip  to  England,  his  early  home,  which  he 
left  when  a  babe.  While  on  this  visit  he  made  most  of  the  trip  from  London 
to  Paris  on  a  bicycle.  At  present  he  lives  in  Des  :Moines.  but  spends  most 
of  his  time  in  Newton.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  of  Newton.  Personally,  he  is  a  genial,  obliging,  genteel  gentleman 
whom  it  is  a  pleasure  to  meet. 


CHARLES  W.  WINN. 

There  are  few  people  in  Newton  or  in  Jasper  county  who  do  not  know 
Charles  \\\  Winn,  a  progressive  merchant  and  representative  citizen.  The 
chief  reason  why  this  is  true  is  that  he  possesses  a  never-failing  fund  of  humor 
and  is  a  man  blessed  with  that  wealth  of  human  sympathy  which  alwavs  en- 
dears one  so  favored  to  his  fellow  men.  No  gathering  of  a  social  nature  but 
receives  an  added  spice  if  he  be  present,  for  he  can  always  be  relied  upon  to 
make  a  happy  little  speech  or  tell  a  quaint  and  funny  story.  This  genial, 
obliging  and  popular  gentleman  was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio.  March 
5,  1844,  and  he  is  the  son  of  J.  W.  and  Harriet  (Virden)  Winn,  both  natives 
of  Ohio.  His  father  was  a  merchant  and  came  to  Mt.  Pleasant,  Iowa,  in 
1854.  The  trip  was  made  in  an  old-fashioned  "prairie  schooner,"'  through 
a  country  more  or  less  wild,  over  unbridged  streams,  rough  roads,  and  filled 
with  all  kinds  of  wild  game.  The  father  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Henry  county,  Iowa,  but  the  hardships  and  loneliness  of  pioneer  life 
caused  him  to  turn  his  attention  away  from  home-building  in  a  new  countrv 
in  less  than  a  year  and  he  went  back  to  Ohio,  his  son  returning  with  him. 
In  1863  Charles  W.  Winn  again  left  Ohio  and  went  to  Memphis,  Tennessee, 
where  he  worked  at  different  things  for  two  years.  He  then  returned  to 
Ohio  and  on  May   i,   1866,  was  united  in  marriage  with   Eunice  Thomas, 

daughter  of  David  and  (Hewett)  Thomas,  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 

Both  these  parents  are  now  deceased,  as  are  those  of  Mr.  Winn  also. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Winn  five  children  have  been  born,  namely :  Orlando, 
who  has  remained  unmarried,  resides  in  Newton;  Estella  Laird,  wife  of  J.  L. 
Laird,  lives  in  Minneapolis,  Minnesota:  Harvey  W.,  who  is  married,  is  a 
prominent  business  man  in  Ft.  Worth.  Texas;  Frank  D..  who  is  yet  single, 
lives  in  Des  Moines;  Blanch,  who  is  a  successful  teacher,  has  remained  single 
and  is  livimr  at  home. 


-oS  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

In  1866  Mr.  Winn  ai^ain  niovetl  from  Ohio  to  All  I'lcasant.  Iowa,  where 
he  bought  and  improved  a  farm,  hving  on  it  for  several  years.  Later,  in 
1878,  he  came  to  Newton.  Jasper  county,  and  in  this  vicinity  again  engaged 
in  farming  pursuits  with  his  usual  success.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to 
the  shoe  business,  which  he  has  followed  ever  since,  having  been  in  his  present 
location  in  New^ton.  either  as  clerk  or  proprietor,  for  a  period  of  tw^enty- 
three  vears.  He  has  one  of  the  neatest,  best  arranged  and  best  known  stores 
in  the  county,  which  is  always  carefully  stocked  with  an  ui)-to-date  and  at- 
tractive line  of  footwear  of  every  description,  and  his  trade  has  constantly 
grown,  now  extending  to  all  parts  of  the  locality.  A  criterion  of  his  honesty 
and  courtesy  to  patrons  is  seen  in  the  fact  that  many  of  his  best  customers 
are  of  ten  or  twenty  years'  standing. 

Mr.  Winn  is  one  of  eight  brothers  and  sisters,  tln-ee  of  whom  are  still 
livine".  namelv :  Isaac  makes  his  home  in  Ohio;  Frank  D.  lives  in  Idaho;  and 
himself.  Mr.  Winn  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
of  Xewton,  of  which  he  is  an  elder.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat  and, 
fraternally,  belongs  to  the  Brotherhood  of  American  Yeomen.  He  has  always 
manifested  an  abiding  interest  in  the  growth  of  Jasper  county  and  has  always 
readilv  supported  every  movement  calculated  to  augment  the  same. 


ALVIN  C.  GATES. 


Alvin  C.  Gates,  who  was  born  in  Ashland,  Ohio.  October  14.  1855.  is  the 
son  of  E.  N.  and  Sarah  (Cunningham)  Gates,  the  father  being  a  native  of 
Vermont  and  the  mother  of  Ohio.  It  was  in  the  year  1840  that  the  father 
came  to  Ashland,  Ohio,  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law\  Here  he  met  and 
married  his  wife  and  here  he  resided  until  1857,  when  he  came  to  Geneseo,  Illi- 
nois, again  engaging  in  the  law  business.  Mr.  Gates's  reason  for  stopping  at 
this  point  was  that  he  might  w^ait  until  the  railroad  should  have  been  built 
farther  west. 

Before  leaving  Ohio,  the  father  had,  in  1854,  journeyed  to  Jasper  county, 
Iowa,  and  entered  something  over  four  thousand  acres  of  land  from  the  gov- 
ernment, paying  the  regulation  government  price  of  one  dollar  and  a  half  per 
acre  for  it.  It  was  situated  in  different  parts  of  the  county.  It  was  this  wise 
and  far-seeing  move  on  the  part  of  the  father  which  laid  the  foundation  of 
the  Gates  fortune,  which  is  considerable. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  509 

In  June,  i860,  the  father  rinally  came  to  Jasper  county,  settHng  in  Xew- 
ton.  A  year  later  he  moved  out  on  one  of  his  big  farms  a  mile  and  a  half 
northeast  of  Xewton.  After  this,  although  lie  still  practiced  law  to  some 
extent,  he  practically  gave  up  his  profession,  giving  his  attenticjn  to  his  vast 
farming  interests. 

E.  N.  Gates  was  one  of  the  ahle  lawyers  of  his  time.  lie  was  also  a 
brilliant  and  forceful  orator  and  a  man  of  fine  ])u1jlic  s])irit.  During  the  war 
he  was  commander  of  the  board  of  enrolhnent  for  the  sixtli  congressional  dis- 
trict of  Iowa,  acting  as  attorney  and  settling  all  legal  questions.  On  account  of 
this  position  he  was  ever  afterwards  called  "J^-^^lgc"  Gates.  He  was  verv 
prominent  in  the  state  Grange  of  his  time.  He  died  in  Xewton  in  December. 
1882,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years. 

Alvin  C.  Gates,  the, subject  of  this  sketch,  is  one  of  six  children,  all 
boys,  of  whom  but  two  are  li\ing.  Three  died  in  infancy;  Sumner  E..  who 
died  in  Jasper  county  in  1900,  was  ,born  in  Ohio  and  at  his  death  was  a 
farmer  of  considerable  means;  Lorin  A.,  who  was  born  in  Illinois,  in  1858. 
resides  in  Newton,  was  formerly  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  but  is 
now  engaged  in  oil  operations  in  Kansas. 

Alvin  Gates  attended  law  school  at  Iowa  City  in  1876-77  and  graduated 
from  that  school,  afterwards  opening  a  law  office  in  N'ewton,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  general  practice  of  law  for  four  years.  Disliking  the  work,  he 
purchased  a  livery  stable  in  Newton,  which  he  conducted  for  three  years.  lie 
was  then  appointed  deputy  sheriff  under  I.  L.  flatten,  which  office  he  filled  for 
three  vears.  Next  he  was  elected  city  clerk  and  superintendent  of  the  X^ewton 
light  and  water  plant,  which  position  he  held  seventeen  years.  During  the 
latter  part  of  that  time  'Slv.  Gates  and  George  Parsons  organized  the  G.  ^^^ 
Parsons  Company,  of  which  Mr.  Gates  is  secretary  and  treasurer.  This  com- 
pany manufacture  hea\y  excavating  machinery,  selling  their  products  all  over 
the  United  States  and  in  foreign  countries.  He  is  also  vice-president  'of  tht- 
One  Minute  Manufacturing  Company,  known  all  over  the  United  States.  Mr. 
Gates  also  has  other  interests  of  importance,  owning  some  valuable  lands.  He 
is  a  member  of  X>wton  Lodge  Xo.  59,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
also  Gebal  Chapter  Xo.  12.  Royal  Arch  Masons,  and  Oriental  Commandery 
X'^o.  22.  Knights  Templar,  also  Za-Ga-Zig  Temple,  Ancient  Arabian  Order  of 
Xobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  at  Des  Moines.  Iowa.  ]\lr.  Gates  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  Des  ]^loines  Lodge  X^o.  98.  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

On  December  5.  1877.  Mr.  Gates  was  married  to  Jennie,  daughter 
of  Ephraim  and  :\Iartha  ( Harvin )  Bennett,  both  natives  of  Iowa.  Mrs. 
Gates  is  one  of  three  children,  two  of  whom  are  dead,  Adam  and  David.     Mrs. 


10  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 


Gates  was  born  Janiiarx-  23,  i860,  and  is  a  woman  of  rare  culture  and  re- 
finement. She  is  also  prominent  socially,  being  a  member  of' the  local  chapter 
of  the  P.  E.  O.  She  is  also  a  member  of  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star.  To 
this  couple  have  been  born  four  children,  one  only  surviving  at  this  writing: 
Grace  and  Glen,  twins,  born  1879:  Grace  died  in  1880  and  Glen  in  1889: 
Earl,  born  in  Xewton  in  1889,  resides  in  Xewton.  He  is  shipping  clerk  for 
the  Parsons  Company.  He  was  recently  united  in  marriage  with  Catherine 
Wilson,  of  Xewton ;  Harry  Dale,  born  in  1893,  died  in  Xewton  in  1894. 


ALBERT  I.  BAKER. 


Among  the  men  who  have  been  instrumental  in  public  affairs  is  Albert 
I.  Baker,  of  Xewton.  a  man  eminently  deserving  of  the  high  esteem  in  which 
he  is  held  by  all  classes,  and  whose  name  should  be  perpetuated  in  the  history 
of  his  localitv.  partly  because  of  his  honored  and  untiring  efforts  in  upbuilding 
the  same  and  partly  because  he  has  led  a  worthy  and  consistent  life,  also 
because  he  is  the  scion  of  one  of  the  prominent  and  influential  old  pioneer 
families,  the  type  that  has  made  the  great  Mississippi  valley  rival  that  of  the 
Xile  in  medieval  times. 

Mr.  Baker  was  born  in  Livingston  county,  Illinois.  December  i,  1864. 
and  he  is  the  son  of  William  E.  and  Sarah  (  Chesebro)  Baker,  both  natives  of 
Xew  York.  His  mother's  parents  were  pioneers  of  Livingston  count}-.  Illi- 
nois, having  built  the  second  house  in  Sullivan  townshi]),  there,  and  for. many 
years  they  farmed  extensively  in  that  county.  \Mlliam  E.  Baker  was  reared 
in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  he  came  from  there  to  Livingston  county.  Illinois, 
when  a  very  young  man,  where  he  located  oh  a  section  of  land  purchased  b}- 
his  father  and  here  he  was  married.  There  is  no  more  prominent  man  in  Liv- 
ingston county.  Illinois,  today  than  the  subject's  father,  for  he  has  at  all 
times  been  active  in  politics  and  has  held  numerous  township  and  countv 
offices,  having  twice  been  a  meml)cr  of  the  county  board  of  super\isors.  He 
was  at  one  time  mayor  of  the  town  of,  Dwight.  Illinois,  and  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  education  there.  After  leaving  Dwight  he  moved  to  Eair- 
bury,  in, the  same  county,  where  he  w-as  appointed  postmaster  under  Cleve- 
land. Lpon  retiring  from  the  postofifice  in  1890  he  was  elected  county  treas- 
urer on  the  Democratic  ticket,  having  resigned  the  position  as  ^postmaster  to 
accept  same.  During  his  term  as  treasurer  he  w^as  elected  chairman  of  the 
Democratic   county   committee,   in    which   capacity   he    served    through    two 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  5II 

different  campaigns,  winning  in  botli.  Since  going  out  of  office  he  has  been 
appointed  on  the  board  of  re\iew  for  the  apportionment  of  taxes  for  his 
county.  At  present  he  is  residing  in  Pontiac,  the  county  seat,  and  is  serving 
as  justice  of  the  peace  for  Pontiac  township,  having  been  elected  in  1909  by 
both  parties.  He  is  serving  in  this  capacity  with  his  usual  ability  and  satis- 
faction. Although  Mr.  Baker  is  now  seventy-three  years  of  age,  ^he  is  hale 
and  hearty  and  an  interesting  man  to  know,  being  of  the  finest  characteristics 
and  well  informed  on  all  public  questions.  His  wife  is  now  sixty-six  years 
old,  and  they  have  a  host  of  warm  friends.  Their  family  consists  of  six  chil- 
dren, an  equal  number  of  l)oys  and  girls,  namely:  Albert  I.,  of  this  review: 
Clark  E.,  a  photographer  of  Smithfield.  Utah:  Stevens  R.,  an  att(jrnev  in 
Pontiac:  Helen  lives  in  Pontiac;  Delia,  who  married  a  ranchman,  lives  in 
Kalispel.  Montana,  and  Isabel,  in  Pontiac. 

When  eighteen  years  of  age  Albert  I.  Baker  began  working  as  an  assist- 
ant bookkeeper  and  cashier  in  a  large  general  store  at  Fairbury.  Illinois,  anrl 
there  he  remained  three  years,  giving  his  employers  the  utmost  satisfaction. 
Then  he  and  his  brother  Clark  established  Tlic  Fairbury  Xcz\.'s,  a  weeklv 
paper  which  flourished  for  three  years,  when  the  plant  l)urned.  The  following 
day  both  brothers  accepted  a  partnership  with  The  Fairburv  Blade,  where 
they  remained  two  years.  Clark  Baker  then  went  to  Utah  and  in  Decemlier. 
i8go,  Albert  I.  Baker  was  appointed  deputy  clerk  of  Livingston  countv  under 
John  C.  George  and  served  four  years.  After^that  he  spent  over  three  vears 
in  Elkhart,  Indiana,  as  head  bookkeeper  for  the  National  Paper  and  Supplv 
Company,  and  it  was  while  Jiving  there  that  he  met  and  married  Mrs.  Har- 
riet A.  Gruber,  ncc  Dodson,  she  being  the  widowed  daughter  of  James  J.  and 
Jane  (McLean)  Dodson,  lx)th  of  Ontario,  Canada,  where  the  father  had  been 
a  merchant :  he  is  now  deceased ;  his  widow  is  making  her  home  in  Buffalo. 
Xew  York,  and  is  now  seventy-four  years  old. 

One  child,  a  son.  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker,  died  in  infanc\-. 

In  November,  1898,  ^Ir.  Baker  came  to  X'ewton,  Jasper  county,  and 
purchased  the  lozca  State  Democrat,  which  he  sold  after  running  it  less  than  a 
year,  then  engaged  with  the  Iowa  Mercantile  Company,  filling  the  position  of 
bookkeeper  and  cashier  with  his  usual  ability  and  fidelity  for  a  period  of  four 
years.  The  next  two  years  he  was  storekeeper  and  purchasing  agent  for  the 
Parsons  Self  Feeder  Company.  On  June  i,  1906.  he  became  auditor  and 
credit  man. for  the  One  Minute  Manufacturing  Company,  which  position  he 
still  holds.  perf(jrming  his  duties  in  a  manner  that  reflects  much  credit  upon 
his  abilitv  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  employers..  ^He  owns  a  beauti- 
ful modern  home  in  Xewton.     He  and  his  wife  are  both  members  of  the 


^12  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

}^Iethoclist  Episcopal  church  at  Xewton.  Mr.  Baker  l)eini;'  one  of  the  trustees. 
He  has  alwavs  taken  an  acti\"e  interest  in  politics,  especially  since  coming  to 
Newton.  He  has  acted  as  secretary  of  the  Democratic  central  committee  of 
the  county  and  it  is  in  a  great  measure  due  to  his  efforts  that  the  party  has 
heen  placed  on  a  successful  basis.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  niember  of  Xewton  Lodge 
X^o.  39,  Ancient  Free  and  .\ccepted  ]\Iasons.  and  he  is  a  dimitted  meml)er  of 
X'ewton  Chapter  Xo.  100.  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  of  which  his  wife  also 
is  a  member.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Modern  ^^'oodmen  of  America  and  the 
Brotherhood  of  American  Yeomen  at  X'^ewton.  He  is  a  genial,  kindly  man 
whom  it  is  a  pleasure  to  meet,  well  informed  on  current  topics  on  which  men 
and  parties  divide  and  is  acquainted  with  the  world's  best  literature.  He  is  one 
of  those  sincere,  honest,  public-spirited  citizens  who  are  a  credit  to  any  com- 
munity, for  while  laboring  to  advance  their  own  interests  thev  nexer  lose 
sight  of  their  obligations  to  their  neighbors  and  the  general  pul)lic. 


GEORGE  M.  ALLEX. 

There  are  always  valuable  lessons  to  be  gained  in  perusing  the  life  his- 
tories of  such  men  as  the  late  George  M.  Allen,  one  of  Jasper  county's  most 
popular  citizens  whose  life  forcibly  illustrated  what  energy,  integrity  and  a 
fixed  i)uri)ose  can  accomplish  when  animated  by  noble  aims  and  correct  ideals. 
During  the  years  of  his  residence  in  the  countv  he  held  the  unequivocal  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  those  with  whom  he  came  into  contact,  for  he  was  a 
man  whom  to  know  was  to  trust  and  admire  owing  to  his  many  commendable 
attributes  of  head  and  heart,  when  the  "reaper  whose  name  is  death"  gath- 
ered him  in  its  sheaves  while  in  the  fullness  of  his  strength  and  the  prime  of 
useful  manhood,  his  irreparable  loss  to  the  community  was  keenly  felt  by  all. 

Mr.  Allen  was  born  in  this  county  on  December  17.  1869.  the  son  of 
James  T.  and  Sarah  E.  Allen,  the  father  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war.  having 
been  a  member  of  Company  G.  Seventh  Iowa  Cavalry,  and  his  death  occurred 
when  his  son  George  was  thirteen  years  of  a,^e.  Left  fatherless  thus  early  in 
life,  it  became  necessary  for  him  to  put  his  shoulder  to  the  wheel,  and.  nothing 
daunted,  he  pushed  forward  through  every  obstacle,  proving  his  sterling  in- 
nate mettle.  He  was  educated  in  the  pul)lic  schools  and  for  two  years  he  at- 
tended the  \\'estern  Xormal  College  at  Shenandoah,  from  which  institution 
he  was  graduated  in  1890.  He  was  a  good  student  and  advanced  rapidly, 
aufl  when  he  was  ready  to  begin  a  career  for  himself  he  was  well  equipped. 


^,^-^^L,^>-T/t-^^^^ 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  513 

Turning  his  attention  to  the  clothing  business,  he  entered  the  employ  of  G. 
]\I.  Hoyt  &  Company.  Later  he  formed  a  partnership  with  J.  E.  Ammons, 
succeeding  the  first  named  concern,  but  a  few  years  later  he  and  Mr.  Ammons 
dissolved  partnership,  and  Mr.  Allen  associated  himself  with  J.  T.  Pound  in 
the  same  business.  He  later  sold  his  business  to  a  ]\Ir.  Kock  and  in  the  spring 
of  1908  he  formed  a  partnership  with  l^ed  A.  Jones,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Jones  &  Allen,  clothiers,  which  partnership  was  continued  until  dissolved 
by  the  death  of  Mr.  Allen,  on  July  21,  191  o.  He  was  regarded  as  one  of  the 
leading  merchants  of  Newton,  and  always  enjoyed  a  good  trade  with  the  sur- 
rounding country  as  well  as  the  city,  for  he  was  uniformly  courteous  and 
considerate  to  his  hundreds  of  patrons,  all  of  whom  were  his  friends,  for  he 
believed  in  injecting  the  Golden  Rule  into  his  every-day  afTairs  and  he  there- 
fore had  not  only  the  confidence  but  the  good  will  of  those  with  whom  he  had 
dealings.  He  was  a  man  of  good  judgment,  keen  discernment  and  managed 
well,  consequently  he  was  succeeding  most  admirably  when  his  career  was 
suddenly  cut  short  by  the  common  fate  of  humanity. 

On  June  17,  1896,  Mr.  Allen  was  united  in  marriage  with  Grace  Hough, 
who  survives  him.  She  was  the  daughter  of  W^illiam  H.  and  Sarah  E.  (Bond) 
Hough,  both  natives  of  Virginia,  born  in  the  Shenandoali  valley  in  Loudoun 
county,  where  Mr.  Hough  was  a  prominent  and  influential  Quaker.  Mr.  and 
and  Mrs.  Hough  were  married  at  Waterford,  Loudoun  county,  Virginia, 
May  22,  1850,  and  they  came  to  Iowa  in  1858,  locating  in  Newton,  and  for  a 
time  Mr.  Hough  freighted  goods  between  that  city  and  Grinnell.  He  was  a 
man  of  much  native  ability  and  he  took  considerable  interest  in  political  affairs 
and  was  highly  respected  wherever  he  was  known.  For  many  years  he  owned 
and  conducted  a  grocery  store  here.  He  was  elected  countv  recorder  of  this 
county  on  the  Republican  ticket  for  two  terms,  performing  the  duties  of  that 
office  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner.  His  death  occurred  in  NcAvton  on  April 
16,  1894,  when  seventy-one  years  of  age,  his  birth  having  occurred  on  Novem- 
ber 27,  1823.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church  and  a  prominent 
worker  in  the  same,  having  united  with  the  same  soon  after  he  came  to  Newton, 
although  he  had  been  reared  a  Quaker.  For  many  years  he  was  class  leader 
in  the  local  congregation  and  he  also  sen-ed  his  church  as  treasurer.  His 
wife  was  born  on  January  17,  1832.  and  her  death  occurred  in  Newton  on 
October  20.  1908.     She  was  a  woman  of  the  finest  personal  characteristics. 

Mrs.  Grace  (Hough)  Allen  was  born  in  the  house  which  she  now 
occupies,  on  January  25,  1872,  and  it  has  been  her  home  ever  since.  All  her 
girlhood  pleasures  are  connected  with  the  place,  the  joys  of  her  young  wife- 

(33) 


314  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

hood,  and  later  the  place  became  hallowed  to  her  as  the  place  wherein  her 
devoted  life  companion  spent  his  last  days  on  earth  and  also  as  the  place 
from  which  both  her  beloved  parents  passed  into  the  mystic  beyond,  and  here, 
too,  she  was  led  to  the  happy  hymeneal  altar. 

Mrs.  Allen  was  graduated  from  the  local  high  school  in  1890,  and  she 
has  been  prominent  in  musical  affairs  from  childhood.  She  is  now  a  member 
of  the  choir  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church :  in  fact,  she  has  been  singing 
in  this  choir  since  she  was  a  school  girl.  She  has  a  splendid  alto  voice  which 
delights  all  who  have  the  pleasure  of  hearing  her  sing.  Mr.  Allen  was  also  a 
singer  of  exceptional  ability  as  well  as  a  thorough  musician,  and  for  years 
he  was  a  well  known  figure  in  the  choir  of  the  Methodist  church  with  his 
wife,  and  he  was  also  a  member  of  the  Newton  band.  His  voice,  rare  and 
well  trained,  was  frequently  heard  at  funerals  and  upon  memorial  occasions. 

Besides  Mrs.  Allen,  the  following  children  constituted  the  family  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  William  H.  Hough:  Mrs.  E.  E.  McCord,  Arthur  and  Fred,  all 
living  in  Newton. 

Surviving  Mr.  Allen,  besides  his  wife,  is  a  sister,  Mrs.  Carrie  Rice,  of 
Pueblo,  Colorado,  and  Roy  Allen,  who  is  in  the  printing  business  in  Newton. 

At  the  time  of  his  death  Mr.  Allen  was  treasurer  of  the  Methodist  church. 
He  was  a  prominent  Mason,  being  a  member  of  the  blue  lodge;  he  was  also  a 
member  of  tlie  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  was  a  charter  member 
of  the  Xewton  Hunting  and  Fishing  Club.  He  had  no  children.  He  was  a 
man  of  engaging  personality,  genial,  kind  and  generous  almost  to  a  fault, 
e\-er  true  to  all  that  was  best  and  noblest.  All  who  knew  him  felt  the  personal 
charm  of  the  man.  for  they'  knew  him  to  be  a  man  not  only  of  exceptional 
ability,  but  an  advocate  of  all  that  meant  progress  in  material,  civic  and  moral 
lines. 


\VILLTAM  M.  BOYD. 


We  of  the  present  generation  do  not  fully. realize  what  it  meant  for  the 
young  men  of  half  a  century  ago,  with  life's  bright  promises  before  them,  to 
lea^'e  business,  the  comforts  of  home  and  the  pleasures  of  associations  with 
family  and  friends  and  go  out  to  do  or  die 'in  tlie  world's  greatest  war,  in 
which  they  suffered  indescribably,  at  times,  during  four  long,  dreary  years, 
"in  order  that  the  nation  might  live."  But  they,  our  honored  sires,  did  it, 
gladly  and  well,  and  today  no  man  should  be  the  recipient  of  greater  esteem 
bv  us  than  the  old  Aeteran,  who  wore  the  blue.     One  such  was  \\'illiam  M. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  515 

Boyd,  long  a  highly  respected  citizen  of  Jasper  county,  who  was  born  in  Cen- 
ter county,  Tennessee,  January  22,  1843.  and  he  was  the  son  of  John  and 
Sarah  (Beldon)  Boyd,  the  father  a  native  of  Tennessee  and  the  mother  of 
North  Carolina.  The  latter  came  with  her  people  to  Tennessee  with  her 
parents  when  young  and  there  met  John  Boyd  and  they  were  subsequently 
married  by  the  noted  "Parson  Brownlow,"  a  prominent  preacher  and  poli- 
tician of  his  time.  Mr.  Boyd  devoted  his  life  to  farming  and  carpentering  and 
his  death  occurred  in  Jonesborough.  Tennessee,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety 
years.  He  was  influential  in  his  community  in  public  matters,  and  he  and 
his  oldest  son  were  soldiers  in  the  Mexican  war,  the  father  rising  to  the  rank 
of  first  lieutenant.  He  was  twice  married  and  William  M..  (jf  this  re\"iew,  is 
one  of  three  brothers  by  the  first  marriage;  Samuel  T.  died  in  Tennessee  in 
1909;  James  I.  lives  in  Shelby  county,  Iowa.  Xine  children  were  born  to  the 
second  marriage. 

William  M.  Boyd  left  home  witli  his  father's  brother  when  fifteen  years 
of  age  and  came  to  Illinois  where  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  four  years,  then 
in  1854  he  came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  w-hen  the  country  was  new,  settling 
in  Poweshiek  township  where  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  until  he  responded 
to  his  country's  call  and  enlisted  in  Newton,  in  Company  B,  Forty-eighth  Iowa 
Volunteer  Infantry,  in  the  western  division  of  the  Federal  army,  under  "Fight- 
ing Joe"'  Hooker.  He  was  sent  to  Davenport,  where  he  did  guard  duty,  and 
later  sent  to  Chicago  to  prevent  a  possible  attempt  to  free  a  number  of  Con- 
federate prisoners  held  there.  Returning  to  Rock  Island,  he  was  honorably 
discharged  at  the  close  of  1864  and  returned  to  Jasper  county,  where  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  raw  prairie,  having  long  since 
transformed  it  into  a  splendid  farm,  well  improved  and  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation,  and  on  which  he  was  very  successful  as  a  general  farmer  and 
stock  raiser. 

In  March,  1857,  Mr.  Boyd  was  united  in  marriage  with  Amanda  Sewell, 
daughter  of  John  Sewell.  a  native  of  Indiana,  and  to  this  union  three  children 
were  born,  two  sons  and  one  daughter :  Samuel  died  in  infancy;  Ella  married 
Jonathan  Lacy  and  resides  in  Colfax,  this  county;  Sarah  D.  married  a  Mr. 
Patterson,  a  grain  dealer  of  Mitchell ville,  Iowa. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Boyd  died  in  1863  and  in  1865,  upon  returning 
from  the  war,  he  married  Margaret  Martindale,  a  widow,  and  to  this  union 
seven  children  were  born,  all  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  Dr.  F.  E..  of 
Colfax;  Edward,  who  conducts  a  "bus"  line  in  Newton;  L.  J.  is  a  traveling 
salesman,  out  of  Beatrice,  Nebraska;  H.  C.  is  a  druggist  in  Mason  City: 
Bertrus  is  the  wife  of  Sumner  Baker,  a  merchant  who  lives  in  Maringo.  this 


5l6  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

county;  Theodosia  is  unmarried  and  is  living  at  home;  Linnie  is  the  wife  of 
Richard  Sharp,  a  miner  of  this  county. 

Until  seven  \ears  ago,  Mr.  Boyd  carried  on  active  farm  work,  then  re- 
tired and  moved  to  Colfax,  where  he  purchased  a  neat,  substantial  and  com- 
fortable residence  in  which  he  spent  his  old  age  in  the  midst  of  plenty  as  a 
result  of  former  years  of  activity.    His  death  occurred  on  July  3,  191 1. 

He  was  always  a  man  who  had^the  public  welfare  at  heart,  and  he  served 
in  nearly  all  the  township  offices.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  of  Colfax,  and  he  belonged  to  the  E.  D.  Duncan  Post  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  of  which  he  was  commander  for  several  years. 
He  belonged  to  Riverside  Lodge  Xo.  53,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
at  Colfax,  and  he  belonged  to  Oriental  Commandery  No.  22,  Knights  Tem- 
plar, at  Newton,  and  to,  the  chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons;  he  had  been  a 
Mason  since  1863.  He  was  the  recent  overseer  of  the  poor  at  Colfax  and  one 
of  the  commissioners  of  the  soldiers'  relief  commission,  and  he  was  a  member 
of  the  city  council.  In  every  capacity  in  which  he  served  the  public  he  acted 
conscientiously  and  won  the  approval  of  all  concerned. 


KENNINGTON  BROTHERS. 

The  record  of  a  life  well  spent,  of  triumphs  over  obstacles,  of  persever- 
ance under  difficulties  and  steady  advancement  from  a  modest  beginning  to 
a  place  of  honor  and  distinction  in  the  industrial  world,  when  imprinted  on 
the  pages  of  a  history,  present  to  the  youth  of  the  rising  generation  an  example 
worthy  of  emulation  and  may  also  be  studied  with  profit  by  those  of  more 
mature  years  whose  achievements  have  not  kept  pace  with  their  expectations. 
The  success  of  the  well  known  and  popular  firm  of  K'ennington  Brothers,  real 
estate  dealers  of  New^ton,  Jasper  county,  has  been  well  earned  and  is  worthy 
of  careful  consideration  by  those  hesitating  at  the  parting  of  the  ways.  They 
are  representatives  of  a  prominent  old  pioneer  family  here. 

L.  S.  Kennington  was  born  in  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  June  13,  1858,  and 
he  is  the  son  of  Henry  and  Margaret  (Slaughter)  Kennington,  the  mother 
being  a  native  of  Ohio  and  the  father  of  Ireland,  from  which  country  he 
emigrated  to  America  in  1849,  landing  in  New  York  where  he  began  working 
as  a  locomotive  machinist.  Four  years  later  he  moved  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  w  here 
he  was  married.  In  1855  he  came  to  Jasper  county  alone  and  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  and  in  the  spring  of  1856  he  returned,  bringing  his  family, 


JASPER    COUNTY^    IOWA.  517 

and  began  developing  the  land.  By  hard  work  and  good  management  he  soon 
had  an  excellent  farm  and  a  comfortable  home  and  here  he  continued  farm- 
ing until  1880  when  he  moved  to  his  beautiful  home  in  Newton  where  he  has 
since  led  a  retired  life.  He  has  always  been  a  man  of  public  spirit,  his  great- 
est interest  being  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  schools  and  public  roads,  and  during 
his  active  years  he  served  as  supervisor  of  roads  and  as  school  director. many 
times.  To  the  original  tract  he  added  eighty  acres,  making  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  in  all,  which  valuable  farm  is  now  owned  by  his  son,  John 
M.,  brother  of  L.  S.  Kennington.  The  elder  Kennington  is  a  man  of  sterling 
attributes  and  popular  with  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  L.  S.  Kennington  started  in  life  for  himself 
by  canvassing  for  books.  He  then  entered  Hazel  Dell  Academy  for  the  win- 
ter term  and  the  following  spring  began  teaching  school.  From  then  on  till 
the  fall  of  1879  li^  either  attended  or  taught  school.  He  was  a  success  as  a 
teacher  and  his  services  were  in  great  demand,  but,  believing  that  the  law  was 
his  proper  sphere,  he  began  studying  Blackstone  and  other  standards,  and 
entered  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Iowa  where  he  made  a 
splendid  record,  and  was  graduated  from  the  law  department  in  1880.  Then 
he  began  the  collegiate  course  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1884,  receiv- 
ing the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws  from  the  law  department  and  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Arts  from  the  college ;  later  he  received  the  degree  of  Master 
of  Arts. 

In  July,  1884,  Mr.  Kennington  bought  a  half  interest  in  the  loiva  State 
Democrat  at  Newton,  and  he  purchased  the  other  half  in  1887.  This  paper 
he  published  with  singular  success  for  a  period  of  fourteen  years,  during  which 
time  he  built  up  a  large  circulation  and  made  his  paper  the  equal  of  any  its 
type  in  Iowa  and  rendered  the  same  a  moulder  of  public  opinion.  In  the 
spring  of  1896  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Newton  and  served  two  years 
in  a  manner  that  reflected  much  credit  upon  himself  and  to  the  entire  satis- 
faction of  the  department  and  the  citizens  of  this  community.  After  leaving 
the  newspaper  field  he  began  the  practice  of  law,  which  he  has  continued  ever 
since  in  connection  with  a  real  estate  business.  As  an  attorney  he  takes  high 
rank  in  the  local  bar  and  is  a  painstaking,  energetic  and  straightforward  advo- 
cate and  counselor  who  has  long  since  won  the  admiration  and  good  will  of 
all  classes  and  he  has  built  up  an  extensive  and  ever  growing  clientele,  figuring 
prominently  in  all  the  local  courts.  He  has  kept  well  abreast  of  the  times  in 
all  matters  of  jurisprudence  and  is  a  close  student. 

The  domestic  life  of  L.  S.  Kennington  began  on  June  12,  1895,  when  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Myra  Davis,  the  daughter  of  J.  S.  Davis  and 


5l8  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

wife,  the  former  deceased.  Mys.  Kennington  is  a  lady  of  many  estimable 
attributes. 

At  all  times  L.  S.  Kennington  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  public 
affairs.  In  June.  1910,  he  completed  a  term  of  twenty-five  years  in  some 
official  capacity  within  the  organization  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  served 
several  times  as  county  chairman  of  his  party  and  also  upon  the  congressional 
committee  of  his  district,  being  chairman  during  one  of  the  Weaver  cam- 
paigns. He  has  served  his  party  well  and  his  counsels  have  done  much  for 
the  success  of  the  same.  In  all  positions  of  public  trust  he  has  discharged 
his  duties  in  an  able  and  conscientious  manner,  to  the  satisfaction  of  all,  irre- 
spective of  party  alignment. 

Mr.  Kennington  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Xewton  Business  Men's 
Association.  He  belongs  to  Central  Lodge  No.  /t,,  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  of  Newton ;  Newton  Lodge  No.  59,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons;  Gebal  Chapter  No.  12;  Royal  Arch  Masons;  Oriental  Commandery 
No.  22,  Knights  Templar,  and  the  Za-Ga-Zig  Temple,  Ancient  Arabic  Order 
of  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  at  Des  Moines.  Mrs.  Kennington  belongs 
to  the  Episcopal  church  at  Newton. 

John  M..  Kennington,  brother  of  L.  S.  Kennington,  and  a  well  known 
business  man  and  politician  of  Jasper  county,  was  born  here  on  October  9, 
1856,  being  the  eldest  of  four  living  children.  The  other  two,  besides  L.  S., 
are  Eldora  May,  who  married  Al  Bischoff,  advertising  manager  of  a  Chicago 
newspaper;  and  Howard  V.,  foreman  of  the  linotype  room  for  one  of  the 
large  Chicago  publishing  houses.  Those  deceased  are  Sarah  F.,  Charles  H., 
Carrie  and  Margaret.     The  mother  is  also  deceased. 

John  M.  Kennington  began  life  for  himself  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years 
by  teaching  school  in  the  winter  months  and  working  on  farms  in  the  sum- 
mer and  he  is  a  fine  type  of  the  truly  self-made  American.  He  was  educated 
at  the  old  Flazel  Dell  Academy  and  when  twenty-two  years  of  age  he  went  to 
Colorado,  where  he  remained  until  the  spring  of  1897,  working  in  different 
mining  fields  and  becoming  a  successful  mine  operator.  L'pon  his  return  to 
Jasper  county,  Iowa,  he  purchased  the  old  home  place  of  his  father,  which 
he  still  owns  and  which  he  has  kept  well  improved  and  well  cultivated.  In 
1898  he, went  to  Chicago,  where  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  .Vlbertine 
Smith,  a  lady  of  refinement,  a  native  of  Gennany.  Returning  to  Jasper 
county  with  his  bride,  Mr.  Kennington  settled  on  his  farm  and  there  he  car- 
ried on  general  farming  and  stock  raising  very  successfully  until  in  l-'ebruary, 
1908,  when  his  wife  was  called  to  her  rest,  after  which  he  rented  his  farm 
and  moved  to  Newton,  where  he  began  a  real  estate  business  with  his  brother 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  5I9 

and  in  which  he  has  been  very  successful.  Together  they  own  over  one 
thousand  acres  of  choice  and  valuable  land  in  Jasper  county  at  this  writing. 
They  also  have  considerable  holdings  in  South  Dakota.  They  carry  on  a 
general  real  estate  business,  purchasing  most  of  their  property  outright  and 
are  well  known  all  over  the  county  as  honest,  straightforward,  capable  busi- 
ness men,  their  integrity  and  honor  not  being  questioned. 

John  M.  Kennington  has  ahvays  paid  considerable  attention  to  politics, 
having  served  his  township  in  nearly  e\'ery  capacity  and  he  recentlv  made  a 
strong  race  for  county  treasurer  on  the  Democratic  ticket.  He  is  a  member 
of  Newton  Lodge  No.  56,  Ancient  Free  and  Acepted  Masons ;  Oriental  Com- 
mandeiy  No.  22,  Knights  Templar;  Gebal  Chapter  No.  12,  Royal  Arch 
Masons;  he  also  belongs  to  Central  Lodge  No.  y-^^,  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  at  Newton,  having  been  a  member  of  the  same  since  1879  and  he  is 
a  past  grand  of  that  order.  Like  his  brother,  L.  S.,  he  is  popular  throughout 
the  county  or  wherever  he  is  known,  being  an  unassuming,  genial  and  public 
spirited  gentleman. 


BEMAH  BATTELS. 


It  would  be  hard  to  find,  within  the  borders  of  the  locality  of  which  this 
history  treats,  a  man  better  beloved  by  his  neighbors  and  his  community  than 
Beriah  Battels,  a  sterling  and  honored  pioneer,  who,  now  that  he  has  reached 
the  advanced  mile-posts  of  the  years  ''where  cool  and  long  the  shadows  grow" 
before  the  mellow  evening  twilight,  is  serenely  passing  his  last  days  in  re- 
tirement in  his  cozy  home  in  the  city  of  Newton.  His  life  since  l)oyhood  has 
been  an  exemplary  one,  and  he  is  now  nearing  his  four  score  years.  Kindly 
in  his  nature,  gentle  in  his  judgments,  broad  in  his  sympathies,  he  has  long 
been  known  in  truth  to  be  "a  friend  in  need  and  a  friend  indeed."  -\lthough 
the  sunshine  for  him  has  been  darkened  during  the  past  few  years,  owing  to 
some  affliction  of  the  eyes,  he  bears  his  lot  with  rare  fortitude  and  cheerful- 
ness. His  optimism  of  character,  his  gentleness  and  kindliness  have  made  him 
ever  a  welcome  guest  in  the  hon-ies  of  his  fellow  men  and  have  endeared  him 
to  all  who  know  him. 

Mr.  Battels  was  born  on  April  9.  1833.  in  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  the 
son  of  Beriah  and  Elizabeth  (Fisher)  Battels,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
His  father  was  a  veteran  of  the  war  of  1812.  and  his  grandfather,  who  was 
also  named  Beriah.  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution.  \Mien  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  but  a  small  bov  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Hancock  cr.untx , 


-20  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Ohio,  and  there,  in  the  district  schools,  he  received  his  education.  His  father 
first  engaged  in  the  foundry  business  in  Pennsylvania,  later  took  up  farming 
in  Ohio,  and  in  1855  moved  with  his  family  to  Iowa,  locating  in  Hamilton 
countv,  where,  as  a  pioneer,  he  engaged  in  farming  until  his  death,  in  1863, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  L'pon  coming  to  this  state  the  subject  came 
on  to  Jasper  county,  in  1855,  selecting  a  farm  in  Poweshiek  township,  being 
among  the  early  settlers  there,  with  neighbors  few  and  far  between.  Here 
he  remained  until  the  outl)reak  of  the  Civil  war,  when  he  proved  his  patriotism 
by  enlisting,  in  September.  1861.  in  the  state  service,  and  on  October  21st  fol- 
lowing was  sworn  into  the  United  States  service  at  Camp  McClellan,  as  a 
l^rivate  in  Company  B,  Thirteenth  Iowa  A'^olunteer  Infantry,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Capt.  Thomas  H.  Miller  and  James  ^^'ilson,  first  lieutenant,  the  lat- 
ter finally  becoming  a  general.  E.  E.  Dungan  was  second  lieutenant.  They 
were  cjuartered  at  Jeft'erson  barracks,  near  St.  Louis,  and  at  Jefferson  City, 
Missouri,  for  the  winter,  and  in  ]\Iarch  following  they  were  ordered  down  the 
river,  otsensiblv  bound  for  Savannah,  1)ut  they  were  turned  aside  at  Pittsburg 
Landing  and  ordered  into  active  service.  During  this  engagement  Mr.  Bat- 
tels had  a  portion  of  his  hand  shot  away,  which  incapacitated  him  for  further 
duty,  and  he  was  discharged  at  St.  Louis  on  August  12,  1862,  and  sent  home. 
After  his  return  from  the  army  lie  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  in  Malaka  township  and,  witli  the  exception  of  two  years,  1881  and 
1882,  when  he  owned  and  conducted  a  general  store  at  Mitchellville.  he  re- 
mained upon  this  farm  until  he  retired  in  1890,  in  which  year  he  removed  to 
Newton,  where  he  has  ever  since  resided,  owning  here  a  commodious  and 
pleasant  home,  neatly  furnished  and  well  kept. 

Mr.  Battels  was  the  second  child  in  a  family  of  eight  children,  namely  : 
Hiram  Xewton  was  a  member  of  a  company  recruited  at  Homer,  and  he 
served  in  the  Second  Iowa  Cavalry  during  the  Civil  war ;  he  had  a  family  of 
thirteen  children,  eight  of  whom  were  boys,  who  have  now  reached  maturity 
and  are  successful  business  men.  Mrs.  Margaret  E.  Russell  lives  on  a  farm 
near  Webster  City,  Iowa ;  Jane,  who  married  George  Stover,  died  in  Kansas ; 
Hiram,  the  second,  died  in  Polk  county,  low^a ;  Mrs.  Mary  Tucker  lives  in 
Pueblf),  Colorado;  Mrs.  Amanda  Bell,  now  a  widow,  lives  at  Brush  Prairie. 
Washington;  Mrs.  Rhoda  Brandon  lives  in  Des  ^Moines;  Mrs  Ellen  Abernathv 
lives  in  Arkansas  City. 

On  Eebruary  22.  1853,  Mr.  Battels  was  united  in  marriage  with  Eliza 
J.  Myers,  daughter  of  John  and  Matilda  (Groves)  Myers.  Not  having  any 
children  of  their  own,  they  took  a  child  to  raise  wdien  only  two  months  old, 
Charles  E.,  the  son  of  Lucetta  Roberts,  now  Mrs.  Albert  B.  Kitchel.     Thev 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  52 1 

educated  him  and  reared  him  to  manhood,  and  although  never  legally  adopted 
by  Mr.  Battels  or  his  wife,  he  has  always  borne  their  name. 

~S[r.  Battels'  first  wife  died  in  1882.  whereupon  he  retired  irom  the  mer- 
cantile busine'ss.  turning  the  same  over  to  the  young  man  he  had  reared.  On 
April  II.  1883,  he  was  married  again,  his  last  wife  being  known  in  her  maiden- 
hood as  Mar}'  E.  Carper.  Her  father,  a  well  known  farmer  in  Poweshiek 
township,  this  county,  died  in  1864,  when  only  thirty-four  years  old;  his 
widow  survived  him  many  years,  dying  on  her  se\entieth  birthdav  in  Seattle, 
\^''ashington.  There  were  five  children  in  the  family  who  grew  to  maturity, 
namely :  Dr.  P.  D.  Carper,  a  well  known  physician  of  Seattle.  Washington, 
died  six  years  ago;  T.  E.  Carper,  now  engaged  in  the  transfer  business  in 
the  last  named  city,  is  married  and  has  two  children;  Mrs.  Kathryn  Hinton. 
now  deceased,  left  one  child,  Mrs.  Andrew  Christensen,  wife  of  one  of  Seat- 
tle's progressive  business  men:  Mrs.  Clara  Kircher  died  at  Columbus.  Ohio: 
the  two  brothers,  mentioned  above,  were  the  first  two  from  this  country  to  set 
foot  into  the  Klondike,  and  they  enjoyed  the  distinction  of  being  the  first  to 
discover  gold  in  paying  quantities  on  Bonanza  creek.  Their  mining  venture 
was  very  successful,  the  two  having  mined  out  several  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars' worth  of  gold,  and  they  finally  disposed  of  their  claim  for  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  At  his  death  Dr.  P.  D  Carper  was  the  owner  of  the  Good- 
lope  mine  of  Nevada,  which  he  left  as  a  legacy  to  his  brothers  and  sisters  and 
it  is  still  in  the  family. 

The  first  coal  discovered  in  Jasper  county  north  of  the  river  was  on  the 
farm  belonging  to  ^Irs.  Battels'  mother,  and  there  the  little  town  of  Oswald 
was  builded. 

^[r.  and  Mrs.  Battels  are  both  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Newton,  the  former  having  been  converted  at  the  age  of  eighteen, 
and  he  has  been  a  consistent  member  of  that  denomination  ever  since.  He 
has  been  class  leader  in  the  church  since  he  first  moved  to  Newton ;  he  has 
held  most  everv  ofiice  in  the  church,  including  that  of  steward,  and  as  lay 
pastor  he  visits  the  homes  of  the  afflicted  and  those  who  need  his  help  and  he 
is  ever  a  welcome  visitor,  for  he  believes  in  scattering  sunshine  about  him  as 
he  goes  through  life.  Mrs.  Battels  has  been  a  teacher  in  the  church  for  a 
number  of  years  and  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
at  Colfax.  When  but  fifteen  years  old  she  and  her  sister  were  baptized  in  the 
Skunk  river  at  Colfax,  being  the  first  to  receive  baptism  in  the  river  there, 
and  united  with  the  Christian  church,  in  which  faith  their  mother  had  been 
baptized  by  Alexander  Campbell  at  Massillon. 


C^22  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Battels  have  no  children,  lie  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic order  at  Xewton,  also  belongs  to  the  Garret  Post.  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  of  which  he  has  been  past  commander  and  chaplain.  In  1862,  after 
his  return  from  the  army,  Mr.  Battels  was  commissioned  captaiai  of  the  Home 
Guards  bv  Governor  Stone  of  Iowa.  Politically,  he  is  a  Republican.  ]\Irs. 
Battels  is  a  member  of  the  Eastern  Star,  also  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps, 
having"  been  president  of  the  latter  for  three  years,  also  served  as  chaplain. 

Personallv,  Mr.  Battels  is  a  very  pleasant  gentleman  and  he  and  his  wife 
have  long  been  prominent  jn  local  affairs,  especially  in  a  social  way,  and 
among  the  most  influential  in  club  and  church  matters. 


J.  R.  ZOLLINGER. 

In  a  necessarily  brief  sketch  like  this  it  is  impossible  to  enter  fully  into 
detail.  The  course  of  most  lives  is  largely  determined  by  circumstances  and 
environment,  a  man,  as  a  rule,  being  only  able  to  do  the  best  he  can  in  the 
place  where  he  finds  himself. 

Jeremiah  Rummel  Zollinger  was  born  December  7,  1829.  near  Hagers- 
town,  Maryland,  from  which  locality  he  removed  in  his  early  childhood  with 
his  parents  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  grew  up.  He  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade,  becoming  a  contractor  and  builder,  and  in  that  capacity  came  west  at 
the  age  of  twenty -five.  At  that  time  he  invested  somewhat  in  Iowa  farm 
land.  He  was  of  a  genial  disposition,  and  had  many  friends.  He  was  also 
possessed  of  sound  common  sense  and  good  business  ability,  and,  being 
thoroughly  honest,  he  had  the  confidence  of  those  with  whom  he  dealt. 

In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  K.  of  the  Twenty- 
eighth  Iowa,  under  Captain,  afterward  Colonel.  John  Meyer.  There  would 
seem  to  have  been  a  warm  friendship  always  between  these  two  men.  From 
private,  J.  R.  Zollinger  rose  to  be  second  lieutenant  of  his  company,  and  was 
known  for  the  thoroughness  with  which  he  performed  all  the  duties  falling 
to  him.  first  as  orderly  sergeant,  and  later  as  second  lieutenant.  Like  all  of 
the  Company  K  boys,  he  was  a  good  soldier,  always  ready  to  fight,  and  never 
shrinking  from  any  danger.  He  was  in  Hovey's  division,  and  fought  in  thir- 
teen battles,  besides  skirmishes  and  other  fights.  In  April,  1863.  Hovey's 
division  started  for  Vicksburg.  They  did  not  reach  it  till  the  20th  of  May, 
when  the  city  was  invested  and  its  bombardment  began.  In  the  meanwhile 
were  fought  the  battles  of  Port  Gibson.  ]May   i  st,  and  Chami)ion  Hill.  May 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  523 

i6th,  in  both  of  which  J.  R.  Zolhnger  fought,  as  well  as  later  in  the  rifle 
pits  of  Vicksburg.  Immediately  after  the  surrender  of  X'icksburg  the  Twenty- 
eighth  Iowa  was  marched  off  to  take  part  in  the  siege  of  Jackson.  Here,  on 
the  7th  of  July,  Lieutenant  Zollinger  received  a  wound  in  the  head  which  did 
not  at  the  time  seem  serious,  but  which  gave  him  more  or  less  suffering  all 
through  his  later  life.  In  Deceml)er,  1863,  he  was  sent  home  as  a  recruiting 
officer  and  remained  until  the  27th  of  March,  1864,  when  he  rejoined  his 
regiment  in  Louisiana  and  saw  service  in  that  state  during  the  spring  and 
summer.  On  the  22d  of  July,  ]864,  he  was  embarked  at  Algiers,  Louisiana,  on 
the  steamship  "Arage"  and  sent  north  to  Virginia.  Here,  in  the  valley  of  the 
Shenandoah,  he  saw  hard  service,  being  engaged  in  the  battles  of  \X'inches- 
ter,  Fisher's  Hill,  and  Cedar  Creek,  besides  several  skirmishes.  At  various 
times  in  the  absence  of  a  captain  he  had  the  command  of  three  diff'erent  com- 
panies in  the  regiment  besides  his  own,  and  led  Company  D  in  a  charge  in 
battle.  In  January,  1865,  the  Twenty-eighth  was  sent  by  sea  to  Savannah. 
Georgia.  On  the  12th  of  March  they  were  sent  to  Newbern,  North  Caro- 
lina. Here  the  regiment  by  companies  did  guard  duty  on  hospitals,  prisons, 
and  prisoners,  and  patrolled  the  town.  In  August,  Lieutenant  Zollinger,  hav- 
ing been  mustered  out,  returned  to  his  home. 

In  January,  1868,  he  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff'  by  William  C.  Hawk, 
the  newly  elected  sheriff  of  Jasper  county.  In  this  position  he  served  four 
years.  He  was  then  elected  sheriff,  and  held  that  office  for  three  successive 
terms.  In  1879  ^^  ^^'^^  made  assignee  of  a  bankrupt  stock  of  goods  in  Col- 
fax, and  disposed  of  it  satisfactorily  to  all  concerned.  In  1880  he  opened  a 
grocery  in  Newton,  and  remained  a  grocer  until  he  died,  on  Fe1)ruary  24, 
1895.  ' 


V.  H.  MORGAN. 


V.  H.  Morgan  was  born  March  31,  1872,  in  Rock  Creek  townsliip,  Jasper 
county,  Iowa,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Dubois)  Morgan,  the  father 
being  a  native  of.  Indiana  and  the  mother  of  Iowa.  The  father  came  with  his 
parents  to  Scott  county,  Iowa,  when  seven  years  old,  his  parents  locating  on 
a  farm  near  Davenport,  where  they  remained  until  they  died.  Mr.  Morgan's 
father  came  to  Jasper  county  in  1870  and  settled  on  land  near  Kellogg.  In 
all,  he  purchased  three  hundred  and  fifteen  acres  and  followed  farming  and 
stockraising.  Here  he  remained  until  his  death,  on  September  29.  1907,  at  the 
age  of  sixtv-three  vears.      He  was  a  man  of  splendid  public  spirit,  active  in 


-24  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

local  politics  and  a  stanch  Democrat.  He  held  a  number  of  township  offices, 
was  justice  of  the  peace,  assessor  and  school  director.  He  died  having  the 
respect  and  regard  of  the  many  who  knew  him. 

The  subject  of  this  review  began  working  for  himself  at  the  age  of 
twenty  vears,  working  on  the  farm  until  he  entered  school  at  Hazel  Dell 
Academy  under  Professor  ^^'ormley.  After  graduating  from  that  institution 
he  taught  school  for  one  year,  after  which  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Judge 
Winslow,  reading  law.  He  continued  there  one  year,  after  which  he  entered 
the  law  department  of  the  Iowa  State  University,  graduating  from  that  school 
in  1898.  Immediately  after  graduating,  he  located  a  law  office  in  Newton  and 
began  the  active  practice  of  law.  He  was  alone  for  six  years,  after  which 
time  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Ralph  T.  Graham,  which  partnership, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Graham  &  Morgan,  continued  until  July,  1901,  when 
Mr.  Graham  went  to  Whittier.  California,  where  he  is  now  rated  as  one  of  its 
leading  attorneys. 

Again  Mr.  Morgan  was  alone  until  December,  1902,  when  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  H.  C.  Korf.  under  the  name  of  Morgan  &  Korf.  which 
name  is  still  continued.  They  do  a  general  law  business  and  represent  some 
of  the  largest  corporations  in  Newton.  Besides  the  law,  they  deal  cjuite  ex- 
tensively in  Jasper  county  land.  During  the  first  eight  years  of  their 
partnership,  they  have  owned  six  thousand  five  hundred  acres  of  Jasper 
county  land,  aggregating  a  value  of  seven  hundred  thousand  dollars.  At  this 
writing  they  are  the  owners  of  what  is  known  as  the  Draper  ranch,  located 
in  the  county,  some  four  and  one-half  miles  from  Prairie  City,  comprising 
one  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifteen  acres  of  fine  land  and  said  to  be  the 
best  big  farm  in  the  county. 

^Ir.  ^lorgan  is  one  of  nine  children,  of  whom  six  are  living,  three  dying 
in  infancy;  the  living  are:  Mrs.  Emma  Robison,  wife  of  W.  J.  Robison,  a 
farmer  of  the  county ;  \\'.  R.  Morgan,  retired,  who  lives  in  Newton ;  next  in 
order  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  F.  V.  Morgan,  an  attorney  residing  in  Cam- 
bridge, low^a ;  G.  L.  Morgan,  proprietor  of  the  original  Morgan  farm  in  the 
county  of  Jasper ;  H.  L.  Morgan,  an  attorney  of  Ames,  Iowa. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  united  in  marriage  October  30,  1901,  W'ith 
Bessie  Hinsdale,  daughter  of  Charles  ]\I.  and  Eva  (Vaughn)  Hinsdale,  her 
mother  being  a  sister  of  Hon.  Charles  N.  Felton,  former  United  States  sena- 
tor from  California.  Her  father  was  a  traveling  salesman  for  thirty-five 
years  and  at  the  time  of  liis  death  was  chief  deinity  in  the  I'nited  States  mar- 
shal's offi.ce  at  Des  !^foines.  He  died  November  20,  1907.  The  mother  of 
Mrs.  Morgan  makes  her  home  with  the  subject  of  this  sketch.     To  Mr.  and 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 


D^D 


Mrs.  Morgan  have  been  bom  three  children,  all  of  whom  are  living:  Charles 
H.,  born  December  20,  1902;  John  A.,  born  August  31,  1904,  and  Elizabeth, 
lx)rn  May  29,  1906.  all  at  home. 

Mrs.  Morgan  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church  of  Xewton.  She  is 
also  president  of  the  local  chapter  of  the  P.  E.  O.,  a  social  organization  of 
state-wide  importance,  designed  for  social,  charitable  and  educational  work. 
Mr.  Morgan  is  a  member  of  tlie  Knights  of  Pythias,  also  of  Oriental  Com- 
mandery  No.  22,  Knights  Templar,  of  Newton.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republi- 
can. In  1900  he  visited  the  Paris  exposition  as  special  commissioner  from 
the  state  of  Iowa,  remaining  in  Europe  for  three  months  and  visiting  all  the 
principal  countries  and  points  of  interest. 


E.  B.  RAMSEY. 


Fifty  years  ago  when  the  slaveholders'  rebellion  broke  out  with  all  its 
fury  at  Fort  Sumter  and  when  it  looked  as  if  the  Union,  which  all  love  so 
much,  would  be  dissolved.  E.  B.  Ramsey,  a  venerable  and  esteemed  citizen  of 
Newton,  Jasper  county,  enlisted  to  save  the  federation  of  states,  being  per- 
fectly willing,  notwithstanding  the  grave  dangers  and  certain  hardships,  to  do 
what  he  could  in  this  direction.  ]t  was  a  time  when  there  could  be  no  tem- 
porizing and  no  halting — no  half-way  position — for  all  who  were  not  for  the 
Union  were  against  it,  and  both  sides  hated  the  man  who  claimed  to  be 
neutral  because  he  had  not  the  courage  to  go  upon  the  field  of  battle  and  had 
no  principles  to  sustain.  ]\Ir.  Ramsey  was  alive  to  the  gravity  of  the  national 
conflict,  realizing  that  the  struggle  impending  was  something  more  than  a 
holiday  undertaking  and  knew  that  it  meant  great  sacrifices  and  the  shedding 
of  much  precious  blood  before  the  flag  could  again  wave  from  Maine  to 
Florida  and  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  seaboards ;  but  he  did  not  hesitate, 
be  it  said  to  his  everlasting  credit.  So  for  this  and  many  other  reasons  the 
name  of  Mr.  Ramsey  should  be  included  in  this  history,  not  the  least  of  which 
is  the  fact  that  he  has  been  a  loyal  booster  to  the  city  of  Newton  since  taking 
up  his  residence  here,  forty-four  years  ago,  ha\ing  played  no  inconspicuous 
part  in  the  general  progress  of  the  town,  and  led  a  life  so  free  from  aught  that 
is  paltry  or  ignoble  that  its  parallel  is  not  frequently  met  with,  and  now  that 
the  twilight  shadows  of  life  are  enshrouding  him  he  can  look  backward  over  a 
road  well  traversed  and  forward  with  no  apprehension. 


:;26  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Mr.  Ranise)'  was  born  in  1827.  in  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  he 
is  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (W'eaverhng)  Ramsey,  both  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  father,  who  dexoted  his  life  to  farming,  was  an  old-line 
Whig  and  a  man  of  upright  character.  His  death  occurred  on  December  20, 
1861,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years,  while  his  son,  E.  B.,  was  away  from  home, 
fighting  for  the  flag  which  they  both  loved.  The  mother  lived  to  be  seventy- 
seven  years  of  age. 

E.  B.  Ramsey,  who  was  the  third  child  in  a  family  of  six  children,  is  of 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry;  the  other  children  are:  James,  now  deceased,  formerly  a 
wagon  maker  in  Pennsylvania ;  John  died  in  Bucyrus,  Ohio,  when  twenty- 
eight  vears  of  age;  Henry  \\'.,  who  served  in  the  Unitm  army,  enlisting  in  a 
Pennsylvania  regiment,  is  a  shoemaker  and  lives  in  that  state;  Sophia  is  also 
living  there;  Oliver,  now  deceased,  also  served  in  the  Civil  war  from  Penn- 
sylvania. 

E.  B.  Ramsey,  of  this  sketch,  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
in  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  but  his  educational  advantages  were  limited. 
When  fifteen  years  of  age  he  was  apprenticed  to  a  tailor,  and  after  learning 
the  trade  he  worked  at  it  for  a  period  of  fifteen  years  in  different  towns  in 
Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  and  won  a  reputation  for  verv  skilled  workmanship. 
When  the  Cixil  war  began  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  offer  his  services  to  the 
Union,  April  25,  1861,  in  Company  G,  Thirteenth  Pennsylvania  Volunteer 
Infantry.  He  was  stationed  at  York,  Pennsylvania,  and  later  at  Chambers- 
burg,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  accidentally  wounded  by  the  carelessness  of 
Lieut.  William  Barndollar.  The  subject  found  a  revolver  while  doing  picket 
duty  and  having  seen  one  similar  in  the  hands  of  his  lieutenant,  he  took  it  to 
him.  the  latter  carelessly  taking  hold  of  the  weapon  which  was  discharged  as 
he  did  so,  the  bullet  passing  through  Air.  Ramsey's  hand.  The  lieutenant  was 
also  injured.  The  result  was  that  the  subject  received  a  discharge  for  dis- 
ability and  was  sent  home.  On  February  20,  1863,  leaving  his  young  wife  at 
home  (for  he  had  in  the  meantime  married),  he  re-enlisted,  this  time  in  Com- 
pany E,  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-sixth  Penns}l\'ania  \"olunteer  Infantry. 
He  was  in  various  engagements  and  skirmishes,  but  most  of  his  duties  were 
l^erformed  while  on  detached  service.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  received 
an  honorable  discharge  and  was  mustered  out  in  August.  1865,  in  Philadel- 
phia. 

Air.  Ramsey  was  married  on  February  18,  1862,  to  Sarah  E.  Widell.  who 
was  born  in  Bedford  county,"  Pennsylvania,  the  daughter  of  George  and  Mary 
dMillborn)  Widell,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Her  parents  were  of  Ger- 
man and  English  extraction.  '^Fhev  came  to  Iowa  and  located  in  Xewton  in 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  527 

1867  and  here  Mr.  Widell  lived  until  his  death,  on  December  20,  1888,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-two  years.  His  widow  survived  until  April  30,  1901,  dying 
at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  They" were  the  parents  of  six  children;  the 
eldest,  Sarah  E.,  who  married  ]Mr.  Ramsey,  was  born  on  November  26,  1840; 
Amanda  died  when  twenty-two  years  of  age;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Hess  Par- 
sons, a  prominent  stock  man  and  farmer  in  Alalaka  township,  this  county; 
Georgia,  wife  of  James  Woods,  lives  in  Xewton ;  Henrietta,  who  married 
Charles  Clark,  lives  in  the  state  of  Washington,  where  he  owns  a  fruit  ranch; 
William  lives  in  Newton. 

E.  B.  Ramsey  came,  unaccompanied,  to  Iowa  in  the  fall  of  1867,  reach- 
ing the  city  of  Newton  on  November  23d.  his  family  following  soon  after- 
ward. He  was  able  to  foresee  a  great  future  for  Newton  and  decided  to 
settle  here.  First  he  worked  at  his  trade,  that  of  tailor,  later  conducting  a 
dray  and  express  business  for  over -thirty  years,  or  until  he  retired  from  active 
life,  he  having  been  sole  owner  of  the  same.  By  careful  and  honest  manage- 
ment he  succeeded  in  building  up  an  extensive  patronage  and  accumulated  a 
competency  for  his  old  age. 

Three  children  were  born  to  j\Ir.  Ramsey  and  wife,  named  as  follows: 
Elmer  Elsworth  lives  in  Des  Moines;  Charlie  Preston,  who  makes  his  home 
with  his  father  here  in  Newton,  married  Almira  Stewart,  and  they  have  two 
children,  Katherine  W.,  who  teaches  school,  and  Florence  E.,  who  is  attend- 
ing high  school  in  Newton.  They  keep  house  for  their  grandfather,  the  sub- 
ject, his  wife  being  deceased.  William  Albert,  the  youngest  child  of  the  sub- 
ject, died  in  infancy. 

After  traversing  happily  and  harmoniously  the  winding  path  of  life  to- 
gether for  nearly  a  half  century,  Mr.  Ramsey  was  called  upon  to  undergo  his 
greatest  sorrow,  that  of  parting  from  his  faithful  life  companion,  who  passed 
to  her  rest  on  August  9,  19 10.  She  was  a  woman  of  remarkable  intellect, 
broad-minded,  kind-hearted  and  who  was  always  willing  to  lend  her  assist- 
ance in  forwarding  any  good  cause.  By  her  efforts,  probably  more  than  those 
of  anv  other  woman,  was  the  public  library  in  Newton  established.  There 
being  much  local  prejudice  against  it,  she  was  compelled  to  work  for  it  for  a 
number  of  vears.  She  presided  over  the  "reading  room."  patiently  working 
with  other  right-minded  citizens,  until  the  public  library  became  a  fixture  in 
Newton.  She  was  its  first  librarian,  and  served  as  such  for  a  period  of  thir- 
teen vears  in  a  manner  that  reflected  much  credit  upon  herself  and  to  the  sat- 
isfaction of  all  concerned.  She  was  a  faithful  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  a  charter  member  of  the  local  congregation,  and  she  was  a  teacher 
in  the  Sunday  school  until  ill  health  compelled  her  to  resign. 


r28  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

^ir.  Ramsey  is  a  member  of  the  same  church.  ha\ing  been  loyal  to  this 
denomination  for  a  period  of  sixty-se\en  years,  and  he  was  an  officer  in  the 
church  for  a  period  of  forty-five  years,  having  been  elder  until  recently,  when 
his  hearing  grew  too  poor  to  perform  his  duties  adequately,  but  he  is  still 
elder  emeritus.  He  is  a  member  of  Garret  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
When  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the  army  he  was  postmaster  at  Everett,  Penn- 
sylvania; his  wife,  having  been  made  his  deputy,  looked  after  the  office  while 
he  was  at  the  front.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps,  also 
the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union.  Politically.  Mr.  Ramsey  has  al- 
ways been  a  stanch  Republican.  He  owns  a  pleasant  cottage  on  Farmer  and 
Washington  streets,  and  is  spending  his  declining  years  in  peace  and  comfort. 


T.  B.  OWINGS. 


The  history  of  Jasper  county  is  not  a  very  old  one.  It  is  the  record  of 
the  steadv  growth  of  a  community  planted  on  the  wild  prairies  scarcely 
more  than  a  half  century  ago  and  has  reached  its  magnitude  of  today  without 
other  aid  than  those  of  industry.  The  people  w^ho  redeemed  it  from  the 
primeval  state  Were  strong-armed  sons  of  the  soil  who  hesitated  at  no  diffi- 
culty and  for  w^hom  hardships  had  little  to  appall.  Among  this  class  is  the 
prominent  retired  farmer  and  enterprising  citizen  by  whose  name  this  article 
is  introduced.  The  county  was  in  its  infant  state  of  development  w-hen  he 
came  upon  the  scene,  and  he  has  done  much  to  assist  in  advancing  its  won- 
derful resources  and'  brought  it  up  to  the  proud  position  it  now  occupies 
among  the  most  progressive  and  enlightened  sections  of  Iowa. 

J.  B.  Owings  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio,  December  25,  1837. 
He  is  the  son  of  Beal  and  IMiranda  (Young)  Owings,  both  natives  of  Mary- 
land, from  which  state  they  came  to  Ohio  about  181 5  and  became  prominent 
among  the  pioneers  there,  spending  the  rest  of  their  lives  on  a  farm  there, 
the  father  dying  in  April,  1839,  and  the  mother  in  1844;  they  were  the  par- 
ents of  eight  children,  three  of  whom  are  living,  namely :  Mary  Ann  died 
about  1908:  Ellen  also  died  about  1908;  John  died  at  Trinity  Center,  Cali- 
fornia, in  191 1 ;  Denton  died  in  childhood;  McKensie  lives  in  Newton,  Iowa; 
Jesse  died  when  twelve  years  old ;  Minerva  lives  at  Carbon  Cliff,  Illinois,  and 
is  the  wife  of  a  Mt.  Barton;  J.  B.,  of  this  review. 

The  subject  grew  to  maturity  and  was  educated  in  his  native  state, 
remaining  there  until  1855,  when  he  came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  where  he 
has   since   resided.      He   settled   nine   miles   east   of    Newton    and    followed 


J.  B.  OWINGS 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  529 

farming  successfully  until  1892.  when  he  moved  to  Xewton  and  retired. 
He  lived  to  see  and  take  part  in  the  great  transformation  of  the  county,  for 
when  he  first  came  here  the  wild  prairies  were  scarcely  touched  bv  a  plow- 
share and  the  town  of  Xewton  was  very  small,  there  being  no  square  and  the 
court  house  was  small  and  built  of  wood;  there  was  not  a  brick  building  in 
the  town.  Land  was  then  worth  only  three,  six  and  eight  dollars  per  acre. 
Mr.  Owings  is  the  owner  of  a  finely  improved  and  productive  farm  in  Kellogg 
township,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  acres.  On  this  he  did 
unusually  well  as  a  general  farmer  and  stock  raiser. 

On  December  27,  i860,  ]\Ir.  Owings  was  married  to  Martha  Mills,  daugh- 
ter of  John  }klills,  of  Keokuk  county,  Iowa.  She  was  born  in  Tennessee, 
^larch  i.1,,  1844,  and  from  there  she  removed  to  Iowa  with  her  parents  when 
she  was  one  year  old.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Owings  three  children  have  been 
born,  namely:  Shafer  A.,  who  was  born  May  12,  1862,  married  Allie  Miller, 
of  Jasper  county,  and  they  live  on  the  parental  homestead,  nine  miles  east  of 
X'ewton ;  Gertie  J.,  born  July  2/.  1865,  is  the  wife  of  J.  B.  Case,  a  traveling 
salesman,  residing  at  Jackson,  Mississippi;  Arrie  I).,  born  December  12, 
1869,  married  Charlie  Miller,  li\ing  near  Kellogg,  Jasper  county;  she  is  now 
deceased. 

Mr.  Owings  has  been  a  worker  in  the  affairs  of  the  county,  having  held 
a  number  of  township  offices  in  Kellogg,  and  he  was  overseer  of  the  poor  in 
Xewton  township.  In  all  of  these  he  discharged  his  duties  most  faithfully 
and  creditably.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  Xewton  Lodge  X'o.  59, 
Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  politically,  he  is  a  Republican,  and  he 
and  his  wife  are  faithful  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


MARIOX  R.  HAMMER.  M.  1). 

The  life  history  of  Dr.  Marion  R.  Hammer,  prominent  citizen  of  Xewton, 
Jasper  county,  is  one  of  romance  and  tragedy.  Born  in  this  county,  the  son  of 
verv  early  settlers,  his  career  has  been  one  of  strenuous  action  and  full  of 
human  interest;  but,  being  endowed  with  sterling  (jualities.  he  has  successfully 
met  and  overcome  many  obstacles  that  would  have  defeated  the  purposes  of 
others  less  courageous.  Determining  early  in  life  to  become  a  physician,  he  let 
nothing  stand  in  the  way  of  his  ambition  and  after  years  of  toil  and  self-sac- 
rifice he  attained  the  end  sought  for,  becoming  a  successful  practitioner,  hon- 

(34) 


:io 


^O  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA, 


ored  among  his  fellows.  From  this  position  he  was  stripped  of  all  honors  and 
subjected  to  such  humiliation  and  disgrace  as  falls  to  the  lot  of  a  convict,  then, 
to  be  pardoned  bv  the  goxernor,  restored  to  citizenshi]).  and  again  win  l)ack 
success  and  honor.  He  clearly  belongs  to  that  class  of  men  made  of  the  stuff 
that  does  not  bend  easily  and  who  refuse  to  be  downed  by  untoward  ircum- 
stances,  who,  in  fact,  being  natural  fighters,  thri\e  on  opposition. 

Doctor  Hammer  traces  bis  ancestry  l)ack  to  Aaron  Hammer,  who  was 
born  in  Celacia,  (lermany,  from  which  country  he  emigrated  to  America  in 
1 72s,  settling  in  Bucks  county.  Pennsylvania,  in  which  county  his  son  Abra- 
ham was  born  in  .1731.  He  adopted  the  Quaker  religion  and  became  a  worker 
in  that  faith  and  the  next  three  generations  of  Hammers  adhered  to  the  same. 
His  son  Isaac  was  l)orn  at  Guilford  Court-house.  North  Carolina,  in  1764, 
whither  the  father.  .\1)raham.  had  emigrated  with  his  family.  Elisha.  son  of 
Isaac,  was  born  in  Xorth  Carolina.  ]\Iay  i.  1789.  and  at  an  early  age  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Tennessee,  settling  in  Jefferson  county.  He  was  a  miller 
and  owned  a  mill  on  the  historic  stream  of  Lost  creek.  He  was  a  minister  of 
the  Friends  church.  His  family  consisted  of  ten  children,  of  whom,  Jesse, 
the  father  of  the  subject,  was  fourth  in  order  of  birth.  In  1846  the  Rev. 
Elisha  Hammer  sold  his  mill,  loaded  up  bis  earthly  l^elongings  and  drove  over- 
land to  Iowa,  bringing"  his  wife  and  si.\  sons,  four  of  whom  were  married, 
and  thev  brought  their  families ;  also  tw(^  daughters.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Hammer 
came  along,  leaving  but  one  meml)er  of  the  family  in  Tennessee,  llie  Ham- 
mers wintered  in  Richland.  Keokuk  county,  Iowa,  where  the  father  taught 
school.  In  the  spring  of  1847  Rev.  Elijah  Hammer  came  to  Jasper  county 
and  settled  in  the  neighborhood  of  Hammer's  Grove  and  there  he  organized 
the  I'riends  church  and  became  its  first  pastor,  serving  with(nit  pay.  and  there 
he  continued  to  reside  until  liis  death,  in  1847,  ^'^^^  he  was  buried  at  Pleasant 
Plains.  He  was  a  useful  man  and  accomplished  much  good  wherever  his  lot 
was  cast.    He  was  a  Whig  and  a  strong  Abolitionist. 

Jesse  Hammer,  father  of  the  Doctor,  was  born  Octol)er  4.  1820,  in  Jef- 
ferson county.  Tennessee.  There  he  grew  up.  recei\ed  what  education  he  could 
in  the  rude  schools  of  those  early  days  and  there  be  married,  bis  wife  dving  in 
early  life,  leaving  him  with  two  sons.  In  i84r)  be  joined  liis  father,  who  de- 
cided tf)  leave  that  country  since  he  was  opposed  to  slaxerv  and  his  \iews  had 
been  resented  by  his  neighbors,  and  they  all  came  to  Iowa.  He  settled  in 
Jasper  county  and  was  destined  to  become  quite  prominent  and  influential. 
Here  he  married  Margaret  W.  Sparks,  daughter  of  John  R.  Sjxirks.  wlio 
owned  a  flour  n^ill  at  Lynn\ille.  of  wln'cb  mill  Jesse  Hammer  later  became 
miller.   o])eratin,iL';  the   same   successfullv   for   a   number   of   vears.      He    later 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  53 1 

became  miller  of  Doctor  Warren's  mill  near  Oskaloosa.  He  was  the  owner 
of  two  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Xewton  township.  He  was  elected  the  first 
sheriff  of  Jasper  county.  Init  refused  to  serve.  His  marriage  with  Margaret 
Sparks  was  the  first  of  record  in  this  county.  His  brother  Seth  was  the  first 
recorder  of  the  county,  having  been  elected  in  1846  or  1847;  another  brother. 
Elisha,  was  captain  of  Company  G,  Seventh  Iowa  Ca\alry.  in  the  Civil  war. 
Jesse  Hammer  was  married  four  times,  his  first  wife  having  been  a  Miss 
Hackney,  of  Tennessee,  and  they  were  married  in  Jefferson  county.  Mr.  Ham- 
mer's wedding  suit  having  been  cut  out  by  Andrew  Johnson,  later  President 
of  the  United  States,  who  lived  in  the  adjoining  county.  By  his  second  wife, 
Margaret  Sparks,  was  born  Dr.  Marion  R.  Hammer,  of  this  sketch,  he  l>eing 
their  oldest  child.  In  all,  Jesse  Hammer  was  the  father  of  fourteen  chil- 
dren. John  R.  Sparks,  mentioned  above,  was  not  only  known  as  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  mill  at  Lynnville  but  he  was  also  a  large  land  owner,  and  at 
one  time  paid  the  largest  tax  of  any  one  in  Jasper  county.  He  was  prominent 
in  the  early  industrial  life  of  the  county,  having  established  the  first  flour 
mill,  the  first  saw  mill  and  the  first  carding  mill  in  Jasper  county,  all  being 
erected  near  Lynnville.  Two  sons  of  his,  William  Henry  and  Mathew  T.. 
uncles  of  the  subject,  were  soldiers  in  the  Ci\'il  war.  having  served  in  the  I-'ifth 
Iowa  \'olunteer  Infantry:  they  were  captured  at  Tunnel  Hill  in  1864  and  in- 
carcerated in  Andersonville  prison,  where. they  died.  The  death  of  Jesse  Ham- 
mer, father  of  the  Doctor,  occurred  on  September  2.  1873.  at  Richland.  Iowa, 
whither  he  had  gone  on  a  visit. 

Dr.  ]yIarion  R.  Hammer,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
Januarv  26,  1853,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  the  Amboy  school  house 
in  Kellogg"  township.  When  he  was  eight  years  old  his  mother  died,  and  his 
earlv  education  was  neglected,  in  fact,  at  the  age  of  fifteen  he  could  scarcely 
read  or  write,  but  earlv  in  boyhood  he  had  shown  a  preference  for  the  medi- 
cal profession  and  would  not  permit  anything  to  turn  him  from  his  course,  and 
he  consulted  with  Dr.  I.  A.  Hammer,  a  brother  of  his  grandfather,  as  to  the 
proper  course  to  be  pursued  and  was  informed  that  he  must  obtain  an  educa- 
tion, so  the  boy  set  about  to  do  so.  Saving  his  earnings  by  working  out  on  the 
farm,  he  attended  school  ten  terms  at  Hazel  Dell  Academy  and  at  Lynnville 
three  terms.  He  also  taught  one  term  in  the  Lynnville  Academy  and  three 
terms  of  public  school  in  the  county.  In  1876-7  he  entered  the  Iowa  State 
Universitv  and  took  his  first  course  in  medicine.  He  studied  assiduously  and 
made  a  brilliant  record  in  his  studies,  both  in  the  academy  and  the  university. 
and  thus  well  e(|uii)ped  he  began  the  practice  of  medicine  at  .\damson  Grove 
in  1877.     Later  he  located  in  Reasoner.     In  order  to  further  fit  himself  for  his 


.■^o- 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 


calliiii^".  in  j88o  he  entered  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  at  St. 
Joseph.  Missouri,  taking  the  prescribed  course  of  medicine.  Before  he  had 
finished  there  was  a  si)Ht  in  the  faculty  of  that  institution  and  a  number  of 
professors  and  students  seceded  and  established  the  Northwestern  Medical 
School.  Of  the  seventy-seven  students  in  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Sur- 
geons, more  than  fiftv  went  with  the  new  college.  Doctor  Hammer  being  one 
of  the  number  and  he  graduated  fourth  in  a  class  of  twenty-seven  on  Febru- 
ar\-  17.  1881.  He  was  elected  vice-president  of  the  Alumni  Association  of  the 
last-named  institution.  Following  his  graduation,  he  came  to  Newton,  lo- 
cating here  in  March.  1881.  In  the  spring  of  1884  he  went  to  Kingsley. 
Iowa,  and  taught  in  the  schools  there  for  three  terms  He  was  first  principal 
of  these  schools  for  one  term.  He  was  appointed  professor  of  physiology  of 
King  College  in  Des  Moines,  which  position  he  held  for  four  years,  and  he 
lectured  for  two  years  on  diseases  of  children  in  that  college.  In  March,  1889, 
he  was  graduated  from  the  King  Eclectic  College.  He  taught  the  branch  of 
physiology  in  the  Newton  College  for  seven  or  eight  terms.  As  a  teacher  he 
gave  the  utmost  satisfaction  in  all  capacities. 

On  Octol^er  22,   1876,   Doctor  Hammer  was   united   in   marriage   with 
]\rar\-  Emma  Dooley,  the  daughter  of  a  Jasper  count\'   farmer,  and  to  this 
union  two  children  were  born:  Marion  R.,  Jr..  born  August  22,  1878.  is  prac- 
ticing law  in  Newton;  Jesse  Marion,  born  at  Kingsley.  October  18,  1884.  is. 
farming  in  Jasper  county  and  is  an  optician. 

In  the  year  1901  Doctor  Hammer  was  so  unfortunate  as  to  become  em- 
broiled in  a  fjuarrel  with  a  young  man  of  Newton  which  resulted  very  disas- 
trously, for  a  time  checking  his  career,  and  bringing  much  sorrow  into  his 
life.    Doctor  Hammers  ow-n  story  of  the  troube  follows: 

The  two  men  in  (juestion  met  on  the  public  square  and  after  a  few  bitter 
words  the  Doctor's  opponent  struck  him  five  times  in  cjuick  succession,  the 
fourth  blow  knocking  him  to  his  knees ;  while  he  was  still  on  the  sidewalk,  the 
fifth  blow  knocked  him  into  the  street,  some  distance  from  the  curbing.  His 
opponent  then  followed  him  up  ;md  as  he  apj^roached  Doctor  Hammer  drew 
a  sheathed  knife  from  his  pocket  and  struck  him  with  the  knife  sheathed,  but 
his  assailant  continued  to  rain  blows  upon  the  Doctor's  head  and  shoulders. 
1  he  latter's  opponent  was  a  much  younger  and  larger  man.  twenty-eight  \  ears 
of  age,  six  feet  and  one  inch  tall  and  weighing  two  hundred  and  fortv  pounds, 
while  the  Doctor  was  forty-eight  years  old  and  weighed  but  one  hundred  and 
fifty  pounds  at  that  time,  and  was  but  five  feet  seven  inches  in  height.  Be- 
lieving that  liis  life  was  in  danger  and  not  being  able  to  cope  with  his 
opponent  unassisted,  he  unslieathcd   his  knife  and  cut   him   several   times  or 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  533 

until  his  assailant  desisted  from  his  attack.  Imji-  this  he  was  arrested,  tried  and 
convicted  of  attempted  manslaui^hter,  hefore  Judge  Bishop,  who  was  ap- 
pointed to  hear  the  case  and  on  l'>iday,  March  i,  1901.  was  sentenced  to 
serve  three  and  one-half  years  in  the  penitentiary.  The  ca.se  was  then  ap- 
pealed and  was  sustained  by  the  upper  court,  and  on  April  22,  1902,  he  was 
taken  to  Fort  Madison  by  Sheriff  Hook  and  Deputy  Agnew,  who  showed  him 
every  possible  courtesy.  During  the  first  ten  months  of  his  term  in  prison 
he  was  a  messenger  man  or  "lumper."  and  as  such  was  allowed  freedom  to  go 
to  all  parts  of  the  penitentiary :  the  last  twenty  months  he  was  gate-keeper  at 
the  lower  gate  and  was  outside  the  walls  every  day.  His  wife  remained  faith- 
ful during  his  trouble  and  never  ceased  in  her  efforts  to  work  for  his  pardon. 
A  petition  containing  over  three  thousand  names,  being  one-third  of  the 
voters  of  the  county,  was  presented  to  the  governor,  together  with  petitions 
from  persons  from  various  states  of  the  union  to  the  number  of  four  thousand. 
The  latter  names  were  secured  through  the  editor  of  the  Blue  Grass  Blade, 
the  Rev.  C.  C.  Moore,  of  Lexington,  Kentucky,  who  interested  himself  in  the 
case  and  espoused  it.  These  seven  thousand  names  were  presented  in  a  peti- 
tion to  the  governor,  asking  for  his  release,  and  after  the  men  who  had  been 
most  interested  in  his  prosecution  and  conviction  had  joined  in  the  petition, 
the  governor  acted  upon  it,  and  on  September  12,  1904.  the  Doctor's  sentence 
was  commuted  to  take  effect  on  September  15th.  three  days  later.  He  had 
received  eight  months  off  for  good  time.  He  came  back  to  Xewton  on  the 
same  train  which  had  carried  him  to  prison,  reaching  home  on  the  22d  of  that 
month,  just  two  }-ears  and  six  months  after  leaving  home,  \\nien  the  train 
upon  which  he  was  returning  arri\-ed  at  the  local  station  he  was  met  by  a 
delegation  of  five  hundred  persons,  who  tendered  him  an  ovation,  assuring 
him  that  they  believed  he  had  been  wrongfully  sentenced.  On  April  18.  1905, 
Doctor  Hammer  was  restored  to  citizenship  by  the  governor.  The  Doctor 
does  not  believe  that  his  case  was  properly  handled  by  his  attorney.  After 
his  return  home  he  again  took  up  the  practice  of  medicine,  in  the  .same  office 
in  the  ]\I\ers  block,  which  he  had  retained  during  his  absence;  in  fact,  this  has 
been  his  office  since  1885.  He  has  been  very  successful  since  his  return  home. 
enioving  a  large  and  growing  practice,  and  he  has  sent  his  son.  M.  R.  Ham- 
mer, Jr.,  through  Drake  University.  Doctor  Hammer  is  independent  of  his 
practice,  but  he  continues  it  because  of  his  liking  for  the  work.  He  owns  a 
good  farm  near  Kapple  Station,  as  also  does  Mrs.  Hammer.  He  has  served 
as  health  officer  of  the  citv  of  Xewton  for  two  years,  and  he  has  been  i)hysician 
to  the  county  jail  for  four  years,  all  told :  at  the  present  time  he  is  assistant 
phvsician  to  the  county.     He  has  been  president  and  secretary  of  the  Jasper 


;24  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

County  Eclectic  Society  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  and  in  1910  he  was  elected 
vice-president  of  the  Jasper  County  Medical  Society.  He  was  president  of 
the  Kingslev  Medical  Society  and  president  of  the  Teachers  Association  of 
that  institution.  While  confined  at  the  state  penitentiary  he  formed  a  medi- 
cal society  and  was  made  its  president.  It  consisted  of  five  other  physicians. 
At  present  he  is  a  member  of  the  Jasper  County  Medical  Society,  the  Iowa 
State  Medical  Society  and  the  American  Aledical  Association.  He  is  a 
dimitted  member  of  the  Masonic  order.  Lebanon  Lodge  No.  127,  at  Lynn- 
ville,  Iowa.  He  is  also  a  dimitted  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He 
belongs  to  the  Pioneer  Lodge,  Des  Moines  Homesteaders. 

Politically,  Doctor  Hammer  was  reared  a  Republican,  became  a  Demo- 
crat, afterwards  embraced  the  Greenback  theory,  and  later  became  a  Populist, 
and  is  now  a  Socialist.  He  voted  for  Belva  Lockwood  for  President,  and  is 
an  ardent  supporter  of  woman's  suffrage.  While  he  has  always  been  an 
abolitionist,  he  is  an  uncompromising  Confederate,  and  is  in  possession  of  the 
onlv  Confederate  flag  in  Jasper  county.  Religiously,  he  was  reared  a  Quaker 
(Friend),  became  a  Methodist,  then  a  Universalist,  later  an  infidel  and  now  a 
confirmed  atheist. 


CHESTER  SLOANAKER. 

One  great  exemplification  of  the  fact  that  wealth  attends  upon  industry 
and  that  comfort  is  a  close  follower  in  the  wake  of  thrift  is  shown  in  the  life 
career  of  Chester  Sloanaker,  the  popular  and  able  vice-president  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Newton  and  a  potent  factor  in  the  financial  circles  of  the 
locality  for  many  years,  being  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading  and  substantial 
citizens  of  Jasper  county;  however,  his  is  a  plain  record,  rendered  remarkal)le 
by  no  strange  or  mysterious  adventure,  no  wonderful  and  luckv  accident,  and 
no  tragic  situation.  Mr.  Sloanaker  being  one  of  those  estimable  characters 
whose  integrity  and  strong  personality  must  force  them  into  an  admirable 
notoriety,  which  their  modesty  never  seeks,  who  command  the  respect  of 
their  contemporaries  and  tlieir  ])osterity,  and  leave  the  impress  of  their  in- 
dividuality upon  the  age  in  which  they  live. 

Mr.  Sloanaker  was  born  in  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania.  January  11. 
1856,  of  a  sterling  old  New  England  family,  members  of  which  have  figured 
more  or  less  prominently  in  various  walks  of  life  since  the  old  colonial  days. 
He  is  the  son  of  Isaac  Morgan  and  Mary  Trego  (Hartman)  Sloanaker,  the 
father  a.  native  of  Chester  countv,  Pennsvlvania.  where  he  grew  to  maturitv 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  535 

and  was  educated,  and  tor  many  years  he  engaged  successfully  in  the  whole- 
sale mercantile  business  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Sloanaker,  Kilpatrick  &  Company,  wholesalers  and  importers,  which  firm  did 
an  extensive  ahd  thriving  business.  His  wife  was  the  daughter  of  Maj.-Cien. 
George  \V.  Hartman,  who  took  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  war  of  181 2.  His 
father,  Major  George  Hartman,  was  a  drummer  l>oy  when  fourteen  years  of 
age  at  the  battle  of  Brandywine,  during  the  Revolution,  and  he  was  wounded 
in  that  engagement.  His  father  was  Major  Peter  Hartman,  an  officer  in  the 
patriot  army.  Peter  Hench.  the  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Isaac  M.  Sloan- 
aker, lived  at  Valley  Forge  during  the  war  for  independence,  and  while 
Washington's  army  was  camped  there,  and  he  turned  out  his  herd  of  cattle 
to  the  commander,  to  be  used  as  food  for  the  soldiers,  for  which  worthy  ser- 
vice the  government  later  voted  him  money.  His  wife  baked  bread  for  the 
army. 

The  maternal  side  of  the  famil\-  is  traced  back  to  Plymouth  Rock,  through 
the  W^eaver  and  Sharpies  families,  the  subject's  grandmother  having  been  a 
\\'eaver.  The  earliest  progenitor  of  the  Hartman  family  in  America  was 
John  Hartman.  Dr.  William  Dell  Hartman.  uncle  of  the  subject,  was  a 
member  of  the  Academy  of  Science  at  Philadelphia,  and  during  his  career  as 
professor  he  made  a  fine  collection  of  shells  which  was  eventually  purchased 
by  the  Carnegie  Museum  at  Pittsburgh. 

Isaac  M.  Sloanaker.  father  of  Chester,  was  a  Whig  and  an  Abolitionist. 
He  was  a  strong-minded  and  a  useful  man.  and  his  death  occurred  in  1863; 
his  wife  survives,  having  attained  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  She  makes 
her  home  with  the  subject  and  is  a  woman  of  gracious  personality.  She  is  the 
mother  of  two  children.  Chester,  of  this  review,  and  .Mrs.  Edith  Mary  Lyday, 
of  Xewton. 

Chester  Sloanaker  was  educated  in  the  pu])lic  .schools  and  the  State  Nor- 
mal at  West  Che.ster,  Penn.sylvania,  and  also  studied  at  two  private  academies 
there.  He  first  turned  his  attention  to  farming,  which  he  continued  in  his 
native  state  for  five  years,  then  came  to  Newton,  Iowa,  in  1881  and  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  First  National  Bank  here  in  1882,  becoming  its  cashier, 
the  duties  of  which  position  he  discharged  in  a  most  worthy  manner  for  a 
period  of  ten  years,  his  courteous  treatment  of  the  bank's  patrons  and  his 
conservative  and  judicious  management  of  its  affairs  rendering  it  one  of  the 
most  popular  financial  institutions  of  central  Iowa.  He  became  its  president, 
which  important  position  he  held  for  a  period  of  ten  years,  during  which  the 
bank  enjoyed  a  still  greater  period  of  prosperity;  he  is  at  this  writing  vice- 
president  and  is  devoting  part  of  his  time  to  real  estate  and  other  large  inter- 


-i5  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

ests.  He  is  esseiuiallv  an  organizer  and  promoter  by  nature,  and  he  pos- 
sesses rare  business  acumen  and  foresight,  being  al)le  to  forecast  with  re- 
markal)le  accuracv  the  future  outcome  (»f  a  present  transaction,  and  he  has 
been  very  successful  in  a  financial  way,  having,  by  his  individual  efforts,  ac- 
cumulated a  handsome  competency  and  extensive  property  interests,  including 
one  of  the  most  attractive,  modern  and  desirable  residences  in  Newton,  the 
presiding"  spirit  of  which  is  a  lady  of  culture  and  genial  personality,  known  in 
her  maidenhood  as  Elizabeth  Failor  Lyday,  whom  Mr.  Sloanaker  married  on 
September  13.  i88t.  She  was  born  in  Springfield,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Jasper 
countv.  Iowa,  in  her  youth.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Jose])h  H.  and  Alary  (Fai- 
lor) Lvdav.  This  union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  six  children,  namely: 
George  Hartman  died  when  thirteen  months  old:  Joseph  Lyday.  who  lives 
near  Fresno,  California,  graduated  from  Iowa  College,  drinnell,  class  of 
1908,  and  engaged  in  the  eucalyptus  tree  industry,  maintaining  a  large  nur- 
sery at  his  home;  Ruth  married  Earl  C.  Guessford.  teller  with  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Newton :  Ralph  Chester  is  with  Graber  &  Allies  Garage  Com- 
pany, of  Newton :  Alary  Cecelia  graduated  from  the  Newton  high  school  with 
the  class  of  191  t  ;  Hiram  Lyday  is  a  student  in  the  local  high  .school. 

This  family  belongs  to  the  Lutheran  church,  of  which  Mr.  Sloanaker  is 
an  elder,  and  he  has  been  identified  with  the  church  council  since  he  has  resided 
in  Newton.  Politically,  he  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  genteel  gentleman  at  all 
times  and  a  man  in  whom  the  utmost  confidence  is  reposed  o\^"ing  to  his  hon- 
est methods. 


H.  C.  KORF. 


Among  the  earnest  }oung  men  whose  depth  of  character  and  strict  ad- 
herence to  principle  have  gained  for  him  the  admiration  of  his  contempor- 
aries, H.  C.  Korf,  well  known  attorney  of  Newton,  Jasper  county,  is  num- 
bered, and  in  his  professional  career  he  has  shown  a  tenacity  of  purpose,  an 
indomitable  energy  and  that  self-reliant  courage  whose  natural  concomitant 
is  definite  success. 

Air.  Korf  is  one  of  the  native  sons  of  this  county  of  whom  she  should  be 
justly  proud.  His  birth  occurred  on  April  25,  1876  He  is  the  son  of  Henrv 
and  Wilhelmina  (Weseman)  Korf,  the  father  a  nati\e  of  Germany  and  the 
mother  of  Freeport,  Illinois.  The  former  came  to  .America  in  1848  when 
eight  years  of  age,  accompanied  by  his  parents,  who  located  on  a  farm  near 
Freeport.  Illinois.  Henry  Korf  grew^  to  maturity  in  Illinois  and  was  educated 


JASPER,  COUNTY,    IOWA.  537 

there,  remaining  on  the  home  farm  durinj^-  his  youth.  He  came  to  Jasper 
county,  Iowa,  in  1867,  locating  on  a  farm  in  Mahika  township,  where  he  be- 
came well  established,  developed  a  good  farm  and  where  he  lived  until  1906, 
when  he  retired  and  moved  to  Newton,  where  he  now  resides,  spending  his 
declining  years  in  the  midst  of  plenty  and  in  comfort  as  a  result  of  his  long 
life  of  hard  work  and  good  management.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyter- 
ian church,  and  he  and  his  wife  have  many  friends  throughout  the  countv. 
They  are  the  parents  of  seven  children,  namely:  H.  C,  of  this  review:  Mrs. 
Hermina  Rourke,  of  Marion,  Ohio:  Mrs.  Marie  J.  Babcock,  of  Des  Moines. 
Iowa;  Amanda  is  in  the  law  olifice  with  her  brother,  H.  C. ;  L.  G.  lives  in 
Newton;  E.  T.  is  a  civil  engineer  and  lives  at  Ogden.  Utah:  E.  O.  is  a  student, 
at  the  State  University. 

H.  C.  Korf  grew  to  maturity  on  the  home  farm  and  there  he  assisted 
with  the  general  work  during  the  crop  seasons  during  his  earlv  life,  receiving, 
in  the  meantime,  his  primary  education  in  the  country  schools  and  at  Hazel 
Dell  Academy  at  Newton,  later  attended  Highland  Park  College  at  Des 
Moines,  also  took  a  course  at  the  State  University,  graduating  from  the  law 
department  in  1899.  ha\ing  made  a  \er\  commendable  record  there,  and  in 
the  same  year  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  soon  afterwards  beginning  active 
practice  at  Newton,  where  he  has  since  remained,  building  up  a  very  satisfac- 
torv  clientele  and  taking  a  very  high  rank  among  the  men  of  this  profession  in 
central  Iowa.  He  has  kept  well  informed  on  all  the  important  court  decisions 
and  revised  codes,  being  at  all  times  an  assiduous  student.  He  has  been  most 
successful  in  all  his  legal  work  and  he  stands  second  to  none  of  his  contem- 
poraries in  a  locality  noted  for  the  high  order  of  its  legal  talent.  Owing  to 
his  marked  ability  and  his  public  spirit,  he  was  soon  singled  out  for  positions 
of  public  trust,  and  for  a  period  of  four  years  he  was  city  attorney  of  Newton, 
the  duties  of  which  important  office  he  discharged  in  a  manner  that  reflected 
credit  upon  himself  and  proved  the  wisdom  of  his  constituents  in  selecting  him 
for  the  place.    This  was  from  1903  to  1907. 

Mr.  Korf  was  married  on  August  9,  1905,  to  Patience  E.  Wormley,  of 
this  county,  where  she  was  born,  reared  and  educated,  being  the  representative 
of  an  excellent  earlv  family  here.  This  union  has  been  graced  by  the  birth 
of  one  child.  \\'ilimenia,  born  June  30,  1910. 

Mr.  Korf  is  a  director  in  the  First  National  Bank  and  the  Newton  Sav- 
ings Bank:  he  is  secretary  and  director  of  the  Jasper  County  Telephone  Com- 
pany, and  is  also  a  stockholder  in  a  number  of  local  manufacturing  concerns, 
and  he  has  an  interest  in  several  large  farms,  joint  ownership  in  a  number  of 
lar"-e  landed  estates,  in  this  state,  and  a  large  tract  in  Minnesota  and  Nevada. 


-og  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Mr.  Korf  has  been  very  successful  in  a  business  way,  being  a  man  of 
rare  executive  abiHty,  soundness  of  judgment  and  able  to  foresee  with  re- 
markable accuracy  the  future  result  of  a  present  transaction.  Politically,  he 
is  loyal  to  Republican  principles,  and  fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pvthias.  He  is  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Congregational  church, 
of  which  Mrs.  Korf  is  also  a  member. 

]\Ir.  Korf  has  led  an  exemplary  life  and  has  the  confidence  and  good  will 
of  all  who  know  him,  and  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  substantial  and 
representative  citizens  of  his  county,  as  well  as  a  lawyer  of  unusual  capability. 
He  has  been  the  artificer,  very  largely,  of  his  own  fortunes,  and  though  he  has 
encountered  numerous  obstacles,  his  courage  has  never  tiagged  and  he  has 
shown  himself  to  be  one  thoroughly  appreciative  of  the  dignity  of  honest  toil 
and  endeavor.  He  has  done  much  to  improve  the  agricultural  prosperity  of 
the  countv  as  well  as  encourage  improvement  along  various  lines,  and,  judging 
from  his  past  honored  and  praiseworthy  record,  it  is  safe  to  predict  that  the 
future  has  much  of  good  in  store  for  him  and  his  fellow  men  a  still  greater  need 
of  his  services. 


ALBERT  H.  REED. 


That  life  is  the  most  useful  and  desirable  that  results  in  the  greatest 
good  to  the  greatest  number  and,  though  all  do  not  reach  the  heights  to  which 
they  aspire,  yet  in  some  measure  each  can  win  success  and  make  life  a  blessing" 
to  his  fellow  men;  and  it  is  not  necessary  for  one  to  occupy  eminent  public 
positions  to  do  so,  for  in  the  humbler  walks  of  life  there  remains  much  good 
to  be  accomplished  and  many  opportunities  for  one  to  exercise  one's  talents 
and  influence  which  in  some  way  will  touch  the  lives  of  those  with  whom 
we  come  into  contact,  making  them  better  and  brighter.  In  the  list  of  Jasper 
county's  honored  citizens  is  Albert  H.  Reed,  who  is  living  in  retirement  in 
Xewton.  In  his  career  there  is  much  that  is  commendable  and  his  life  forciblv 
illustrates  what  one  can  accomplish,  even  in  the  face  of  obstacles,  if  one's 
plans  are  wi.sely  laid  and  his  actions  governed  by  right  ])rinci])les,  noble  aims 
and  high  ideals. 

Mr.  Reed  was  born  on  Fel)ruary  u.  1836,  in  Jacksonxille,  Illinois,  the 
.son  of  Dr.  Maro  ]\IcLain  Reed  and  Elizabeth  (Lathro]))  Reed,  both  natives 
of  Connecticut,  and  in  the  old  Nutmeg  state  they  grew  up,  were  educated  and 
married.  At  Hartford  the  father  practiced  medicine  two  years,  then  located 
in  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  and  there  the  major  part  of  his  active  career  was 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  539 

Spent.  The  Reed  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  Xew  England  and  its  several 
representatives  for  a  number  of  generations  have  distinguished  themselves 
in  various  walks  of  life  wherever  they  have  dispersed,  being  noted  for  their 
industry,  culture  and  intellectual  attainments.  The  paternal  grandfather  of 
the  immediate  subject  of  this  review  was  Elijah  E.  Reed,  a  physician,  verv 
prominent  in  his  profession,  in  fact,  was  in  advance  of  his  times.  He  was  the 
first  doctor  along  the  Connecticut  valley  to  abandon  the  old  practice  of  bleed- 
ing a  patient  for  almost  all  ailments.  He  lived  and  died  in  Connecticut, 
after  a  useful  and  honored  life.  He  was  a  descendant  of  one  who  came  over 
in  the  "Mayflower."'  William  Bradford,  who  was  elected  the  second  governor 
of  the  Plymouth  colony.  His  son.  Maro  McLain  Reed,  received  his  classical 
education  at  Yale  College  and  his  medical  education  at  two  medical  colleges. 
Like  his  father  before  him.  he  was  very  successful  as  a  medical  practitioner 
and  was  highly  esteemed  for  his  manv  commenclable  attributes  of  head  and 
heart.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  pu1)lic  spirit  and  broad-minded.  He  was  a 
strong  abolitionist  and  prohibitionist.  After  coming  to  Illinois  he  and  Elihu 
W'oolcot,  with  others,  founded  the  Congregational  church  at  Jacksonville. 
He  practiced  medicine  in  Jacksonville  for  a  period  of  forty-five  years,  during 
which  time  he  became  widely  known,  in  fact,  was  regarded  as  one  of  the 
leading  physicians  of  that  part  of  the  state.  His  death  occurred  in  1877,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  His  wife  was  a  refi-ned  gentlewoman  of  excel- 
lent Xew  England  parentage,  and  she  is  remembered  as  having  a  face  good  to 
look  upon,  full  of  benevolence  and  purity  of  mind  and  soul,  indexing  the  inner 
life  of  one  who  held  close  communion  with  higher  things.  She  was  born  in 
1S07  and  li\"ed  to  the  goodlv  old  age  of  ninety-seven,  beloxed  by  all  who  knew 
her. 

Xine  children,  of  whom  Albert  H.,  of  this  review  was  the  third  in  order 
of  birth,  were  born  to  Dr.  Maro  McLain  Reed  and  wife;  those  now  living 
are.  Tnlia,  wife  of  William  T.  Reid.  of  Belmont.  California.  Mr.  Reid  was 
at  one  time  president  of  the  State  University  of  California,  but  at  present  he 
is  the  owner  and  manager  of  the  Belmont  School  for  Boys,  a  preparatory 
school  for  Harvard  L''ni^•ersity :  he  is  assisted  in  the  work  by  his  wife,  a  woman 
of  fine  culture,  great  executive  ability,  and  unwavering  fidelity.  Maria  Reed 
married  [.  W.  Thompson,  and  they  live  retired  at  Berkeley,  California:  Har- 
riet Reed  was  stewardess  for  a  period  of  twenty  years  for  the  Belmont  School 
for  Bovs  and  died  in  1902;  Mary  E.  Reed,  now  decea.sed.  was  the  wife  of 
Professor  Blackburn,  of  Chicago  University. 

Albert  H.  Reed  enjoved  the  advantages  of  a  liberal  education.  He  at- 
tended the   Jacksonville  schools  and  was  graduated  from  Illinois  College  in 


i^^.O  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

i8sy-  after  which  he  atiended  Andover  Theoloi^ical  Seminary,  in  Massachu- 
setts, and  was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  i86j.  After  leaving  the  sem- 
inary, he  took  up  the  work  of  the  American  Missionary  Association  tor 
Freechnen  at  Norfolk.  X'irginia,  but  after  two  years  of  earnest  endeavor,  he 
was  forced  to  retire  from  the  work  on  account  of  failing  health,  w'hich  had 
been  undermined  hv  the  miasmatic  climate,  and  a  se\ere  accident.  Since  then 
he  has  led  a  more  or  less  retired  life. 

On  May  13.  1868,  Mr.  Reed  was  united  in  marriage  with  Julia  W'ent- 
\\ortli.  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  illustrious  Eastern  families.  She  was  born 
at  Rollings  ford,  Xew  Ham^jshire,  January  5.  1838,  the  daughter  of  John  H. 
and  Judith  .\.  (Pottle)  \\'entworth.  Her  father  was  a  lineal  descendant  of 
Elder  William  W'entworth.  of  England.  Five  of  the  governors  of  New 
Hampshire  have  borne  the  name  of  \\>ntworth.  In  Portsmouth  today  stand 
several  handsome  colonial  mansions  formerly  occupied  by  the  Went  worths 
who  were  governors  of  the  Granite  state.  The  \\'entworth  House,  the  most 
prominent  hotel  in  the  city  of  Portsmouth,  has  achieved  international  prom- 
inence bv  reason  of  the  peace  conference  between  Japan  and  Russia  being 
held  there  and  the  signing  of  the  treaty  between  those  nations  there.  John 
\\'entworth,  father  of  IMrs.  Reed,  died  in  i860  at  the  age  of  fifty- four  years. 
His  family  consisted  of  eight  children.  Besides  Mrs.  Reed,  they  are.  Elias 
P..  who  is  now  eighty  years  old,  is  a  retired  farmer.  li\'ing  near  Portsmouth, 
at  Greenland ;  Eleanor  married  Charles  Maloy,  of  W^altham.  Massachusetts, 
he  having  been  a  literary  man  and  a  lecturer  of  prominence,  a  follower  of 
Emerson;  ]\Iartha  H.,  the  wife  of  Joseph  Langton.  is  living  at  Kittery  Point. 
Maine,  just  across  the  river  from  Portsmouth:  he  was  formerly  a  merchant. 
but  is  now  living  retired;  Thomas  Fenner  Wentworth  is  now  deceased;  he 
was  formerly  a  prominent  attorney  in  New  York  City:  Francis  G.,  who  served 
through  the  Civil  war,  having  enlisted  as  lieutenant  in  the  Seventh  New 
Ham])shire  \V)lunteer  Infantry,  and  he  was  breveted  major  during  the  raid  at 
Washington. 

^fr.  and  Mrs.  Reed  were  married  at  Jacksonville.  Illinois,  and  they  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  that  cit\-  for  a  ])eriod  of  thirty-one  years,  in  the  same 
house,  and  then  they  moved  to  Newton,  Iowa.  This  union  was  blessed  bv  the 
birth  of  four  children,  named  as  follows :  Elizabeth  A\"entworth  Reed,  a 
very  capable  and  talented  professional  nurse,  has  had  an  extensive  training 
in  her  line,  having  attended  a  training  .school  at  Fall  River,  Massachusetts, 
and  also  one  of  the  best  hospitals  in  New  York  City,  receiving  careful  in- 
structions in  surgery  as  w^ell  as  in  nursing;  she  has  been  successfully  engaged 
in  her  work  in  Newton  for  ten  years,  and  her  services  are  always  in  great 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA,  54I 

demand.  Julius  A.  Reed,  the  subject's  second  child,  who  is  with  the  ^reat 
Wanamaker  department  store  of  New  ^'ork  City,  was  named  for  his  uncle, 
Rev.  Julius  A.  Reed,  well  known  ihrouj^hout  the  state  of  Iowa  as  a  Congrega- 
tional minister,  his  entire  life  having  been  spent  in  home  missionary  work. 
After  the  first  few  years  of  this  work,  he  was  appointed  superintendent  of 
home  missionary  work  for  the  whole  state  of  Iowa,  which  position  he  held 
for  eighteen  years.  Julius  A.  Reed,  son  of  the  subject  of  this  review,  was 
married  to  Harriet  Lyons,  of  New  York,  and  they  have  one  child,  Harriet 
Wentworth  Reed.  Jennie  Reed,  third  child  of  the  subject,  died  in  childhood. 
William  T.  Reed,  the  youngest  child,  who  lives  at  Tucson.  Arizona,  married 
Mabel  Edwards,  of  Xewton,  and  they  have  four  cliildren.  Laura  Wentworth. 
Jennie  AL.  Theodore  F..  and  Ora  Elizabeth.  Both  of  tlie  sons,  Julius  A.  and 
William  T.,  enlisted  in  the  Spanish-American  war.  in  Company  K.  I'iftieth 
Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry. 

Mr.  and  Airs.  Reed  are  Congregationalists  in  religious  belief,  and  they 
were  members  of  the  church  of  this  denomination  in  Jacksonville.  Illinois. 
As  intimated  in  a  preceding  paragraph,  they  have  lived  a  retired  life  in  Xew- 
ton during  the  past  twehe  years,  and  it  has  been  their  custom  for  some  time, 
to  spend  their  winters  in  Tuscon,  Arizona. 


DANIEL  L.  GIBFORD. 

It  is  at  all  times  \ery  interesting  to  compile  and  preserve  the  experiences 
of  the  old  soldiers  who  went  out  to  fight  the  country's  battles  during  the  slave- 
holders' reljellion  fifty  years  ago.  These  gallant  old  fellows  are  fast  passing 
away,  and  we  should  get  all  their  experiences  first  hand  before  it  is  too  late, 
for  it  is  not  only  interesting  but  important  that  we  preserve  these  personal  ex- 
periences, for,  after  all.  those  are  the  events  that  make  history.  What  would 
history  be  worth  were  it  not  for  the  vivid  actions  of  the  individuals?  That 
is  all  there  is  to  the  splendid  histories  of  ancient  and  modern  times.  The 
story  as  told  bv  one  who  has  passed  through  the  bU)ody  experiences  of  a  half 
century  ago  of  several  years  of  stubborn  struggle  and  was  in  numerous  battles, 
marches  and  campaigns,  and  perhaps,  prisons  and  hospitals,  is  far  more  inter- 
esting than  if  narrated  long  hence  by  some  writer  who  may  distort  events  out 
of  their  true  historic  significance.  One  of  the  lionored  veterans  of  that  great 
conflict  whose  military  career  would,  if  properly  set  forth,  make  a  xolume  of 
interesting  narrative  is  Daniel  L.  Cibford.  of  Newton.  Jas])er  county. 


-_L2  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

.Mr.  Gibford  was  l)oni  in  Allen  county,,  Indiana,  L'ebruary  3,  1841,  the 
son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Ritter)  Gibford.  both  natives  of  Ohio.  His 
grandparents  on  both  sides  came  from  Germany,  the  subject  having  been 
named  after  his  grandfather,  Daniel  Ritter,  a  tavern  keeper  in  Stark  county, 
Ohio,  in  the  early  (la}s.  by  reason  of  which  fact  he  became  widely  known. 
The  subject's  father  was  tbe  third  child  in  the  family  of  Abraham  Gibford 
and  wife,  whose  familv  consisted  of  seven  children.  In  1840  the  i)arents  of 
Daniel  L.  Gibford  canie  from  Ohio  and  settled  in  Allen  county.  Indiana,  l)ut 
soon  after  the  birth  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  they  returned  to  Stark  county, 
Ohio,  and  a  few  vears  later  they  removed  to  Monroe.  Green  county, 
Wi.sconsin.  where  the  father,  William  Gil)ford,  engaged  in  manufacturing  and 
continued  his  trade  of  cabinet  making.  In  1854  he  came  to  Newton,  Iowa, 
having  been  induced  to  come  here  by  W.  B.  Ritter,  brother  of  Mrs.  Gibford, 
who  had  come  to  this  county  a  short  time  previously.  After  living  in  New- 
ton three  or  four  vears.  tliey  moved  to  a  farm  in  Palo  Alto  township,  and  in 
1867  Mr.  Gibford  sold  his  farm  and  again  moved  to  Newton  and  there  spent 
the  rest  of  his  life,  dying  in  189 1  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years,  his  wife  hav- 
ing preceding  him  to  the  grave  in  1884,  d\ing  at  the  age  of  se\'enty-six  years. 
Their  familv  consisted  of  eight  children,  of  whom  Daniel  L.,  of  this  sketch, 
was  the  eldest;  the  others  are,  Jonathan,  a  veteran  of  the  Ci\il  war  who  lives 
at  the  Soldiers'  Home;  Catherine,  now  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  L.  D.  Jones, 
formerly  of  Reasnor,  this  county;  Frank,  who  was  killed  by  a  train  in  Cali- 
fornia: William,  a  stone-mason,  lives  in  Denver,  Colorado;  Emily,  wife  of 
Frank  Osborn,  li\es  in  Seattle,  W^ashington ;  Charles  owns  a  plum])ing  estab- 
lishment in  Newton;  Alexander  is  in  the  dairy  business  at  San  Bernardino, 
California. 

Daniel  L.  (hl)ford,  when  twenty-one  years  of  age,  enlisted  in  August, 
1862.  in  Company  K,  Twenty-eighth  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantr\%  at  Newton, 
under  Capt.  John  Meyer,  later  made  colonel ;  M.  W.  Atwood,  first  lieutenant, 
and  M.  C.  Dean,  second  lieutenant.  This  regiment  gathered  at  Iowa  Cit}-. 
and  when  they  were  ordered  soutli  many  of  tlie  boys  carried  a  bottle  of  whisky 
with  them,  the  subject  being  among  the  number;  but  he  knew  his  mother  would 
not  ha\  e  ajjproved  of  this  had  she  known  of  it,  so  he  ga\-e  his  bottle  to  a  com- 
rade and  eased  his  conscience,  and  he  has  never  bought  a  drop  of  whisky  since. 
He  served  faithfully  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  honorably  discharged 
in  .\ugust,  1865,  at  Savannah.  Georgia.  He  was  in  thirteen  battles,  some 
of  which  were  among  the  most  hotly  contested  of  the  war.  among  them  being 
I'ort  Gil:s()n.  Jackson.  Champion's  Hill  and  the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  He  par- 
tici])ated  in  the  Rc<\  ri\er  expedition  and  went  wilb  Sbcridan  into  the  Slienan- 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  543 

cloah  valley  and  was  in  the  battles  of  Winchester  and  Cedar  Creek,  being 
wounded  in  the  former,  and  he  was  one  of  the  boys  who  tossed  his  hat  when 
Sheridan  dashed  u[)  from  Winchester  from  his  famous  ride,  arrivint^'  in  time 
to  rally  his  fleeing  troops  and  turn  defeat  into  victory.  For  meritorious 
serxice  Mr.  Gibford  was  made  fifth  corporal  and  color  guard. 

After  returning  from  the  war  Mr.  Gibford  engaged  in  farming  near 
Xewton,  this  county.  He  had  sent  the  money  received  from  his  services  in 
the  army  home  for  his  father  to  take  care  of,  but  it  appears  that  the  latter  was 
a  poor  financial  manager  and  when  the  young  soldier  returned  from  the  front 
he  found  that  he  was  practically  penniless ;  however,  he  did  not  regret  his 
services  to  his  country.  He  bargained  for  fift_\'  acres  in  1867.  in  section  15. 
Palo  Alto  township,  agreeing  to  pay  one  thousand  dollars  for  the  same,  hie 
did  not  have  a  dollar  to  pay  on  it  at  the  time,  in  fact  he  was  compelled  to 
borrow  two  dollars  from  a  comrade  with  which  to  pay  for  the  revenue  stamp 
at  that  time  required  on  all  such  legal  papers.  lUit  he  was  a  man  of  determina- 
tion and  grit  and.  working  hard  and  looking  careful  to  details,  he  graduallv 
forged  ahead  until  he  had  it  all  paid  for.  He  not  only  improved  it.  but  added 
twenty-fi\e  acres  more,  making  a  very  desirable  farm,  which  he  still  owns. 
Tile  land  is  underlaid  with  coal  wliich  ma\'  prove  a  prolitable  source  of  in- 
come to  the  family. 

In  1866  Mr.  Gibford  was  united  in  marriage  witli  Xanc}-  A.  W'atkins. 
who  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1848.  To  this  union  three  children  were  born, 
as  follows:  Eddie  Sheridan,  born  in  1867.  was  named  for  the  noted  general. 
On  September  19,  1890,  on  the  anni\ersar)-  of  the  battle  of  Winchester,  he 
applied  for  a  marriage  license,  intending  to  l)e  married  two  da\s  later.  X. 
Townsend  was  the  license  clerk,  and  had  fought  in  lliat  battle,  and  in  the 
.same  regiment.  Twenty-eighth  Iowa,  in  which  Mr.  (hbford  had  fought,  and 
the  clerk  induced  the  boy  to  have  his  wedding  that  night.  His  wife  is  now 
deceased,  but  he  has  four  children,  all  daughters;  he  is  a  contractor  and  lives 
at  Kearnev.  Xel)raska.  Alice  S.  Gibford.  the  subject's  second  child,  was  horn 
in  1868  and  she  married  Lester  W  olford.  They  live  on  a  farm  near  Lewellen. 
X'ebraska.  and  have  three  children.  Howard  T.  Gibford  is  a  dentist  at 
Greenfield,  Towa. 

On  August  29.  1879.  Mrs.  Gibford  was  claimed  by  death,  and  on  Xovem- 
ber  2,  1 88 1,  the  subject  was  united  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Bates,  born 
October  25,  1850.  in  Stevenson  county.  Illinois.  She  is  the  daughter  of  J. 
and  Hannah  (Lambert)  Bates,  the  father  a  native  of  \>rmont  and  the  mother 
of  Massachusetts.  Her  parents  came  to  Iowa  at  a  very  early  date,  soon  after 
their  daughter.  Elizabeth,  was  born.      Her  father  died  in  185^^  and  her  mother 


-^4  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

passed  awav  in  1865.  Their  family  consisted  of  three  daughters  and  two 
sons,  namely :  Harriet  married  Horace  Smith,  a  farmer  of  Palo  Alto  town- 
ship: Ellen  married  George  Foster,  who  is  in  the  employ  of  the  United  States 
government,  having  formerly  heen  lock  tender  for  the  go\ernment  on  the 
Illinois  canal;  Edwin,  a  veteran  of  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-sixth 
Illinois  \'olunteer  Infantry,  and  formerly  engaged  in  the  livery  Imsiness, 
now  lives  retired  in  I'lattsmoutli.  Xel)raska:  Isaac  died  when  eleven  years  of 
age. 

Five  children  were  horn  of  Air.  (hbford's  second  marriage,  namely: 
Alta  Edna,  born  March  12,  1883,  married  Marion  DeBolt ;  they  live  in  New- 
ton and  have  one  child:  he  is  with  the  ^^>stern  Stock  Remedy  Company, 
being  a  stockholder  in  the  same.  Raymond  B..  born  April  15.  1884,  formerly 
cashier  for  three  years  in  the  Laurel  Savings  Bank.  Laurel,  Iowa,  and  for 
sometime  bookkeeper  in  the  Citizens  Bank  at  Newton,  is  now  with  the 
Ehman-Gibford  Chemical  Compau)-  of  this  city  as  vice-president  and  general 
manager.  Karl  B.,  born  ]^Iay  22,  1887,  who  lives  on  the  home  place  in  Palo 
Alto  township,  is  married  and  has  one  child;  Alorrell,  born  October  i,  1892, 
died  August  22,  1893;  A'irgil,  born  May  14,  1894.  died  on  September  20th 
following. 

For  a  period  of  forty-two  years  Mr.  Gibford  lived  on  his  farm  and  then 
bought  property  in  Newton  in  1908,  having  accumulated  a  competency,  and 
retired  from  active  work,  and  here  he  is  now  living  in  honored  retirement, 
surrounded  by  plenty  as  a  result  of  his  former  years  of  industry.  He  is  a 
member  of  Garret  Post  No.  16,  Grand  Anny  of  the  Republic.  Politicallv, 
he  is  independent.     His  wife  belongs  to  the  Methodist  church. 


TOHN  M.  FALLS. 


Probably  no  citizen  of  Newton  has  triumphed  over  greater  difficulties 
and  adversities  than  has  John  AI.  Fales,  of  Newton,  Jasper  county.  The 
story  of  his  life  reads  like  fiction.  He  dates  his  lineage  back  to  1600,  in 
which  year  James  Fales  emigrated  from  Engand  and  settled  in  ^^'alpole, 
Massachusetts,  married  Anna  Brock  in  1635,  fought  in  King  Philip's  war, 
which  commenced  in  1675,  and  died  in  1708.  There  were  eight  children  in 
his  family,  the  fourth  of  whom  was  named  Peter,  Ijorn  in  1668,  and  died 
August  10,  1725.  His  wife.  Al>igail  Robbins,  bore  him  eight  children,  the 
first  a  son,  also  named  Peter,  born  April  18,  1690.     He  married  Sarah  Unity 


/^(&'CL,^^ 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  545 

Allen  July  30,  1724.  Eight  children  came  by  this  union,  and  the  fourth  was 
named  Peter,  born  December  16,  1732.  On  August  4,  1726,  he  married 
Avis  Bicknell.  Ten  children  were  born  to  them,  the  seventh  being  named 
Peter.  Thus  for  four  generations  in  the  direct  lineage  of  the  subject  comes 
the  name  Peter.  The  latter,  who  was  born  October  14,  1778,  married 
Hannah  Shepherd,  and  was  married  a  second  time  to  Judith  Pole.  He  was 
born  at  Attleborough,  Massachusetts,  lived  at  different  places,  including 
Maine,  Buffalo,  New  York,  and  died  in  Ohio,  September  20,  1857,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty  years.  He  was  the  father  of  sixteen  children,  the 
sixth  being  Ellis,  the  father  of  the  subject.  Ellis  Pales  was  born  in  Union, 
Maine,  July  9,  1809.  He  received  a  limited  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  Maine,  and  when  he  reached  his  majority  married  Julia  Ann  Avery  in 
Sheldon,  New^  York.  They  afterward  removed  to  Trumbull  county,  Ohio, 
but  in  a  short  time  pushed  farther  w^est  and  located  in  Fond  du  Lac  county, 
Wisconsin.  Nine  children  were  born  to  this  union,  three  of  whom  and  the 
mother  died  of  typhoid  fever  in  Wisconsin.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife, 
Mr.  Fales  married  Electa  Tolman  in  Fond  du  Lac,  W^isconsin,  by  whom  he 
had  three  children.  For  his  third  wife  he  married  in  Chickasaw  county, 
Iowa,  Mary  Ann  Tucker,  which  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  four  children. 
The  family  later  moved  to  Missouri,  and  again  returned  to  Iowa,  and  in  a 
short  time  migrated  to  Norton  county,  Kansas,  where  they  remained  until 
the  father's  death,  on  September  16,  1888.  Mr.  Ellis  was  a  blacksmith  by 
trade  and,  although  never  having  the  advantages  of  a  school  education,  by 
constant  reading  at  home,  became  a  w^ell  posted  man,  and  was  able  to  hold 
his  own  in  debates  with  men  much  better  educated  than  he. 

John  M.  Fales,  of  this  review,  was  the  sixth  son  of  Ellis  and  Julia  Ann 
(Avery)  Fales,  and  he  was  born  near  Farmington,  Ohio,  April  17,  1843.  ^^^^ 
with  his  parents,  who  pushed  w-estward  at  an  early  date,  experienced  many  of 
the  hardships  coincident  to  pioneer  life.  On  Februar\^  12,  1862,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  A,  Sixteenth  United  States  Infantry,  Second  Battalion.  They 
were  sent  to  headquarters  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  later  to  Columbus,  Ken- 
tucky; here  the  subject  remained,  doing  guard  duty  at  headquarters  until 
February,  1864,  when  he  was  ordered  to  join  his  regiment  at  Chattanooga, 
Tennessee.  He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Buzzard  Roost,  Resaca,  New 
Hope  Church,  Kenesaw^  Mountain,  July  4,  1864,  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Atlanta 
and  Jonesboro,  and  subsequently,  under  the  command  of  General  Sherman, 
marched  to  the  rear  of  Atlanta  and  was  under  fire  most  of  the  war.  When 
Sherman  started  for  the  sea.  Mr.  Fales,  with  his  brigade,  was  sent  back  to 

(35) 


546  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Lookout  Mountain,  where  he  was  honorably  discharged,  February  12,  1865. 
Returning  home,  he  located  in  Chickasaw  county,  low^a,  and  invested  what 
money  he  had  saved  from  the  pay  of  his  ser\'ice  in  the  army  in  land,  buying 
seventy  acres.  At  this  time,  September,  1865,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Sarah  J.  Sisson.  Shortly  after  their  marriage  her  step-mother  died  and  her 
father,  James  Sisson,  who  was  then  well  advanced  in  years,  was  left  alone. 
They  took  him  into  their  family  and  he  agreed  to  make  them  a  deed  to  forty 
acres  of  land  which  he  owned  if  they  would  take  care  of  him  the  rest  of  his 
life.  Agreeing  to  this,  they  sold  their  own  place  and  moved  to  the  home  of 
her  father,  but  this  not  proving  to  be  a  happy  arrangement,  the  deed  was 
returned  to  Mr.  Sisson,  giving  him  back  his  land,  and  leaving  them  nearly 
penniless.  Thus  Mr.  Fales  and  his  wife  and  little  babe  were  turned  out  into 
the  world  b^'  Mr.  Sisson  without  anything. 

Mr.  Fales  then  moved  to  Jasper  county,  Missouri,  in  1870,  but  soon 
returned  to  northern  Iowa.  Here,  at  Fredericksburg,  he  operated  a  wagon 
shop  and  at  this  time  his  father-in-law  again  became  a  member  of  his  family, 
Mr.  Sisson  now  being  without  funds,  having  deeded  away  his  property  and 
got  nothing  for  it  to  some  one  who  was  to  give  him  a  home  during  the  rest 
of  his  life,  but  becoming  dissatisfied  and  homeless  Mr.  Fales,  forgiving- the 
harsh  treatment  he  had  received  at  his  hand,  took  him  again  to  his  home  and 
took  care  of  him  from  that  time  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  Newton 
in  1873,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  At  this  time  Mr.  Fales  was  in 
very  reduced  circumstances.  He  moved  to  Newton  in  1873  and  on  May  20, 
1875,  his  wife  died  after  a  long  period  of  failing  health,  leaving  five  small 
children.  During  her  illness  and  at  her  death,  Mr.  Fales'  circumstances  were 
such  that  he  was  compelled  to  accept  outside  assistance,  and  after  her  death 
homes  were  found  for  the  two  youngest  children.  One  died  shortly  after- 
wards, but  the  other  was  reared  by  John  Lamb  and  wife.  The  four  children 
now  living  are  Anna  D.,  wife  of  Henry  Metz,  living  in  Idaho  on  a  farm; 
Cora,  wife  of  Charles  Gififord,  lives  at  Cunningham,  Washington;  Sidney  M. 
is  engaged  in  the  meat  market  business  at  Rigby,  Idaho ;  he  also  owns  a  farm 
near  there ;  A.  L.  lives  in  New  Mexico,  engaged  in  missionary  work. 

On  April  2,  1876,  Mr.  Fales  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Betsey 
Barker,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  the  daughter  of  Hiram  and  Eliza  Gary. 
She  was  lx)rn  November  16,  1848.  To  this  union  tw^o  children  were  bom, 
both  now  deceased,'  as  is  the  mother,  whose  death  occurred  on  August  24, 
1895.  During  the  latter  years  of  his  life  Hiram  Gary,  father  of  the  second 
Mrs.  Fales,  was  an  innlate  of  their  home,  and  he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty 
vears. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  547 

On  February  26,  1896,  Mr.  Fales  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  C. 
Anderson.  She  was  born  in  1861  in  Sweden,  and  she  is  the  daughter  of 
Andrew  and  Margaret  (Mathews)  Anderson,  both  natives  of  Sweden.  She 
was  twenty-two  years  old  when  she  accompanied  her  parents  to  America,  in 
1883,  and  a  brother,  Victor,  also  came  at  that  time.  He  is  now  engaged  in 
farming  and  looks  after  a  farm  belonging  to  the  subject  of  this  sketch  in 
Palo  Alto  township.  There  were  six  children  in  the  Anderson  family,  all 
of  whom  came  to  America.  Only  three  are  now  living.  A  sister,  Anna 
Carleston,  lives  at  Galvey,  Illinois.  Her  father  died  ten  years  ago  at  the  age 
of  seventy-four  years.  The  mother  is  still  living  and  makes  her  home  with 
her  daughter,  Mrs.  Fales,  of  this  review.     She  is  now  eighty-five  years  old. 

To  Mr.  Fales'  last  union  two  children  have  been  bory,  John  Melvin. 
born  June  27,  1897,  and  Peter  Emery,  born  May  i,  1901.  It  will  be  noticed 
that  the  name  "PeterV  again  appears,  after  skipping  two  generations,  Mr. 
Fales  believing  that  the  name  ought  to  be  perpetuated  in  the  family. 

John  ]\I.  Fales  is  now  one  of  Xewton's  substantial  citizens,  being  worth 
over  fifty  thousand  dollars.  He  is  a  fine  type  of  the  self-made  American 
citizen.  The  story  of  his  early  struggles  and  his  gradual  rise  to  affluence  is 
one  to  make  the  younger  generation  take  notice,  proving  that  strong  hands,  a 
clear  brain  and  an  honest  heart  can  make  stepping-stones  of  adversities  and 
achieve  large  results  in  the  face  of  obstacles.  Before  coming  to  Xewton 
Mr.  Fales  was  engaged  in  the  wagon  making  and  repairing  business,  as  above 
stated,  in  Fredericksburg.  Once  he  sold  a  wagon  to  a  man,  taking  in  part 
pay  an  old  wagon  worth  alx)ut  ten  dollars.  He  made  a  new  wagon,  using  the 
irons  of  the  old  one  and  traded  this  for  a  young  horse;  he  already  owned  a 
horse  and  therefore  had  a  team.  Soon  after  this  trade  he  decided  to  move  to 
Newton,  so,  loading  up  his  family  and  earthly  belongings,  he  drove  through 
with  his  team,  which  he  sold  soon  after  his  arrival,  for  sixty-five  dollars,  and 
purchased  two  lots  in  north  Newton  with  the  money.  Later  he  was  enabled 
to  purchase  enough  lumber  to  build  a  house  on  them.  This  was  some  time 
after  the  death  of  his  first  wife  when  he  was  beginning  to  get  on  his  feet 
again.  Not  long  afterwards  he  traded  the  house  and  lots  for  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  Cherokee  county,  Iowa,  without  seeing  the  land. 
This  proved  to  be  a  good  trade  and  after  holding  the  land  for  some  time  he 
sold  it  for  fifteen  hundred  and  sixty  dollars,  and  with  twelve  hundred  and 
twenty  dollars  of  that  amount  purchased  eighty  acres  near  Newton,  leaving 
him  a  balance  of  three  hundred  and  forty  dollars,  which  paid  for  the  lumber 
he  had  used  in  building  the  house  on  the  lots,  also  included  the  price  of  the 
lots.    Thus  it  will  be  seen  bv  his  \arious  trades,  which  he  takes  pride  in  tracing. 


-48  JASPER   COUNTY,   IOWA. 

Starting  with  the  old  set  of  wagon  wheels,  he  \vas  now  twelve  hundred  and 
twenty  dollars  "to  the  good.""  This  eighty  acres  was  sold  some  years  after- 
wards for  forty  dollars  per  acre,  and  wath  the  money  Mr.  Fales  purchased 
ninety-one  and  one-half  acres  of  fine  land  in  Fairview  township  and  this  he 
still  holds.  The  second  Mrs.  Fales  inherited  eleven  hundred  dollars  upon  the 
death  of  her  father,  and  forty-six  and  one-half  acres  was  purchased  in  Wild 
Cat  grove  with  this  amount.  This  was  unimproved  and  Mr.  Fales  and  his 
faithful  wife  worked  very  hard  in  placing  it  under  cultivation,  and  it  is  now 
a  splendid  little  farm,  worth  probably  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per 
acre.  Mr.  Fales  has  since  added  five  acres  to  it,  thus  making  fifty-one  and 
one-half  acres.  In  all  he  owns  in  Fairview  and  Palo  Alto  townships  three 
hundred  and  sixty-five  acres  and  two  good  residence  properties  in  Xewton, 
and  he  is  also  part  owner  of  one  of  Newton's  best  business  blocks.  He  is 
now  retired  from  the  active  duties  of  life  and  lives  quietly  in  his  beautiful 
modern  home  in  Xewton,  where  his  two  little  boys  attend  school.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church,  \vhile  his  wife  affiliates  with  the  Presbyter- 
ians. He  is  very  grateful  that  God  has  prospered  him  and  believes  that  "hon- 
esty is  the  best  policy." 

Mr.  Fales  relates  in  an  interesting  manner  his  early  experiences  in 
Iowa,  which  were  characterized  by  hardships,  privations  and  labor  of  the 
most  strenuous  nature.  Among  these  experiences  he  tells  in  the  following 
words  of  his  efforts  to  build  his  first  house :  "Soon  after  I  came  from  the 
army  I  purchased  a  small  piece  of  wild  land  near  Fredericksburg,  Chickasaw 
county,  Iowa,  paying  for  it  with  the  money  I  had  saved  in  the  army  service, 
using  all  my  means  in  this  purchase.  I  now  needed  a  house,  but,  having  no 
money,  I  worked  for  a  Mr.  Martin  for  ten  days,  for  which  I  received  one 
thousand  feet  of  native  lumber,  delivered  at  the  saw-mill.  Then  I  gleaned 
around  and  got  about  seven  hundred  more  feet  of  native  lumber 
and  hauled  it  to  the  mill.  I  then  went  to  Mr.  Paden,  who  owned  the  mill, 
and  bargained  with  him  to  saw  my  logs  at  ten  dollars  a  thousand,  paying 
him  in  work  by  the  day.  I  then  got  some  logs  and  hew'ed  my  sills,  eight 
inches  square.  Needing  shingles,  I  went  to  Mr.  Martin  and  bought  a  large 
black  oak  shingle  tree  for  four  dollars,  to  be  paid  at  harvest  time.  I  had  the 
tree  sawed  into  shingle  blocks  and  hauled  them  to  the  shingle  factor}^  I 
paid  for  the  making  of  the  shingles  by  work  at  the  shingle  factory.  \\'hen  I 
had  the  materials  on  the  ground  and  ready  to  start  the  building  I  went  to  a 
Mr.  Conner  to  help  me  put  up  the  little  house,  which  was  to  be  fourteen  by 
eighteen  feet,  eight  feet  high.  He  was  too  busy  to  help  me,  but  said  he 
could  show  me  how  so  that  I  could  do  the  work  as  well  as  he  could.     When 


JASPER   COUNTY,    IOWA.  549 

ready  to  raise  the  building  I  went  to  town  to  buy  some  nails.  I  had  in  my 
pockets  but  thirty-five  cents  and  w  ent  to  a  hardware  store  to  buy  two'  dollars' 
worth  of  nails.  Being  a  stranger,  they  did  not  want  to  trust  me,  but  said 
they  would  let  me  have  the  stuff  if  my  father  would  say  it  was  all  right. 
Going  to  see  my  father.  I  found  he  had  gone  to  the  country,  so  I  went  back  to 
the  store.  While  there  a  man  came  in  who  was  doing  some  mason  work  for 
the  store  people  and  said  he  wanted  them  to  get  him  a  workman.  I  spoke 
up  and  asked  for  the  job,  which  I  secured,  and  after  working  two  days  was 
able  to  buy  my  two  dollars'  worth  of  nails.  I  found  a  man  who  had  a 
window  he  did  not  need  and  worked  for  him  until  I  had  paid  for  the  window. 
My  wife  being  anxious  to  get  into  the  house,  we  moved  in  in  the  spring  of 
1866,  with  but  one  side  of  the  roof  on.  one  window  in;  a  blanket  doing  service 
for  a  door  and  the  floor  only  temporarily  laid.  This  is  the  way  I  built  my 
first  house.  We  were  both  happy  in  this  home  of  our  own,  though  it  was 
ever  so  humble,  and  when  the  building  was  completed  it  was  a  very  com- 
fortable house." 


HOX.  WILLIAAI  R.  COOPER. 

A  young  man  who  has  stamped  the  impress  of  his  strong  personality 
upon  the  minds  of  the  people  of  Jasper  county  in  a  manner  as  to  render  him 
one  of  the  conspicuous  characters  of  the  locality  is  Hon.  \\'illiam  R.  Cooper, 
the  able  and  popular  retiring  representative  in  the  state  Legislature.  Faith- 
fulness to  duty  and  a  strict  adherence  to  a  fixed  purpose,  which  always  do 
more  to  advance  a  man's  interests  than  wealth  or  advantageous  circumstances, 
have  been  dominating  factors  in  his  life,  which  has  been  replete  with  honor  and 
success  worthily  attained,  and  he  has  become  an  important  factor  in  the  affairs 
of  his  county  and  stands  in  the  foremost  rank  of  the  legal  profession.  Few 
citizens  in  Jasper  county  are  better  known,  none  occupy  a  more  conspicuous 
place  in  the  confidence  of  the  public,  and  it  is  a  compliment  worthily  bestowed 
to  class  him  with  the  representative  men  of  his  day  and  generation  in  the  city 
of  his  residence,  having  done  much  for  the  general  development  of  Xewton 
and  this  vicinity. 

Mr.  Cooper  is  one  of  the  native  sons  of  Jasper  county  of  whom  she  may 
well  be  proud,  his  birth  having  occurred  here  on  November  28.  1868.  he 
being  the  scion  of  one  of  the  sterling  old  families  that  figured  prominently 
in  the  pioneer  history  of  the  county,  the  son  of  Levi  and  Ellen  (Sanders) 
Cooper.     The  father  was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  Pennsylvania,  from 


-:^0  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

which  state  he  came  to  Iowa  about  1862  or  1863  and  located  in  Jasper  county, 
near  Lvnnville.  where  he  developed  a  good  farm  and  became  well  established, 
and  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death  in  1874,  when  his  son, 
\\'illiam  R..  was  about  six  years  old.  His  wife  was  born  in  Indiana.  The 
Cooper  family  is  of  Quaker  stock  and  its  members  ha\-e  always  been  noted  for 
their  piety  and  clean  citizenship. 

Three  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Levi  Cooper,  two  daughters, 
who  are  deceased,  and  \\'illiam  R.  of  this  review.  The  mother  is  now  living 
in  California,  haxing  remarried,  her  last  husband  being  Jackson  Booth. 

^^'illiara  R.  Cooper  was  educated  in  the  rural  schools  of  this  county  and 
at  Hazel  Dell  Academy  at  Newton.  He  afterward  entered  Iowa  State  Col- 
lege at  Ames,  and  graduated  in  1894,  taking  the  scientific  course.  He  pre- 
pared himself  for  a  teacher  and  for  several  years  successfully  followed  that 
vocation,  winning  the  admiration  of  both  pupil  and  patron ;  but  growing  tired 
of  the  school  room,  he  entered  the  abstract  and  loan  business  in  1900,  in  New- 
ton. Still  not  satisfied  with  his  work,  although  again  successful,  he  finally 
turned  his  attention  to  the  law,  for  which  he  seemed  to  have  a  natural  bent, 
and,  making  rapid  progress  in  the  same,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1904, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  practice,  and  at  the 
same  time  has  carried  on  an  extensive  abstract  and  loan  business.  He  has 
been  successful  as  an  attorney  and  abstractor,  winning  a  reputation  as  a 
conscientious,  capable,  well  grounded  and  energetic  advocate,  who,  by  his 
judicious  course,  has  won  the  good  will  and  admiration  of  all  classes. 

Owing  to  his  public  spirit  and  his  recognized  ability,  Mr.  Cooper  was  soon 
singled  out  by  party  leaders  for  public  positions,  and  in  1908  he  was  elected 
representative  from  Jasper  county,  and  his  eminently  worthy  and  satisfactory 
course  in  the  Legislature  has  evidently  justified  the  wisdom  of  his  selection 
for  this  important  position,  for  he  has  labored  untiringly  for  the  good  of  his 
locality,  winning  the  hearty  approbation  of  all  concerned,  irrespective  of  party 
alignment,  making  his  influence  felt  in  the  counsels  and  deliberations  there 
and  often  on  the  floor,  challenging  forcefully  and  eloquently  any  measure  that 
did  not  seem  to  warrant  his  support,  and  always  defending  in  a  relentless  and 
tactful  manner  such  movements  as  were  calculated  to  make  for  the  general 
good.  He  was  chairman  of  the  federal  relations  committee  and  a  member  of 
the  judiciary,  ways  and  means,  insurance,  banks  and  banking,  mines  and  min- 
ing, pardons,  labor,  telegraph  and  express,  and  engrossed  bills  committees,-  in 
all  of  which  he  displayed  rare  soundness  of  judgment  and  business  acumen. 
He  was  the  author  of  the  bill,  'Tlace  of  Trial  of  Citations," which  provides 
grounds  for  change  of  place  of  trial.     He  was  instrumental  in  securing  the 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  55 1 

passage  of  a  bill  to  change  the  place  of  trial  to  the  home  county  where  there 
is  an  alleged  fraudulent  contract.  He  was  the  author  of  many  hills,  an<l  his 
efforts  were  always  directed  toward  the  betterment  of  the  moral  conditions 
of  the  state.  He  was  largely  instrumental  in  securing  the  passage  of  a  bill 
providing  against  the  sale  of  cigarettes  and  cigarette  papers  and  providing 
for  search  warrant  of  any  building  where  same  was  thought  to  be  kept  for 
sale,  and  which  provides  for  the  assessment  of  a  fine  of  three  hundred  dollars 
against  the  owner  of  the  building. 

Judging  from  the  past  meritorious  record  of  ^Ir.  Cooper,  it  is  safe  to 
predict  that  the  future  years  hold  much  of  honor  and  success  f(jr  him  and 
that  he  will  in  due  course  of  time  take  his  place  among  the  eminent  and  useful 
men  of  the  great  commonwealth  of  Iowa. 

Mr.  Cooper's  domestic  life  began  on  October  26,  1898,  when  he  was 
united  in  marriage  w'ith  Virginia  Russell,  a  lady  of  culture  and  genial  address 
and  the  daughter  of  S.  G.  Russell,  president  of  the  Farmers'  Insurance  Com- 
pany, of  Newton,  and  a  well  known  business  man  here.  This  union  has  been 
blessed  bv  the  birth  of  four  children,  Florence,  Robert,  Russell  and  Richard. 


BARRETT  E.  MOORE. 

Prominently  connected  with  the  business  history  of  Jasper  county,  the 
career  of  Barrett  E.  Moore,  president  of  the  Dowden  Manufacturing  Company 
and  vice-president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Prairie  City,  is  eminently 
worthy  of  permanent  record.  Great  fortunes  have  been  accumulated  by 
others  through  various  methods,  but  few  lives  in  this  section  of  Iowa  furnish 
a  better  example  of  the  wise  application  of  sound  business  principles  and  safe 
conser\atism  as  does  his.  The  story  of  his  success  is  not  long  nor  does  it 
contain  any  exciting  chapters,  but  in  it  lies  a  valuable  secret  of  the  prosperity 
which  it  records.  His  business  and  private  life  are  replete  with  interest  and 
incentive,  no  matter  how  lacking  in  dramatic  incident;  the  record  of  an  in- 
dustrious life  whose  every  action  has  been  actuated  by  a  laudable  aml)ition 
and  controlled  by  proper  ideals,  consistent  with  itself  and  its  possibilities  in 
every  particular.  In  fact,  it  would  be  hard  to  find  a  better  example  of  what 
mav  be  accomplished  by  duty  fully  performed  or  what  obstacles  may  be  sur- 
mounted through  energy-and  tact  than  that  aft"orded  by  the  life  history  of  this 
progressive  man  of  affairs. 


-^2  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Air.  Moore  is  the  scion  of  a  sterling-  old  family  of  eastern  Iowa,  and  he 
was  born  at  Attalissa,  Muscatine  county,  Iowa,  June  i,  1862,  the  son  of  S.  S. 
and  Ellen  (Worrell)  Moore,  both  natives  of  Ohio.  The  father  was  a  shoe- 
maker by  trade  and  in  1849  or  1850  he  left  Ohio  with  his  family  and  came  to 
Iowa,  making  the  long  overland  journey  in  an  old-fashioned  wagon,  falling 
in  with  the  almost  continuous  train  of  emigrants  to  the  middle  and  far  west 
during  that  formative  period  of  our  country's  histor}'.  He  settled  near  the 
town  of  Attalissa,  Muscatine  county,  and  farmed  there  for  a  time,  then  went 
into  the  grocery  business  at  that  place,  continuing  the  same  for  five  years, 
when  he  moved  to  Brooklyn,  Iowa,  where  he  entered  the  same  business, 
handling  farming  implements  additionally,  with  a  partner  under  the  firm  name 
of  Overman  &  Moore.  Six  years  later  he  sold  out  and  moved  to  Mitchell- 
ville.  where  he  went  into  the  lumber  and  grain  business,  building  the  first 
grain  elevator  there.  He  continued  in  that  line  of  endeavor  there  with  his 
usual  success  for  over  seventeen  years,  but,  selling  out  in  1886,  he  came  to 
Prairie  Citv  to  make  his  future  home,  and  here  he  led  a  retired  life  until  his 
death,  in  June,  1894,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-two  years;  his  widow, 
who  survived  until  1909,  also  reached  that  age.  After  her  husband's  death 
she  made  her  home  with  the  son,  Barrett  E.  of  this  review,  he  being  the 
youngest  of  a  family  of  seven  children,  four  of  whom  reached  maturity,  the 
other  three  being  ^Martha  A.,  widow  of  J.  R.  Gill,  he  having  formerly  been 
a  well  known  grain  dealer  of  Prairie  City,  in  partnership  with  the  subject, 
and  his  death  occurred  in  1908,  leaving  a  wife  and  several  children;  Priscilla 
married  Benjamin  Cope,  a  well  known  farmer  of  Polk  county,  and  they  also 
ha\-e  several  children:  William  H..  who  is  a  retired  business  man  of  Prairie 
City,  is  married  and  has  a  family. 

Barrett  E.  Moore  attended  the  Mitchellville  Seminary  at  Mitchellville, 
later  going  to  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  where  he  remained  less  than  a  year, 
then  came  to  Prairie  City,  Iowa,  where  he  secured  emplox  nient  in  \^ander- 
mast's  general  store,  clerking  for  him  for  five  years,  giving  a  high  grade 
ser\ice  all  the  while  and  incidentally  becoming,  thoroughly  familiar  with  the 
ins  and  outs  of  merchandising.  His  next  venture  w-as  in  the  grain  business 
with  Gill  &  Son.  and  after  three  years  he  bought  the  interest  of  J.  R.  Gill  and 
the  firm  became  Gill  &  Moore,  and  he  continued  in  the  same  for  a  period  of 
seventeen  years,  building  up  a  large  and  ever-growing  business  and  becoming 
widely  known  as  one  of  the  leading  grain  men  of  central  Iowa.  Observing 
better  opportunities  in  the  banking  world,  he  sold  out  his  grain  interests  in 
1908  and  identified  himself  with  the  Eirst  National   Bank  of  Prairie   Citv, 


JASPER    COUNTY,   IOWA.  553 

assuming  the  duties  of  vice-president,  which  position  he  still  tills  in  a  manner 
that  reflects  much  credit  upon  himself  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the 
stockholders  and  all  others  concerned,  his  influence  having  done  much  in  estab- 
lishing the  growing  prestige  of  that  safe  and  sound  institution,  which  had 
developed  at  a  steady  pace.  Besides  his  interest  in  the  bank,  Mr.  Moore  is  a 
large  stockholder  in  the  Dowden  Manufacturing  Company,  with  which  he 
has  been  connected  since  its  organization  in  1888.  It  is  capitalized  for  forty 
thousand  dollars,  but  its  surplus  and  working  capital  is  eighty  thousand  dol- 
lars, and  it  has  a  large,  modernly  equipped  plant,  in  which  only  skilled  artfsans 
are  employed  and  where  every  department  is  managed  under  a  superb  system, 
and  the  much-sought  products  of  the  plant  are  constantly  invading  new  terri- 
tory. 

The  domestic  life  of  Mr.  Moore  began  in  September,  1894.  when  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Carrie  Bollhoefer,  of  -Newton,  this  county,  the  ac- 
complished and  refined  daughter  of  A.  C.  Bollhoefer  and  wife,  very  early  set- 
tlers of  Jasper  county  and  long  prominent  and  highly  esteemed  in  local  circles. 
Mrs.  Moore  has  one  brother  and  four  sisters  living,  namely :  Marv.  who  lives 
in  Xewton:  Lou.  Minnie  and  Emma  live  in  Xewton ;  Edward  lives  in  Colfax. 
Jasper  county. 

To  ^Ir.  and  ]\Irs.  Moore  two  children  have  been  born.  Merle  M..  now 
fourteen  years  of  age.  and  Florence  E..  who  died  when  six  years  old.  Mrs. 
Moore  Is  a  member  of  the  ^I'ethodist  Episcopal  church  of  Xewton.  Fra- 
ternally, yir.  ]Moore  belongs  to  the  Masonic  order,  Preston  Lodge  X'o.  218, 
and  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Jasper  Lodge  X^o.  63,  being  treasurer  of  both 
lodges.  Politically,  he  is  a  "standpat"  Republican,  but.  being  engrossed  with 
personal  affairs,  he  has  never  cared  for  political  leadership  or  the  honors  of 
public  office ;  however,  always  deeply  interested  in  whatever  tends  to  the  pub- 
lic welfare  and  readv  to  lend  a  helping  hand  in  forwarding  any  movement 
having  for  its  object  the  upbuilding  of  the  section  in  which  he  lives. 

The  career  of  Mr.  Moore  illustrates  most  happily  for  the  purpose  of  this 
work  the  fact  that  if  a  young  man  possesses  the  proper  attributes  of  mind  and 
heart,  he  can.  unaided,  attain  to  a  position  of  unmistakable  precedence  and 
gain  for  himself  an  honored  position  among  the  men  who  are  the  foremost 
factors  in  shaping  the  destinies  of  communities,  his  life  proving  that  the  only 
true  success  in  this  world  is  that  which  is  accomplished  by  personal  effort 
and  consecutive  industr\%  by  honesty  and  a  straightforward,  unassuming  at- 
titude toward  those  with  whom  he  comes  into  contact. 


--^  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

EDWARD  PAYSOX  GOODHUE. 
(An  Autobiography.) 
Edward   Payson  Goodhue,  the  third  and  youngest  son  of   Da\id  and 
Betsey  Goodhue,  was  born  in  Groton,  New  Hampshire,  March  7,  1839.     My 
fatlier  was  the  oldest  son  of  Joseph  Goodhue  and  he  was  born  in  Groton,  New 
Hampshire,   February    11,    1903,   and  his   death  occurred  on   February   26, 
1886.     He  was  a  man  of  sentiment  as  well  as  enterprise,  but  more  philosoph- 
ical than  emotional,  a  great  reader,  in  fact,  was  a  better  scholar  than  his  sons ; 
he  was  strictly  honest  and  temperate — had  no  use  for  tobacco,  whisky  or  pro- 
fanity.    He  took  an  active  part  in  the  organization  of  Malaka  township. 
Jasper  county,  Iowa,  and  acted  as  clerk  at  the  first  town  meeting,  and  he  was 
commissioned  by  A.  W.  Randall,  postmaster-general,  on  the  24th  of  April, 
1868.  as  the  first  postmaster  at  Horn,  and  he  held  the  office  eleven  years,  and 
I  was  commissioned  by  Postmaster-General  D.  M.  Key  in  1879  to  take  his 
place  and  I  occupied  this  position  nine  years.     My  father  was  a  descendant  of 
William  Goodhue,  who  came  from  England  in  November,  1636.  He  is  known 
to  ha\e  been  a  man  of  high  integrity  and  wisdom  and  many  of  his  descendants 
have  ranked  high  in  church  and  state.     They  are  a  quiet,  peace-loving  people. 
I  have  never  heard  of  a  divorce  in  this  family,  and  neither  is  there  any  record 
of  any  Goodhue  having  been  in  the  poor  house  or  the  penitentiary.     They 
have  their  share  of  faults,  but  so  far  have  held' their  own  counsel  and  adjusted 
their  differences  outside  of  court.     My  mother's  people  were  from  Scotland, 
Her  maiden  name  was  Betsey  McGoo ;  she  was  born  in  South  Berwick,  Maine, 
February  2.  181 1,  and  died  July  18,  1906,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-five 
years,  five  months  and  sixteen  days.     She  married  Thomas  Warwick,  of  Bos- 
ton, Massachusetts,  November  21,  1826.     Four  years  later  he  died  in  Balti- 
more, Maryland,  leaving  two  young  sons,  James  and  Thomas :  the   former 
died  in  Lynn.  Massachusetts,  in  the  spring  of  1900,  and  the  latter,  who  was  in 
the  marine  service  during  the  Civil  war,  died  while  thus  employed  for  his 
country.     On  February  4,  1833,  my  parents  were  married  and,  besides  my- 
self, two  other  sons  were  born,  George  Clinton  and  Da\id  Dexter.     She  was 
a  noble  woman  and  true  niother  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  always  full  of 
hope  and  cheer,  generous  to  a  fault,  sympathetic  and  energetic.     It  was  her 
custom,  back  in  New  Hampshire,  to  take  the  wool  when  sheared,  and  card, 
spin  and  weave  enough  to  cut  and  make  my  older  brothers  new  suits  for  win- 
ter, and  she  performed  her  tasks  in  this  line  with  more  grace  than  ease,  sing- 
ing more  than  complaining.     Of  course  these  mantles  were  sooner  out-grown 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  555 

than  out-worn  and  naturally  fell  upon  me;  a  fair  deal  was  the  height  of  my 
expectancy,  but  this  was  more  than  I  had  bargained  for.  It  is  better  to  be 
born  lucky  than  rich. 

When  I  was  fourteen  years  of  age  my  father  sold  his  farm  at  Croton, 
Xew  Hampshire,  and  on  April  i,  1854,  he  took  Horace  Greeley's  advice  and 
came  west,  arriving  a  month  later,  on  the  first  of  May,  at  Marengo,  the  county 
seat  of  Iowa  county,  Iowa.  Besides  these  parents,  their  three  sons  and 
''Ring,"  their  dog.  Uncle  Warren  Goodhue  and  Cousin  Frank  also  came  along, 
and  in  June  we  were  joined  by  Uncle  Harford  and  Aunt  Harriet  Barton, 
from  Readville,  Massachusetts.  Uncle  Harford  and  my  brother,  George  C, 
entered  land  just  east  of  Hilton  creek,  but  my  father,  in  company  with  Uncle 
Warren,  bought  a  section,  including  some  timber,  that  lay  across  the  Iowa 
river.  Fifty-five  acres  of  this  had  been  broken  and  enclosed  by  a  seven-rail 
stake-and-rider  fence,  two  houses  built  and  two  wells  dug  square  and  timbered 
up  cob-house  fashion.  The  houses  were  constructed  in  a  similar  manner  of 
logs  and  shingled  with  undressed  oak  splits,  three  feet  in  length  and  from 
four  to  six  inches  in  width ;  these  were  laid  in  courses  and  a  log  placed  across 
the  roof  to  hold  them  in  place.  Like  Solomon's  temple,  the  sound  of  the 
hammer  was  never  heard  in  their  construction,  for  the  buildings  were  minus 
nails.  This  land  was  surveyed  and  divided  during  the  summer  of  1855.  It 
was  well  located,  a  little  southeast  of  Marengo  on  a  divide  that  overlooked 
the  town;  but  the  climate  was  so  different  from  that  of  Xew  England,  it  gave 
all  of  us  the  shakes.  As  soon  as  I  had  recovered,  my  father,  mother  and 
brother  Clint  all  fell  ill  with  typhoid  fever  and  brother  Dick  was  still  in  a 
serious  condition.  To  get  a  nurse  was  quite  out  of  the  question,  for  there 
was  no  room  nor  place  for  one,  and.  although  a  boy  of  sixteen  years.  I  was 
their  only  help  and  watched  over  them  both  night  and  day.  Our  good  Doctor 
Hendershot  gave  me  much  praise  for  skill  and  untiring  devotion.  A  little 
later  in  the  fall  my  good  Aunt  Harriet  died,  which  fact  proved  so  depressing 
to  my  parents  that  they  sold  out  and  moved  in  the  early  spring  of  1856  to 
Jasper  county,  making  the  journey  in  a  lumber-wagon,  drawn  by  four  oxen. 
Attached  to  the  end  of  the  wagon  was  a  hand-cart  of  my  own  making,  filled 
with  trinkets  and  "Yankee  notions"  from  the  East.  We  had  sold  our  live 
stock  and  took  with  us  only  the  oxen,  one  bay  stallion,  a  small  drove  of  sheep, 
a  coop  of  chickens  and  our  little  black  dog  to  bring  up  the  rear.  We  fre- 
quently stuck  in  the  mud.  for  the  sloughs  were  not  bridged,  but  they  managed 
to  pull  through  by  doubling  teams  with  some  mover  who  chanced  to  come  by 
in  an  opportune  time,  or  who  were  also  stuck  in  the  deep  mire:  so  on  the 
evening  of  the' third  dav  we  landed  at  the  Xorth  Skunk  river.     There  mv 


--6  JASPER   COUNTY,    IOWA. 

father  bought  one  hundred  and  ninety-five  acres  of  choice  land,  of  wliich 
twenty-five  acres  had  been  broken  and  fenced,  and  upon  which  a  house  had 
been  started  and  left  partly  finished.  The  land  was  well  watered  and  on  it 
stood  a  fine  grove  of  timber,  which  was  quite  an  item,  for  the  country  was 
principally  prairie  and  so  far  as  the  early  settlers  knew,  there  was  no  coal  in 
the  state,  nor  railroad  to  furnish  them  with  building  material.  Some  of  the 
black  walnut  was  cut  and  sawed  at  John  Gary's  mill,  and  in  the  fall  after  it 
was  seasoned,  my  father  purchased  for  me  a  set  of  tools  and  I  was  put  to 
work  finishing  the  house.  After  making  the  panel  doors  there  was  enough 
left  to  make  my  mother  a  light-stand,  a  leaf-table  and  cupboard.  I  still  re- 
tain the  latter  as  a  true  specimen  of  what  a  boy  can  do  with  Yankee  "gumption" 
at  the  age  of  seventeen  years.  The  country  was  new  and  needed  to  be  de- 
veloped. I  had  little  time  for  books  or  sport.  I  never  owned  a  gun  and  I 
never  killed  a  rabbit  or  song-bird.  I  got  enough  pleasure  out  of  the  use  of 
tools,  which  I  took  to  most  readily.  I  made  barrels,  churns,  trays,  boots, 
shoes,  sleds,  spoke-wheels  and  many  other  things,  ^^^lile  in  Dubuque  in 
the  winter  of  1862,  in  company  with  my  brother  Deck.  I  offered  to  enlist  with 
a  company  of  carpenters  and  join  the  Union  army  in  Tennessee,  but  our 
services  were  rejected. 

My  first  vote  was  cast  for  President  Lincoln,  and  I  have  voted  for  every 
President  since,  with  the  exception  of  Hayes;  however,  I  am  liberal  both  in 
my  political  and  religious  views,  believing  more  in  men  and  principles  than 
in  parties  or  any  special  denominations,  although  I  attend  church  and  con- 
tribute something  to  the  support  of  churches.  I  do  not  believe  the  story  of 
creation,  believing  that  light,  heat,  motion  and  all  phases  of  vegetable  and 
animal  life  to  be  spontaneous,  springing  from  the  ever  changing  but  inde- 
structable  atom.  ^Matter  and  space  are  too  vast  to  be  cornered  and  controlled 
by  art,  and  nature  is  too  full  of  tragedies  to  admit  of  design.  It  would  im- 
peach justice  as  well  as  mercy  and  set  at  naught  the  command  of  Moses, 
'Thou  Shalt  not  kill." 

I  have  always  tried  to  do  my  full  share  in  the  work  of  developing  this 
locality,  having  had  its  interests  at  heart  from  the  first,  and  I  hope  I  have  been 
of  some  small  service  in  this  respect.  When  twenty-one  years  of  age  I  was 
elected  road  boss,  and  my  district  run  the  length  of  the  township,  and  after 
spending  the  tax  bridging  the  sloughs,  I  donated  twenty-one  days  grading  the 
bank  and  reconstructing  the  first  bridge  across  the  North  Skunk  river.  The 
next  year  I  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  I  have  held  at  different  times 
every  office  in  the  township,  except  constable. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  557 

It  was  while  acting  on  the  building  committee  of  the  school  board  that  I 
first  met  Carlton  Braley,  who  proved  to  be  a  genial  Vermont  Yankee,  who 
owned  the  stone  quarry  at  Kellogg.  He  introduced  me  to  his  daughter  Ellen, 
who,  by  the  way,  is  the  present  Mrs.  Goodhue.  She  had  been  well  educated 
and  had  taught  several  terms  of  school  in  our  district,  and  of  course,  the  first 
one  in  our  new  school  house.  We  were  married  by  the  Rev.  Addison  Lyman 
and  served  a  sumptuous  Thanksgiving  dinner,  November  25,  1869.  On 
]\Iarch  13,  1 87 1,  Birdie,  our  only  child,  now  Mrs.  F.  G.  Maple,  was  born. 
We  had  some  reverses,  but  in  spite  of  that,  prospered  fairly  well,  so  in  the 
summer  of  1890,  after  a  lapse  of  thirty-six  years,  in  company  with  my  wife 
and  daughter,  I  visited  my  native  land,  where  every  hill  and  dale  are  hallowed 
by  the  sacred  memory  of  bygone  days.  We  visited  relatives  in  and  around 
Boston  and  every  town  of  note  in  Vermont,  Mrs.  Goodhue's  native  state. 
We  had  the  pleasure  of  attending  a  liberal  campmeeting  at  Queen  City  Park, 
bordering  Lake  Champlain,  and  we  crossed  that  historic  lake  to  the  place  where 
my  grandfather  fought  under  McDonough  in  the  war  of  1812.  We  came 
home  through  Canada,  by  way  of  Montreal.  The  following  winter  we  bought 
the  place  where  we  now  reside.  The  following  summer  we  sold  our  farm 
in  ^lalaka  township  and  since  then  have  bought  ninety-five  acres  more.  I 
have  given  my  daughter  a  deed  of  twenty,  and  sold  some,  but  still  retain 
eighty-five  acres,  the  most  of  which  we  keep  rented.  We  keep  a  little  live 
stock  for  every-day  use,  including  a  favorite  horse. 


SACRED  HEART  CHURCH,  NEWTON. 

In  the  early  history  of  the  county  services  were  held  every  six  months 
by  Father  Brazil,  of  St.  Ambrose  church,  Des  ^loines,  at  the  home  of  Michael 
Morring,  also  at  the  residence  of  a  Mr.  Hickey.  Finally,  in  1858,  a  church 
was  built,  and  continued  as  the  place  of  worship  until  the  Sacred  Heart  church 
was  erected  in  Newton.  The  rectory  was  erected  about  thirty  years  ago  by 
Father  John  Fogarty.  Fifteen  pastors  have  administered  the  affairs  of  the 
congregation  since  1858.  The  congregation  now  numbers  twenty-eight  fam- 
ilies, the  present  pastor  being  Rev.  Thomas  J.  McCann,  a  native  of  Philadel- 
phia. Pennsylvania.  His  education  was  obtained  in  the  parochial  schools  of 
his  native  city  and  later  he  studied  in  the  College  of  Mount  St.  Mary's,  at 
Emmetsburg,  Maryland,  also  at  St.  Mary's  University  and  Johns  Hopkins 
University,  Baltimore,  Maryland. 


558  JASPER   COUNTY,   IOWA. 

To  the  Xewton  church  are  attached  the  Catholic  missions  of  Monroe 
and  Colfax.  Both  towns  have  Catholic  churches  and.  although  the  congrega- 
tions are  vet  small,  thev  are  growing  and  good  work  is  being  done. 


HAYDEN  REYNOLDS. 

This  well  known  and  higlil}'  honored  old  soldier  of  Xewton,  Jasper 
county,  is  an  excellent  representatix'e  of  the  retired  business  men  of  this 
locality,  coming  from  an  ancestry  that  distinguished  itself  in  the  pioneer 
times,  when  the  country  was  covered  with  wild,  native  growths;  in  fact, 
Mr.  Reynolds  himself  came  to  this  country  in  the  days  of  the  wild,  wide- 
sweeping  prairies,  and  assisted  his  people  and  the  rest  of  the  early  settlers  to 
carve  homes,  build  schools  and  churches  and  introduce  the  customs  of  civil- 
ization in  the  wilderness.  They  were  hardy,  courageous,  honest  pioneers, 
willing  to  take  the  hardships  that  they  might  acquire  the  soil  and  the  home 
that  Avas  sure  to  rise  and  enjoy  the  blessings  following  inevitably  in  the  wake 
of  civilization. 

Hayden  Reynolds  was  born  in  Hart  county.  Kentucky,  on  October  12, 
1842,  the  son  of  Shadrach  and  Mary  (Logsdon)  Reynolds.  The  father  was 
a  native  of  Virginia,  but  when  a  child  his  parents  brought  him  to  Kentucky 
and  there  he  grew  to  manhood  and  married,  and  in  1855  he  moved  with  his 
family  from  the  '"dark  and  bloody  ground"  country  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa; 
however,  the  trip  was  not  made  at  once,  for  they  went  in  wagons  to  Louis- 
ville and  New  Albany,  stopping  in  the  latter  city  several  months,  when  the 
journey  w-as  resumed  by  steamboat  to  Keokuk,  Iowa,  and  from  there  in 
wagons  to  Newton,  the  father  buying  land  in  what  is  now^  Newton  township, 
which  was  at  that  time  a  part  of  Malaka  township,  settling  there  in  1856,  thus 
becoming  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  county.  There  the  elder  Reynolds 
farmed  until  his  death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  fifty-eight  years  of  age, 
his  wife  reaching  the  age  of  sixty-four  years.  They  had  a  large  family,  four- 
teen children,  of  which  Hayden,  of  this  sketch,  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth ; 
the  others  are,  James  O.,  who  served  in  the  Civil  war  as  a  member  of  Com- 
pany B,  Thirteenth  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  died  in  Kansas ;  Sarah,  who  mar- 
ried Green  B.  Bridges,  lives  in  Newton;  Deliah  died  in  infancy;  Nancy  J.,  now 
Mrs.  John  Montis,  lives  at  Belle fontaine,  Ohio;  William,  who  was  in  Com- 
pany L,  Ninth  Iowa  Cavalry,  during  the  Civil  war,  died  in  Afton.  this  state; 
Zachariah  died  in  Oskaloosa,  low^a ;  Joseph  lives  in  Des  Moines ;  Isabel  married 


JASPER   COUNTY,   IOWA.  559 

John  T.  Rapp,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war.  who  is  living  at  the  Soldiers'  Home 
near  Dodge  City,  Kansas ;  Thomas  lives  in  Newton ;  Charles  lives  on  a  farm 
near  Xewton;  A.  G.  Hves  in  Des  Moines;  E.  F.  lives  in  Newton;  Martha  is 
the  w^ife  of  Lee  Logsdon  and  they  live  in  Newton.  The  last  five  named  were 
born  after  the  family  came  to  Jasper  county. 

Hayden  Reynolds  attended  the  district  schools  in  his  township,  and  dur- 
ing the  summer  months  he  assisted  with  the  work  on  the  home  farm.  When 
the  great  war  between  the  states  came  on  he  gladly  sacrificed  the  pleasures  of 
home  and  prospects  of  business  and  offered  his  services  to  the  Union,  being 
among  the  early  volunteers,  ha\ing  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Fifth  Iowa  In- 
fantry, in  June,  1861,  and  on  July  15th  following  he  was  sworn  into  the 
service  at  Burlington,  Iowa,  this  being  the  first  regiment  raised  in  this  state 
under  the  call  for  three  hundred  thousand  troops.  He  saw  some  hard  service, 
having  been  in  the  battle  of  luka,  in  which  his  company  lost  very  heavily,  in 
fact,  more  than  half  of  it  was  killed  or  missing.  Mr.  Reynolds  witnessed  the 
bombardment  of  New^  Madrid,  Missouri,  and  he  w-as  in  the  hard-fought  bat- 
tle of  Corinth.  At  Memphis  he  was  accidentally  wounded  and  was  laid  up 
in  the  hospital  for  some  time.  On  September  7,  1863.  he  was  given  an  honor- 
able discharge  and  sent  home  on  account  of  disability,  after  a  faithful  sen-ice 
of  twenty-six  months,  during  which  time  he  participated  in  several  important 
campaigns,  hotly  contested  battles  and  innumerable  skirmishes.  After  re- 
turning home  he  engaged  in  farming,  but  his  health  was  broken  and  his 
injury  troubled  him,  in  fact,  has  ever  since  been  somewhat  of  a  handicap  to 
him. 

On  October  25,  1865,  Mr.  Reynolds  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary 
Linder,  w'ho  was  born  in  Iowa,  and  this  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  six 
children,  namely :  James  lives  at  Sully,  Iowa ;  Elizabeth  died  when  four 
years  of  age:  Ida  B.  married  J.  E.  Townsend  and  they  live  in  Dexter,  Guthrie 
county.  Iowa;  Frederick  died  in  infancy;  Arthur  lives  in  Newton,  being  at 
present  street  commissioner  there ;  Sarah  married  Robert  Linder,  and  they 
live  on  a  farm  in  Sherman  township,  six  miles  west  of  Newton. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Reynolds  died  and  he  was  subsequently  married  to 
Harriet  Walker,  June  5,  1881.  She  was  the  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
(Dixon)  Walker,  the  father  a  native  of  Ohio  and  the  mother  of  Illinois. 
They  came  to  Iowa  in  1853.  Mr.  \\'alker  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war.  a 
member  of  Company  C,  Thirty-third  Towa  Volunteer  Infantry,  having  been 
sent  to  the  front  as  a  volunteer,  and  he  saw  much  hard  service,  was  wounded 
at  Jenkins  Ferry,  captured  and  confined  in  prison  at  Tyler,  Texas,  making  his 
escape  from  his  captors  at  one  time,  but  was  overtaken  and  returned  to  prison, 


560  JASPER    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

having-  been  run  down  by  bloodliounds.  He  was  held  a  prisoner  thirteen 
months.  His  eyes  having  been  affected  by  the  treatment  he  received  while  a 
prisoner,  he  later  went  blind.  His  death  occurred  in  1891.  at  the  age  of 
seventy-one  years.  His  wife  died  in  1889,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years. 
Mrs.  Reynolds,  who  was  born  in  1853,  was  the  oldest  of  eight  children; 
those  now  living  are,  Malissa  Walker  is  living  in  Newton;  William  makes  his 
home  in  Kansas;  Ruth  is  the  wife  of  George  Rodgers  and  they  live  in  New- 
ton, where  Erwin  also  resides.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Reynolds  came  to  Jasper 
county  in  1885. 

To  Mr.  Reynolds'  second  marriage  one  child,  Iva,  was  born,  but  li\'ed 
only  a  short  time.  About  the  time  of  his  second  marriage,  thirty  years  ago, 
Mr.  Reynolds  moved  to  Newton  and  for  a  while  was  engaged  in  the  paint- 
ing business,  then  became  a  pension  agent,  in  which  he  has  since  been  engaged. 
At  first  he  was  associated  with  Judge  Clements  and  Attorney  Salmon,  but 
later  established  an  office  of  his  own.  He  is  a  property  owner  and  has  a  sub- 
stantial home  in  a  good  portion  of  Newton,  only  two  blocks  from  the  public 
square.  Besides  looking  after  pension  claims,  he  is  engaged  very  successfully 
in  the  spectacle  business. 

Mr.  Reynolds  has  been  a  member  of  Garrett  Post  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic  at  New'ton  for  over  twenty-five  years,  of  which  he  has  held  most 
of  the  offices  and  has  been  commander  twice.  He  was  signally  honored  in 
1901  bv  being  appointed  an  aid  on  the  staff  of  the  commander-in-chief  of  the 
Grand  x'Vrniy  of  the  Republic,  the  commission  carrying  wdth  it  the  honorary 
but  nevertheless  enviable  title  of  colonel.  Mrs.  Reynolds  is  a  member  of  the 
Woman's  Relief  Corps,  and  she  belongs  to  the  Baptist  church. 


GEORGE  G.  EARLEY. 

The  name  of  George  G.  Earley  is  too  familiar  to  the  readers  of  this 
book  to  need  any  special  introduction  here,  for  he  has  long  been  one  of  Jasper 
county's  leading  citizens,  having  taken  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  general 
development  of  this  locality  and  led  an  honest  and  upright  life.  He  was 
born  in  Franklin  county,  New  York,  October  11,  1841,  and  he  is  the  son  of 
James  and  Sophia  (Simmons)  Earley.  The  mother  was  a  native  of  Montreal 
and  the  father  of  Ireland.  The  latter  was  in  the  British  army  and  took  part 
in  the  war  of  18 12,  then  returned  to  England  and  w^as  in  the  battle  of  Waterloo 
against  Napoleon  in  1815.    He  later  came  back  to  America,  through  Canada, 


GEORGE  G.  EARLEY 


j' 


MISS  CAKRIE  L.  EARLEY 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  56 1 

where  he  met  liis  wife.  He  located  in  Frankhn  county,  New  York,  where  he 
spent  his  hfe  on  a  farm  until  his  death,  in  1850,  his  widow  surviving  until 
1865,  dying  in  Mt.  Gilead,  Morrow  county,  Ohio,  where  the  family  had 
moved  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Earley.  There  were  eleven  children  in  this 
family  who  grew  to  maturity,  namely:  John  died  in  1871  ;  Thomas  died  in 
Michigan ;  James  died  in  Leon,  Decatur  county,  Iowa ;  Patrick  was  accident- 
ally killed  in  1850;  Dr.  William  Earley  died  in  Topeka,  Kansas;  Peter  lives 
in  Marion  county.  Iowa,  l^eing  a  retired  merchant;  Edward  died  in  Republic 
county,  Kansas,  in  1891  ;  George  G..  of  this  review;  Catherine  died  in  Mor- 
row county,  Ohio;  Maria.  Mrs.  MtClaine,  lives  at  Xew  Sharon,  Iowa;  Har- 
riet M.  lives  in  Jefferson  City,  Missouri. 

George  G.  Earley  was  ten  years  old  when  he  moved  with  his  parents  from 
Franklin  county,  Xew  York,  to  Morrow  county,  Ohio,  in  185 1.  and  two 
years  later  he  came  to  Iowa,  driving  horses,  coming  with  strangers,  and  he 
landed  at  Keokuk.  He  had  received  a  meager  schooling,  and  he  began  his 
business  career  when  but  a  boy.  He  associated  with  his  brother  in  a  store  at 
Keokuk  and  remained  there  until  1856,  when  he  returned  to  Ohio,  where 
he  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  successfully  for  a  period 
of  three  years,  or  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war.  He  was  quick  to 
respond  to  his  country's  call,  the  first  call,  in  fact,  for  troops  to  put  down  the 
rebellion,  and  on  April  19,  1861.  before  the  echo  of  the  guns  that  fired  on 
Fort  Sumter  had  hardly  died  away,  he  enlisted  in  Company  I.  Third  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  mustered  into  service  on  April  25th.  After  his 
three  months'  term  of  service  had  expired  he  enlisted  for  three  years  on 
June  21,  1861,  in  the  same  company  and  regiment,  and  he  served  with 
gallantry  until  June  21,  1864.  He  was  in  the  battle  of  Rich  Mountain, 
West  V^irginia.  under  McClellan ;  he  was  also  in  the  battle  of  Perryville, 
Kentucky,  under  General  Buell;  he  also  took  part  in  the  great  battle  of 
Stone  River,  under  General  Rosecrans,  and  was  taken  prisoner  there.  Janu- 
ary I.  1863.  H€  was  in  prison  for  about  a  month,  and  soon  the  entire  regi- 
ment was  taken  on  the  General  Streight  raid  at  Rome,  Georgia,  and  were  sent 
to  Libby  prison,  and  there  they  were  later  paroled  and  sent  to  Camp  Chase, 
Ohio,  except  the  officers,  who  were  not  paroled.  They  were  then  exchanged 
and  returned  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  at  Chattanooga.  Tennessee, 
and  the  non-commissioned  officers  commanded  the  company.  Mr.  Earley 
being  in  command  of  Company  I.  which  position  he  held  until  discharged  on 
June  21.  1864.  the  commissioned  officers  having  been  held  as  prisoners  con- 
tinuously.    After  the  war  he  returned  to  Mt.  Gilead.  Morrow  county.  Ohio, 

(36) 


562  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

and  resumed  work  at  his  trade,  which  he  followed  until  February  14,  1865, 
when  Mr.  Earley  re-enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-seventh  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  in  which  he  served  with  his  usual  faithfulness  until 
January  20,  1866.  His  regiment  went  as  far  south  as  Macon,  Georgia,  w'here 
he  received  a  commission  as  second  lieutenant,  and  he  was  the  first  com- 
missioned officer  put  in  command  at  the  Andersonville  post,  and  he  had  the 
distinction  of  building  the  first  fence  around  that  place,  having  entire  charge 
of  the  work  there,  performing  his  duties,  as  he  had  previously  done  at  all 
times  in  a  manner  that  elicited  the  praise  of  his  superior  officers.  After  his 
discharge  on  January  20,  1866,  Mr.  Earley  returned  again  to  Morrow  county, 
Ohio,  and  in  March.  1866.  he  came  west  to  Mahaska  county,  Iowa,  working 
at  his  trade  there  for  six  months,  when  he  returned  to  Ohio,  following  his 
trade  there  for  two  years.  In  i86g  he  returned  to  Mahaska  county,  Iowa, 
and  after  working  there  a  short  time  at  his  trade  he  came  to  Jasper  county, 
Iowa,  in  March.  1872.  locating  in  Palo  Alto  township,  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, where  he  developed  a  fine  farm  and  established  a  good  home,  and  where 
he  li\"ed  until  1888.  when  he  moved  to  Xewton,  in  which  city  he  has  since 
resided,  having  a  commodious  and  attractive  home ;  however,  he  farmed  for 
several  years  after  moving  here,  making  his  home  in  the  edge  of  the  city. 
He  then  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  a  grocery  store,  owned  by  J.  W.  McLaughlin, 
with  whom  he  remained  four  years.  He  then  launched  into  the  real  estate 
business,  with  W.  M.  Hill,  which  lasted  for  about  eight  years,  the  partnership 
being  dissolved  about  eight  years  ago,  after  building  up  an  extensive  business. 
Mr.  Earley  was  married,  first,  to  Martha  Burke,  of  Knox  county,  Ohio, 
their  marriage  occurring  in  Morrow  county  in  1864,  and  two  children  were 
born  to  this  union:  Wilbur  L..  who  died  in  1891  at  Helena,  Montana,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-five,  his  birth  having  occurred  on  July  6.  1865;  Martha  died 
in  infancy.  The  mother  of  these  children  passed  away  on  March  10,  1870, 
and  in  September  of  that  year  Mr.  Earley  was  married  to  Laura  P.  Ashing, 
who  was  born  in  Licking  county,  Ohio,  October  30.  1844.  To  this  union 
these  children  were  born:  Ernest  L..  born  August  24,  1871,  is  associated 
with  his  father  in  the  real  estate  business ;  Martha  H.  w-as  born  in  March, 
1873;  Letta  M.  was  born  on  June  20,  1875.  She  is  dean  of  the  music  depart- 
ment of  Adrian  College  at  Adrian,  Michigan;  Mamie  ]^.,  who  died  August  11, 
1908,  was  born  in  1877;  Carrie  L.,  who  was  born  February  2.  1880.  died 
August  24.  1907.  A  sketch  of  her  ap])ears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Maud  E. 
Earley,  born  December  22,  1883.  died  in  January,  1903;  George  A.,  born  in 
Palo  Alto  tounshi]).  this  county,  February.  1884,  is  a  drug  clerk  in  Newton. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  563 

Mr.  Earley  has  long  taken  an  abiding  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  city  and 
county,  and  he  was  mayor  of  Newton  from  1897  to  1899,  during  which 
time  he  did  much  for  the  permanent  good  of  the  town  and  community.  Since 
then  he  was  elected  councilman  from  the  second  ward,  but  resigned  after  four 
months'  service.  He  has  served  eight  years  on-  the  board  of  directors  of  the 
independent  school  district  of  Newton  and  he  has  over  a  year  yet  to  serve. 
He  was  twice  the  nominee  of  the  Greenbacks  and  the  Democratic  partv 
(combined)  for  the  Legislature,  but  was  defeated  1)y  a  small  plurality.  He 
was  also  nominated  for  county  clerk  on  the  Greenback  ticket.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  is  a  man  whom  to  know  is  to 
admire  and  respect,  for  his  life  has  been  exemplary  and  his  services  to  his 
country  commendable  in  a  high  degree. 


CARRIE  L.  EARLEY. 


No  history  of  Jasper  county,  published  in  the  beginning  of  the  twen- 
tieth century  would  be  complete  if  special  mention  were  not  made  of  the  well 
remembered  lady  of  talent  whose  name  forms  the  caption  of  this  biographical 
memoir,  whose  beautiful  and  idyllic  life  has  been  transplanted  to  higher 
planes,  but  whose  influence  will  long  continue  to  pervade  and  uplift  the  lives 
of  her  many,  many  warm  friends  left  to  continue  the  ''farce  men  call  life." 

Carrie  L.  Earley  was  born  near  Newton,  Iowa.  February  2,  1880.  and 
was  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  G.  Earley,  a  well  known  and 
highly  respected  early  Jasper  county  family.  Her  girlhood  years  were  spent 
on  the  farm  near  Newton  and  her  education  was  begun  in  the  country 
schools.  Later  she  graduated  from  the  Newton  high  school  and.  having 
applied  herself  very  assiduously  to  her  text-books,  received  a  good  education, 
and  afterward  became  one  of  the  faithful  and  popular  teachers  in  the  schools 
of  her  home  city,  continuing  her  work  until  frail  health  compelled  her  to 
desist.  In  1904  she  was  nominated  on  the  Democratic  ticket  for  county 
superintendent  of  schools  and  reduced  the  Republican  majority  of  six  hun- 
dred to  one  hundred  and  seventy-fi\e. 

The  local  newspapers  reflected  from  time  to  time  her  literary  tendencies 
and  her  writings  were  always  read  with  interest  and  pleasure,  for  hers  was  a 
very  versatile  and  trenchant  pen.  such  as  only  the  truly  gifted  can  wield.  Her 
mind  was  exceedingly  keen,  her  information  was  general  and  her  grasp  of 
matters  pertaining  to  the  interests  of  the  people  was  broad  and  comprehen- 


564  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

sive.  She  had  a  facuhy  of  close  analysis  and  was  quick  at  repartee  and  un- 
usually strong  and  apt  in  debate.  Her  mind  and  heart  were  absolutely  pure 
and  very  sympathetic.  She  always  aligned  herself  on  the  side  of  right  and 
was  completely  against  oppression  of  any  sort,  no  matter  against  whom  nor 
by  whom  directed. 

From  girlhood  she  had  a  passion  for  writing  verses.  She  wrote  simply 
because  her  mind  was  overflowing  with  thoughts  too  big  to  be  retained,  yet 
she  was  conservative  and  was  seldom  heard  to  speak  of  her  writings,  even 
to  intimate  friends.  It  was  not  until  ''afterward"'  that  the  volumes  and 
quality  of  what  she  had  written  were  fully  comprehended  and  that  her  friends 
and  acquaintances  realized  that  they  had  had  in  their  midst  a  soul  gifted  with 
poetic  fire. 

On  August  24,  1907,  Miss  Earley  passed  into  larger  life.  The  splendid 
beauty  of  her  character  and  the  strong  undercurrent  of  love  which  dominated 
her  every  impulse  were  more  clearly  understood  when  what  she  had  written 
was  revealed. 

A  book  of  her  poems,  containing  eighty  pages,  has  been  published  and 
even  the  closest  friends  of  the  author  were  surprised  at  the  diversity  of 
the  subject-matter,  showing  a  breadth  of  thought  and  comprehensiveness  un- 
surmised.  Some  of  her  verses  have  been  set  to  music  and  have  thus  touched 
the  hearts  of  many. 

Although  her  span  of  years  was  short,  she  wielded  an  influence  that 
shall  be  ever  widening  and  deepening  and  her  work  will  not  be  finished  until 
the  "great  book"  is  closed.  Her  beautiful  Christian  character  was  the  finished 
product  of  the  Master  Builder,  whose  skill  she  reflected  in  her  work — in 
school,  in  church  and  in  literary  pursuits. 

As  a  further  perpetuation  of  her  sweet  memory  it  may  be  said  that  one  of 
her  gems  of  verses  has  been  adapted  to  a  pleasing  air  and  has  now  been  pub- 
lished and  adopted  in  many  of  the  public  schools  of  the  state.  The  words  of 
this  popular  song  are  as  follows  : 

IOWA,    FAIREST    OF   EARTH. 

You  may  sing  of  the  glorious  mountains 

And  their  snow-capped  peaks  so  high ; 
I  can  sing  of  a  sight  that  is  fairer, 

That  delights  while  it  rests  the  eye ; 
'Tis  the  "beauti f ul  rolling  prairie 

Where  the  green  hills  meet  the  l)lue  sky. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  c^c 

Chorus : — 
There's  a  land  that  is  fairer  and  dearer 

Than  any  strange  country  on  earth, 
Where  the  breezes  sweep  over  the  prairie. 

In  the  l)eautiful  land  of  my  birth. 
And  the  sunlight  kisses  the  green  fields 

Of  old  Iowa — fairest  of  earth. 

You  may  sing  of  the  grand  old  ocean 

When  the  white  sails  its  breast  adorn ; 
I  am  sure  there  is  a  sight  that  is  grander 

In  the  dear  land  where  I  was  born — 
\\'hen  the  warm  wind  ruffles  the  green  waves 

In  a  field  of  old  Iowa's  corn. 

You  may  sing  of  magnificent  mansions, 

Of  the  castles  on  the  Rhine: 
The}-  can  never  bring  rest  to  the  homesick ; 

For  their  splendor  I  do  not  pine, 
But  I  long  for  the  little  old  farm  house 

On  that  dear  childhood  home  of  mine. 


C.  D.  DEXXIS. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Clay  Dean  Dennis,  is  a  native  of  Iowa,  having 
been  born  August  23,  i860,  in  Wapello  county.  His  father,  Benjamin  H., 
and  his  mother.  ]^Iatilda  (Jackson)  Dennis,  were  both  natives  of  Brown 
county.  Ohio.  The  father,  Benjamin  Dennis,  was  born  Mav  2y,  1830.  and 
his  childhood  and  youth  were  spent  in  his  native  county.  On  attaining  his 
majority,  he  left  his  home  in  Ohio  and  came  west,  locating  in  Lee  county. 
Iowa,  about  the  year  1852.  Remaining  here  only  about  one  vear,  he  went 
on  to  \\'apello  county,  where  he  purchased  land,  and  the  next  year,  on  August 
23,  1854,  he  married  Matilda  Jackson,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Isabella 
(Baum)  Jackson,  whose  birth  occurred  on  X'ovember  5,  1833.  To  this 
couple  were  born  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom  first  saw  the 
light  of  day  in  Wapello  county,  Iowa,  and  whose  names  are  as  follows : 
Wesley,  born  in  June.  1853.  died  at  Dexter.  Iowa.  Xovember  3.  1909;  Min- 


r66  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

erva.  bom  October  17,  1856,  married  James  Carey,  and  Hves  near  Kilduff; 
W'illmer,  born  December  17,  1857,  lives  in  Newton;  one  child  who  died  in 
infancy;  and  Clay  Dean,  the  subject  of  this  review.  In  the  year  1864  Mr. 
Dennis  traded  forty  acres  of  land  in  Wapello  county  for  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  in  Jasper  county,  near  Kildufif,  where  he  removed  his  family  in 
March,  1865.  Here  ]Mrs.  Dennis  died  on  January  7,  1872.  On  April  23, 
1874,  Mr.  Dennis  again  married,  choosing  as  his  wife  Mary  J.  Davis,  daugh- 
ter of  C.  M.  Davis.  In  1878  he  built  a  splendid  home  in  Xewton,  and  retired 
from  active  labor;  and  here  he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  January 
31,  1900.  Mr.  Dennis  was  an  active  worker  in  the  Disciples  church  and  was 
always  allied  with  every  good  work.  For  ten  years  he  was  a  member  of  the 
official  board  of  the  church,  with  which  he  united  in  1856. 

Clay  Dean  Dennis  began  working  for  himself  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years. 
In  1 881  he  came  into  possession  of  eighty  acres  of  land  from  his  father,  which 
he  still  holds,  and  he  has  since  then  acquired  other  lands  through  his  energy, 
industry  and  successful  operations  until  he  is  now  the  owner  of  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  the  best  land  in  Jasper  county. 

On  March  4,  1883,  Mr.  Dennis  was  united  in  marriage  to  Margaret  A. 
Richardson,  daughter  of  James  and  Ann  (Stabler)  Richardson,  both  natives 
of  England,  the  mother  born  at  Molerat  Row,  Long  Benton  parish,  England, 
]\larch  21,  1827.  Mrs.  Dennis  was  the  only  child  of  this  marriage,  but  by  a 
former  marriage  of  the  mother  to  a  man  by  the  name  of  Hall  there  were  three 
children,  namely :  Lizzie,  wdio  died  in  infancy,  and  Henry  and  Thomas  Hall, 
both  living  in  Grundy  county,  Missouri.  The  mother,  who  was  born  on 
March  27,  1827,  is  living  with  her  son,  H.  S.  Hall,  in  Missouri.  Mrs. 
Dennis  w^as  born  May  13,  1865,  in  New  Castle,  England,  and  when  she  was 
one  year  old,  the  family  came  to  the  United  States,  and  settled  in  Schuylkill 
county,  Pennsylvania.  Six  }"ears  later  they  removed  to  Luzerne  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  five  years  later  they  came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  where 
they  purchased  the  old  Cradlebaugh  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
near  Kilduff,  and  here  the  husband  and  father,  James  Richardson,  departed 
this  life  on  June  18,  1894. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dennis  lived  on  their  farm  until  in 
October,  1908,  when  they  removed  to  Newton,  where  they  now  reside.  On 
account  of  the  failing  health  of  Mrs.  Dennis,  she  was  no  longer  able  to  con- 
tinue the  arduous  duties  pertaining  to  life  upon  the  farm. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dennis  have  been  born  four  children,  as  follows : 
James  Arthur,  born  February  6,  1884,  married  Ilelen  Vinall  and  lives  near 
Kilduff;  Benjamin  H.,  born  June  28,  1885,  married  Bertie  De  Bruyn,  lives 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  567 

near  Kilduff;  Leah  A.,  born  January  6,  1893,  ^ow  attending  high  school  in 
Newton;  Thomas  Chfford,  born  September  9,  1899,  attending  school  in 
Newton. 

Both  Mr.  and  IMrs.  Dennis  are  consistent  and  faithful  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  having  been  so  affiliated  for  the  last  twenty-five 
years. 

Although  Mr.  Dennis's  home  is  now  in  Xewton,  he  still  takes  an  active 
part  in  overseeing  his  farm,  and  in  raising,  buying  and  selling  stock  for  the 
market.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  At  one  time  Mr.  Dennis  was 
severely  kicked  by  a  sick  horse,  which  he  was  doctoring,  and  the  report  was 
widely  circulated  that  he  was  killed.  Some  enterprising  firm  got  up  a  mem- 
orial card  and  sent  it  to  him.  He  considers  it  quite  a  unique  experience. 
Mr.  Dennis  was  treasurer  of  the  school  board  in  his  township  for  a  numl)er 
of  years.  He  owns  a  fine  automobile  and  goes  back  and  forth  to  his  farm  in 
his  car. 


JOHN  COAKLEY. 


The  biographies  of  successful  men  are  instructive  as  guides  and  incentives 
to  those  whose  careers  are  yet  to  be  achieved.  The  examples  they  furnish  of 
patient  purpose  and  consecutive  endeavor  strongly  illustrate  what  is  in  the 
power  of  each  to  accomplish,  if  he  is  willing  to  press  forward  in  tlie  face  of 
all  opposition,  refusing  to  be  downed  by  untoward  circumstances,  thus  making 
stepping  stones  of  what  some  w'ould  find  to  be  insurmountable  stumbling 
blocks.  The  gentleman  whose  life  history  herewith  is,  we  hope,  accurately 
and  succinctly  set  forth,  is  a  conspicuous  example  of  one  who  has  lived  to 
good  purpose  and  achieved  a  definite  degree  of  success  in  the  special  sphere  to 
which  his  talents  and  energies  have  been  devoted.  As  the  name  indicates,  John 
Coakley  is  of  Irish  origin,  although  born  and  reared  on  American  soil  and  a 
loyal  and  representative  citizen  of  the  state  in  which  he  lives.  Mr.  Coakley 
was  born  in  Cook  county,  Illinois,  in  1845,  the  son  of  Cornelius  and  Alary 
(Wolf)  Coakley,  the  father  born  in  county  Cork,  Ireland,  and  the  mother  in 
Denmark.  The  father  was  reared  and  educated  in  Ireland,  .and  when  twenty- 
two  years  of  age  he  emigrated  to  America,  unaccompanied.  He  at  once  came 
to  Indiana,  when  that  state  was  comparatively  undeveloped,  and  there  he 
secured  employment  on  a  canal  as  boss.  Mary  Wolf  came  with  her  parents 
from  far  Germany  and  settled  near  Ft.  Wayne  in  the  Hoosier  state,  where 
the  father  worked  at  his  trade  of  saddler,  and  the  parents  of  the  subject 


:^68  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

were  married  in  Logansport.  Indiana.  Subsequently  the  elder  Coakley  turned 
his  attention  to  farming,  owning-  eighty  acres  near  Ft.  Wayne,  that  state, 
then  moved  to  Terre  Haute,  and  in  1851  he  came  to  Iowa,  driving  overland 
to  Mahaska  county,  the  trip  requiring  six  weeks,  their  little  caravan  con- 
sisting of  two  wagons,  two  carts,  a  buggy  and  seven  horses.  On  the  trip, 
John,  of  this  rexiew.  then  six  years  old,  had  an  attack  of  the  wliooping-cough. 
Upon  their  arrival  in  the  wild  Hawkeye  state,  the  father  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres,  and  entered  some  other,  and.  being  a  hard  worker  and  a 
man  of  natural  business  endowments,  he  prospered  in  the  new  country,  be- 
coming influential  and  among  the  largest  land  owners,  his  estate  comprising 
thirteen  hundred  acres  at  the  time  of  his  death,  forty  acres  of  which  was  in 
Elk  Creek  township,  Jasper  county.  His  death  occurred  near  Pella,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eight\-one  years,  his  wife  reaching  the  age  of  seventy-six 
when  her  summons  came.  Their  family  consisted  of  six  children,  namely : 
Anna,  who  is  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  James  Sheehy  and  lived  on  a  farm 
in  ]Mahaska  county ;  John,  of  this  review ;  J.  J.  lives  in  Altoona.  Iowa ;  Thomas 
is  deceased;  Catherine,  wife  of  George  Sheehy,  of  Los  Angeles,  California, 
where  Mr.  Sheehy  is  engaged  in  business;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Van 
Fleet,  an  automobile  dealer  in  Pella,  Iowa. 

John  Coakley  received  what  educational  training  he  could  in  Marion 
county,  under  the  most  primitive  and  adverse  conditions,  for  it  Avill  be  remem- 
bered that  he  grew  up  in  pioneer  times,  when  there  were  few  schools  in  this 
country  and  what  there  were  lacked  proper  management  and  equipment.  When 
twenty-four  years  of  age  he  began  farming  for  himself  on  a  portion  of  his 
father's  farmstead,  the  latter  giving  him  two  hundred  acres  when  he  reached 
the  age  of  twenty -seven.  This  land  was  in  Mahaska  county  and  he  still  owns 
it.  having  added  to  his  holdings  there  until  he  is  now-  the  owner  of  four  hun- 
dred and  sixty-five  acres  in  that  county,  and  he  also  owns  one  hundred  and 
twenty-one  acres  in  Palo  Alto  township,  Jasper  county.  He  became  one  of  the 
leading  general  agriculturists  and  stock  men  of  his  community  and  laid  by  an 
ample  competency,  so  that  in  1901  he  left  the  farm,  moved  to  Xewton,  where 
he  has  a  modern  and  attractive  home,  and  here  he  has  lived  practically  retired, 
although  he  spends  considerable  time  on  his  farms. 

On  June  24,  1869,  Mr.  Coakley  was  united  in  marriage  with  Catherine 
^larrinan.  of  Ottumwa;  she  was  the  daughter  of  Patrick  Marrinan.  Her 
death  occurred  five  years  later,  leaving  the  following  children :  Mary  Jane, 
wife  of  R.  A.  Autry,  died  ten  years  ago.  leaving  one  child,  Harry;  Catherine 
T.  married  Louis  Schaub,  of  Ottumwa,  and  thev  have  one  child.  A  Fart  T. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  569 

Two  years  after  the  death  of  his  tirst  wife  Mr.  Coakley  remarried,  his 
second  wife  being  Anna  Ford,  whose  death  occurred  eleven  months  later  with- 
out issue.  In  1881  he  was  again  married,  his  third  and  present  wife  being 
Johanna  C.  Mulcahy,  who  was  born  in  Marion  county,  Iowa,  in  1855,  and  she 
is  the  daughter  of  P.  L.  and  Margaret  (Fitzpatrick)  :\Iulcahy.  The  father 
was  born  in  county  Limerick.  Ireland,  and  there  was  reared  and  attended 
school,  when  twenty-five  years  of  age  locating  at  Saratoga,  New  York.  :Mrs. 
Coakley"s  mother  was  l)orn  in  Spring  \'alley.  Xew  York,  her  parents  l^eing 
natives  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  America  and  lived  a  number  of  years,  but 
finally  returned  to  Ireland,  spending  the  remainder  of  their  days  in  their 
native  land.  \Vhen  a  child  of  fourteen.  Mrs.  Coakley "s  mother  paid  a  visit 
to  the  Emerald  Isle.  These  ])arents  came  to  Iowa  in  the  spring  of  1855  and 
entered  and  purchased  land  and  followed  farming  for  some  time,  owning  two 
hundred  acres  in  Fairview  township,  where  the  mother  still  resides,  beine 
now  seventy-five  years  of  age.  the  father  having  died  six  years  ago.  at  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety-six  years.  He  was  a  remarkable  man  in  man\-  re- 
spects. They  reared  ten  children,  nine  of  their  own.  named  as  follows: 
Johanna  C,  wife  of  Mr.  Coakley;  Alartin,  who  owns  a  rice  plantation  in 
Arkansas;  Alary  is  the  wife  of  Fernando  Roush  and  lives  in  Lamar,  Colorado; 
Margaret  is  the  wife  of  Dan  O'Roak.  of  Xewton;  Clementine  lives  with  her 
mother;  Catherine  is  the  wife  of  Bernard  Kane  and  lives  near  Percv,  Iowa; 
Jennie.  Thomas.  James  and  Richard  are  all  at  home.  Mary  Riley,  the  adopted 
child,  is  now  the  wife  of  J.  J.  Coakley,  brother  of  the  subject.  She  was  the 
child  of  Airs.  Coakley's  aunt  (father's  sister),  her  father  having  lost  his  life 
in  the  army,  as  a  result  of  which  her  mother  died  of  grief. 

To  Mr.  and  Airs.  Coakley  three  children  have  been  born,  all  of  whom  are 
at  home,  constituting  an  intelligent,  happy  and  interesting  group:  Alargaret 
Anna ;  Alyrtle  Agnes,  who  is  teaching"  in  the  country  schools,  and  the  son, 
John  P.  They  are  all  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church,  and  Air. 
Coakley  has  been  a  life-long  Democrat. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  AFr.  Coakley  helped  haul  much  of  the  stone 
and  lime  that  was  used  in  the  construction  of  the  old  court  house,  which  was 
torn  down  to  give  place  to  the  new  structure  recently  erected.  There  is  now 
in  the  family  a  much  beloved  and  handsome  horse,  ''Bob,"  a  descendant  of  one 
of  the  horses  which  helped  bring  the  family  to  Iowa.  The  Coakley's  are  most 
pleasant  and  hospitalile  people  and  they  number  their  friends  only  by  the 
limits  of  their  acquaintance. 


-JO  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

CAPT.  JACOB  F.  WEAVER. 

The  record  herein  presented  is  that  of  a  man  who  was  a  few  years  ago 
among  the  best  known  and  most  influential  of  the  citizens  of  Colfax,  whose 
life  is  in  all  respects  honorable  and  a  worthy  example.  Responding  to  his 
country's  need  in  his  youth,  he  served  faithfully  in  her  armies,  and  for  his 
bravery  and  efficiency  he  won  promotion  from  the  ranks  to  the  command  of 
a  company:  at  the  close  of  the  war  engaging  in  business,  he  proved  his  capa- 
bility, and  easily  won  success ;  he  was  always  ready  to  aid  in  the  development 
of  his  community :  and  though  his  death  seemed  untimely,  yet  he  had  com- 
pleted a  full  life,  and  in  deeds  and  works  had  lived  more  than  many  who  have 
lived  longer. 

Tacob  F.  Weaver  was  born  in  Indiana,  the  son  of  George  H.  and  Eliza- 
beth (West)  Weaver,  on  December  5,  1837.  His  mother  was  a  sister  of 
William  West,  a  merchant  of  Colfax.  Both  his  parents  died  when  he  was 
an  infant,  and  he  was  reared  to  maturity  by  his  grandmother  \\'est.  At  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  at  Mechanicsville,  Iowa,  in  the  Fifth 
Iowa  Infantrv.  in  A\hich  he  served  until  the  regiment  ^\•as  almost  annihilated, 
and  he  was  severely  wounded.  On  his  return  after  the  healing  of  his  wound 
he  was  transferred  to  Fifth  Iowa  Cavalry,  was  promoted,  and  was  mustered 
out  as  first  lieutenant,  acting  as  captain.  He  took  part  in  twenty-six  battles 
and  skirmishes,  and  went  with  Sherman  to  the  sea.  After  the  war  he  was 
a  leading  member  of  the  Grand  Army  at  Colfax. 

In  1865  Captain  Weaver  came  to  Xewton,  Iowa,  and  engaged  in  the 
drug  business  for  three  years.  In  1868  he  came  to  Colfax,  and  bought  out 
the  interest  of  Mr.  Kennedy  in  the  firm  of  West  &  Kennedy,  in  the  mercantile 
business,  the  new  firm  being  West  &  Weaver.  Until  September,  1883.  Cap- 
tain Weaver  remained  a  member  of  the  firm,  which  had  remarkable  success, 
and  was  during  that  time  the  leading  business  firm  in  the  city.  Captain 
Weaver  accumulated  a  fair  amount  of  property  in  Colfax.  He  was  especially 
active  in  the  Republican  party,  and  did  considerable  work  for  his  party  all 
over  the  county  of  Jasper,  which  was  effective,  and  ranked  him  as  one  of  the 
most  sucessful  workers  of  the  party.  He  never  sought  any  local  ofiice.  but 
was  postmaster  of  Colfax  for  seven  years,  dying  before  his  second  term 
expired.  Mrs.  Weaver  was  appointed  postmaster  from  1894  to  1898.  Cap- 
tain Weaver  died  on  January  6,  1893.  at  the  age  of  fifty-five.  His  loss  was 
deeply  felt  by  the  community. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  57I 

Captain  Weaver  was  first  married  to  Kate  M.  Dee,  of  Colfax.  After 
her  death  he  was  married  to  Adella  V.  West,  of  Colfax,  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
T.  West,  a  pioneer  of  Jasper  county,  and  a  grain  merchant  of  Colfax.  Joseph 
T.  W^est  was  born  in  Hicks  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  married  in  Mount 
Vernon,  Iowa,  to  Susannah  Hahn,  the  daughter  of  Daniel  S.  and  Permelia 
(Epperson)  Hahn.  Mr.  Hahn  was  an  early  settler  of  Lynn  county,  Iowa, 
and  came  in  the  forties  from  Virginia.  His  wife  was  a  native  of  Kentucky. 
Joseph  T.  West  died  in  Colfax,  in  1900,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one.  .Mrs. 
Weaver  survives  her  husband. 

Captain  and  Mrs.  Weaver  became  the  parents  of  three  children:  Roscoe 
B.  Weaver  graduated  from  Simpson  College  in  1905,  and  served  as  a  first 
lieutenant  in  the  Philippine  constabulary  for  about  four  years  from  1905  to 
1909.  For  three  years  of  this  time  Mrs.  Weaver  resided  in  the  Philippines 
with  her  son.  He  is  now  a  student  at  Yale  University,  Xew  Haven,  Con- 
necticut, taking  post-graduate  work.  Gail  S.  Weaver  is  deceased.  DiEtta 
J.  Weaver  is  in  school  in  Colfax. 

Captain  Weaver  was  among  the  foremost  men  of  Colfax  in  all  respects, 
and  had  strong  faculties  of  leadership.  He  was  a  progressive  business  man. 
active  in  public  interests,  and  a  kind  and  loving  husband  and  father. 


WILLIAM  ^[.  LOTTS. 

The  agricultural  interests  of  Jasper  county  were  well  represented  for  a 
number  of  years  by  \\^illiam  M.  Lotts,  one  of  the  practical  and  enterprising 
farmers  of  the  southwestern  part  of  the  county,  who.  after  accumulating  a 
competency,  is  now  living  retired  in  his  pleasant  home  at  Prairie  City.  He 
has  been  both  practical  and  progressive  in  his  methods  and  to  his  energy  and 
perseverance  is  attributed  the  gratifying  success  which  has  attended  his 
efforts.  Fidelity  is  one  of  his  chief  characteristics,  such  fidelity  as  is  manifest 
in  his  faithful  discharge  of  all  the  duties  of  life,  and  it  has  won  him  warm 
regard  wherever  known. 

A\'illiam  ]M.  Lotts  was  born  in  Gallia  county.  Ohio,  April  15.  1825.  and 
he  is  the  son  of  Isaac  and  Xancy  (Knox)  Lotts,  natives  of  Greenbrier  county, 
Virginia,  and  thev  engaged  in  farming  all  their  lives.  The  paternal  grand- 
father of  the  subject.  Jacob  Lotts.  emigrated  to  the  United  States  from  Ger- 
many when  but  sixteen  years  of  age  and  settled  in  X'irginia.  He  was  a  cabi- 
netmaker by  trade.     He  enlisted  for  ser\ice  in  the  Revolutionary  war  in  1876, 


r-jo  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

in  wliich  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  conflict.  He  married  a  sister  of  the 
famous  General  Wolfe.  He  moved  to  Gallia  county,  Ohio,  in  1806  and  there 
his  death  occurred  in  1839.  His  wife  died  in  1837.  The  father  of  the  subject 
changed  the  spelling  of  the  family  name  from  the  German  "Lotz"  to  "Lotts," 
the  present  spelling.  He  and  a  sister  left  \'irginia  and  came  to  Ohio  in  1814 
when  that  country  was  still  the  land  of  the  red  men  and  wild  beast,  sparsely 
settled.  He  entered  a  quarter  section  of  land  from  the  government,  and  estab- 
lished a  home  there,  working  hard  and  undergoing  the  usual  hardships  of  a 
newcomer.  Leaving  there  in  1837.  he  came  to  Knox  county.  Illinois,  where  he 
bought  two  hundred  and  forty-two  acres  and  on  this  he  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  days,  dying  on  October  4.  1875,  his  wife  preceding  him  to  the  grave 
only  a  few  davs,  her  death  occurring  September  26th  of  that  year.  Three 
of  William  Lotts'  uncles  were  soldiers  in  the  war  of  1812,  namely:  Abraham, 
whose  son  is  at  present  a  prominent  figure  in  Washington.  D.  C. ;  William 
Humphreys  and  Isaac  Hawk.  Abraham  Lotz  also  fought  in  the  Indian  war 
of  181 1,  against  Tecumseh's  band  under  the  Prophet  at  Tippecanoe,  Indiana. 
Like  other  members  of  his  family  he  was  a  brave  and  forbearing  man,  always 
ready  to  face  any  danger. 

\\'illiam  M.  Lotts  is  one  of  a  family  of  seven  children,  five  of  whom 
reached  maturity:  Sarah,  who  married  David  Ward,  died  in  Illinois;  Minerva, 
who  married  Woodford  Pearce.  also  died  in  Illinois ;  Salenda,  who  was  the 
wife  of  James  Rebstock,  also  died  there.  Her  husband  was  a  lieutenant  in 
the  Union  armv  during  the  Civil  war.  Milton  lives  at  Knoxville,  Illinois,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight  years;  W'illiam  M.,  of  this  sketch,  was  fifth 
in  order  of  birth;  Abraham  was  killed  while  building  a  raft  on  the  Missouri 
river,  near  Fort  Benton,  Montana,  in  1865. 

William  M.  Lotts  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  of  Knox 
county,  Ilhnois.  In  185 1  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Hester  A.  Webb, 
of  Ross  county,  Ohio.  She  was  born  November  18,  1829,  and  her  death 
occurred  on  August  25,  1899,  in  Prairie  City,  Jasper  county,  Iowa.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  John  and  Charlotte  (Godfrey)  Webb,  who  came  to  Illinois  in 
an  earlv  day  and  were  well  known  and  prominent  in  their  locality.  Mr.  \\'ebb 
was  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  death  occurred  in  W.arren  county,  Illinois,  in 
1852.  His  wife  died  in  Indiana  when  their  daughter,  Hester  A.,  wife  of  Mr. 
Lotts,  was  but  a  small  child. 

Of  Mrs.  Lotts'  brothers  and  sisters,  Oliver  died  in  Colfax,  Iowa;  Henry, 
who  was  a  successful  gold  digger,  a  member  of  the  famous  band  of  ''forty- 
niners,"  died  in  Illinois;  Hester  A.  was  next  in  order  of  birth;  \\'illiam  died  at 
Derby.  Iowa,  and  Francis  at  Gilson,  Illinois. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  573 

After  his  marriage  William  M.  Letts  began  farming,  renting  land  the 
first  year,  then  bought  a  quarter  section  which  he  later  sold,  then  came  to 
Jefferson  county,  Iowa,  where  he  purchased  two  hundred  and  twentv  acres. 
After  farming  this  two  years  he  again  sold  out  and  returned  to  Warren 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  bought  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  acres  of  land 
which  he  farmed  for  eleven  years,  then  sold  out  and  purchased  a  small  place 
near  Abingdon,  Knox  county.  Illinois,  in  order  to  get  proper  schooling  for  his 
children.  After  living  there  three  years  he  sold  out  and  came  to  Iowa,  landing 
in  Prairie  City,  Jasper  county,  March  22,  1872,  and  purchased  a  fine  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  four  miles  from  town  in  Des  Moines  township, 
which  he  still  owns  and  which  he  has  kept  well  improved  and  well  tilled,  in  fact 
made  it  one  of  the  model  farms  of  the  county.  For  this  place  he  paid  thirty- 
three  dollars  per  acre;  it  is  not  worth  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per 
acre,  in  fact,  he  has  refused  that  figure.  Having  accumulated  a  competency 
through  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  he  retired  from  active  life  in  1892 
and  moved  to  Prairie  City. 

Three  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lotts,  namely:  Malissa  Jane, 
who  married  Jay  Prouty,  lives  on  a  farm  near  Prairie  City;  Olive,  who  mar- 
ried Edward  Hays,  lives  six  miles  from  this  village,  and  they  have  one  son, 
\\'illiam  Russell  Hays ;  Emma  married  J.  R.  Chandler  and  lives  at  home  with 
her  father;  her  only  child.  Hazel,  lives  with  her. 

Politically,  Mr.  Lotts  is  a  Republican  and  while  he  takes  the  interest  of  a 
right-minded  citizen  in  public  affairs,  he  has  never  sought  political  preference. 
He  has  been  a  worthy  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  for  forty 
years,  having  been  class  leader  for  many  years.  His  wife  was  a  consistent 
member  of  the  L'nited  Brethren  church,  and  known  to  a  wide  circle  of  friends 
as  a  noble-minded,  kind-hearted  woman. 


JOHN  W.  REYNOLDS. 

« 

It  is  oftentimes  considered  by  those  in  the  habit  of  superficial  thinking 
that  the  history  of  so-called  great  men  only  is  worthy  of  preservation  and 
that  little  merit  exists  among  the  masses  to  call  forth  the  praises  of  the  his- 
torian or  the  cheers  and  appreciation  of  mankind.  A  greater  mistake  was 
never  made.  Xo  man  is  great  in  all  things  and  very  few  are  great  in  many 
things  Alanv  bv  a  luckv  stroke  achieve  lasting  fame,  who  before  that  liad  no 
reputation  beyond  the  limits  of  their  neighborhoods.     It  is  not  a  history  of  the 


574  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

lucky  stroke  that  benefits  humanity  most,  but  the  long  study  and  effort  which 
made  the  lucky  stroke  possible.  It  is  the  preliminary  work,  the  method,  that 
serves  as  a  guide  for  the  success  of  others.  Among  those  of  the  past  genera- 
tion in  Jasper  county  who  achieved  success  along  steady  lines  of  action  was 
John  \\'.  Reynolds,  a  man  whose  character  was  abo\e  reproach  and  who  richly 
merited  the  confidence  and  esteem  which  all  freely  accorded  him,  for  he  took 
a  deep  interest  in  the  development  of  the  locality,  and  always  stood  ready  to 
do  his  full  share  in  the  work  of  progress. 

Mr.  Revnolds  was  born  on  July  2t^,  1837,  in  Vermilion  county,  Illinois, 
the  son  of  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  A\^illiam  Reynolds,  the  mother  dying  when  he  was  a 
babv  and  when  he  was  about  fifteen  years  old  his  father  came  to  Linn  county, 
Iowa,  and  there  jnuxhased  a  farm  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his 
death,  becoming  well  estaljlished  there,  and  he  was  one  of  the  well  known 
settlers  of  that  county. 

When  he  was  about  twenty-five  years  of  age,  John  W.  Reynolds  returned 
to  \>rmilion  county,  Illinois,  and  located  near  his  old  home,  remaining  there 
about  fifteen  years,  during  which  time  he  met  and  married,  on  June  16,  1861, 
Marv  A.  Morgan,  of  that  county.  She  was  born  June  4,  1843,  ^'^^^  ^^'^^  the 
daughter  of  Air.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  H.  Morgan,  successful  farmers  of  that 
county  and  highly  honored  citizens  there. 

Se\'en  children  were  born  to  this  union,  named  as  follows :  Dora  May 
died  when  four  years  old;  Alton  lives  in  Denver,  Colorado;  Ida  (deceased) 
married  H.  Van  Epps,  of  Jasper  county,  and  they  had  two  children.  Nellie 
Grace  dying  in  infancy,  Percy  being  the  living  child;  Loella  Reynolds  died 
at  the  home  of  her  mother  at  the  age  of  thirty-one  years  in  1901 ;  Victor, 
who  lives  on  the  home  farm,  married  Ada  L.  Simpson  and  they  have  four 
children.  Foster,  Paul.  Floyd  and  Robert;  Nellie  Reynolds  died  in  1901  ; 
Foster,  the  youngest  child,  died  in  1901. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  W.  Reynolds  took  up  their 
residence  in  Illinois  and  remained  there  eleven  years,  and  in  1872  the  family 
came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  locating  in  Buena  Vista  township  on  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  forty  acres,  about  five  and  one-half  miles  southeast  of 
Newton  and  there  they  lived  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Reynolds  on  April  4,  1892, 
and  there  Mrs.  Reynolds  continued  to  reside  until  1900,  when 'she  moved 
to  Newton,  locating  in  a  commodious  and  cozy  home  which  she  had  built. 
Remaining  there  a  few  years,  she  moved  to  the  beautiful  home  she  now  owns 
and  occupies  at  No.  215  North  Mechanic  street,  and  here  many  friends  delight 
to  gather  for  she  is  popular  with  a  wide  acquaintance.  She  has  retained  the 
home  farm.     Mr.  Reynolds  made  (|uite  a  success  as  a  general  farmer  and  stock 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  575 

raiser  and  he  was  a  man  whom  everyhody  trusted.  He  wa>  a  worthv  and 
active  nieml^er  of  the  Methodist  church  at  Pleasant  View,  Jasper  county,  to 
which  his  family  also  belongs.  In  1862  Mr.  Reynolds  showed  his  love  of  the 
national  union  by  enlisting  for  service  in  the  Federal  army,  I^ecoming  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  G,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantrv. 
A  few  months  later  he  was  honorably  discharged  on  account  of  disabilitv  and 
returned  to  his  home  in  \>rmilion  county,  Illinois. 

Politically,  Mr.  Reynolds  was  a  Republican  and  he  took  an  active  part 
in  the  affairs  of  his  party.  He  was  a  well  read  man  and  always  abreast  of 
the  times. 


JESSE  SLAVENS. 


The  subject  of  the  present  sketch  is  a  well  known  resident  of  Colfax,  and 
was  formerly  a  farmer  of  Washington  township,  where  by  hard  work  and 
honest  dealing  he  accumulated  a  large  amount  of  property,  and  is  still  the 
owner  of  one  of  the  largest  and  best  farms  of  the  township.  To  his  neighbors 
he  is  known  as  a  man  of  high  honor  and  integrity,  of  good  business  judgment, 
an  enterprising  and  progressive  farmer  and  a  loyal  friend. 

Jesse  Slavens  was  born  in  Hendricks  county,  Indiana,  thirty  miles  west 
of  Indianapolis,  the  son  of  James  and  Mary  (Davis)  Slavens.  The  Slavens 
family  were  a  family  of  soldiers.  Many  of  the  Indiana  family  served  in  the 
Mexican  war,  Reuben  Sla^'ens,  the  grandfather  of  Jesse  and  his  son  Thomas 
took  an  active  part  in  the  war  of  1812.  and  Reuben  Slaxens'  father  ser\ed  in 
the  Virginia  troops  during  the  Revolution.  Jesse  Slavens  came  to  Iowa  at  the 
solicitation  of  his  uncle,  C.  M.  Davis,  with  whom  he  lived  for  a  while.  At  the 
outbreak  of  the  war  no  youth  descended  from  such  a  line  of  soldiers  could 
have  remained  away  from  battle  at  his  country's  call,  and  Jesse  Slavens  en- 
listed in  Company  I.  Tenth  Iowa  Infantry,  under  Captain  Garrett,  in  1861, 
and  served  for  four  years.  He  was  in  the  Western  army  through  the  Corinth 
campaign  to  Vicksburg.  was  at  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  and  went  with 
Sherman  to  Atlanta  and  on  to  the  sea,  then  took  part  in  the  Grand  Review  at 
Washington.  He  followed  the  line  of  greatest  resistance,  and  took  part  in  all 
the  principal  battles  fought  by  the  Western  army,  .\lways  a  brave  and  faith- 
ful soldier,  he  escaped  with  but  one  wound  during  the  war.  a  slight  one  re- 
ceived at  Champion  Hill. 

At  the  close  of  the  war.  in  the  fall  of  1865,  Jesse  Slavens  came  to  Wash- 
ington township  and  located  on  the  farm  which  he  now  owns,  where  he  has 


576  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

since  spent  the  most  of  his  Hfe  and  which  contains  four  hundred  acres  of 
fertile  and  improved  land.  On  this  farm  he  has  expended  much  labor  and  it 
has  been  well  rewarded.  One  year  ago  he  rented  his  farm  and  retired  to 
Colfax.  Mr.  Slavens  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army,  an  Odd  Fellow,  and 
has  taken  the  blue  lodge  and  chapter  degrees  of  Masonry.  In  politics  he  is  a 
strict  Republican,  and  has  ef'bciently  served  the  people  for  one  term  on  the 
board  of  county  supervisors.  He  is  now  trustee  of  Washington  township, 
serving  on  his  second  term,  having  been  six  years  in  office.  His  official  service 
has  been  greatlv  satisfactory  to  the  people.  Mr.  Slavens  owns  a  large  amount 
of  business  property  in  Colfax.  Mr.  Slavens  has  one  child,  a  daughter,  the 
wife  of  Jesse  Marcjuis,  of  Washington  township. 

\\'idely  and  favorably  known  in  the  county,  Mr.   Slavens  is  especially 
deserving  of  mention  among  the  representative  citizens  of  his  community. 


ROBERT  ALEXANDER  SCOTT. 

One  of  the  influential  citizens  of  Jasper  county  is  Robert  Alexander 
Scott,  who,  after  a  strenuous  life  as  an  agriculturist,  is  now  living  in  honorable 
retirement.  A  man  of  excellent  endowments  and  upright  character,  he  has 
been  a  valued  factor  in  local  affairs  and  has  ever  commanded  unequivocal  con- 
fidence and  esteem,  iD^ing  loyal  to  the  upbuilding  of  his  community  and  ever 
vigilant  in  his  efforts  to  further  its  interests  along  material,  moral  and  civic 
lines. 

Mr.  Scott  was  born  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  March  30,  1845,  the  son 
of  John  G.  and  Isabel  J.  (Smith)  Scott.  The  father  was  born  in  Wales  and 
was  the  son  of  Job  Scott,  who  came  with  his  father  to  America  when  the 
former  was  only  four  months  ()ld,  locating  in  Pennsylvania,  near  Parkers- 
burg,  and  later  moved  to  Belmont,  Ohio,  and  there  the  death  of  Job  Scott 
occurred  in  February,  1884,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-five  years,  he  having 
been  born  on  May  25,  1789.  There  were  eight  children  in  his  family,  an  equal 
number  of  sons  and  daughters,  namely :  John  G.,  father  of  Robert  A.,  of  this 
review,  was  born  June  30,  1816;  Harrison,  now  deceased;  Henry  died  in 
Warren  county,  Iowa,  in  191 1;  Jefferson  went  to  the  frontier  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years  and  was  never  again  heard  of;  Mary  Ann,  who  married  a  Mr. 
Green,  lived  in  the  southern  part  of  Iowa,  and  she  died  in  191 1;  Sarah  Jane 
married  a  Mr.  Baldcrson  and  lives  in  Chicago ;  Elizabeth  Scott  Robinson  lives 
in  Illinois ;  Rebecca  Scott-Burk  is  living  in  Ohio.  The  family  is  of  a  sturdy 
stock  and  all  live  to  an  advanced  age. 


MR.  AND  MRS.  ROBERT  A.  SCOTT 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  577 

John  G.  Scott,  father  of  the  subject,  was  a  cooper  by  trade,  but  after  he 
came  to  Iowa  he  engaged  in  farming,  becoming  well  known  in  the  county 
and  was  influential  among  the  pioneers,  being  a  fine  old  gentleman  personally 
of  whom  it  was  said,  ''He  has  no  enemies.''  Being  a  man  of  exemplar)'  char- 
acter, he  was  highly  respected  by  all  who  knew  him;  he  was  fearless  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duties  when  he  knew  he  was  right  and  he  held  various 
township  offices.  His  death  occurred  on  August  7,  1905,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
nine  years,  his  widow,  who  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  surviving  until  February 
25,  1910,  reaching  the  age  of  eighty-four.  They  were  the  parents  of  three 
children,  Lovina  J.,  who  married  David  Tipton,  lives  at  Baxter,  Iowa,  they 
being  retired;  Sarah  Frances,  who  married  Joseph  Miskimins,  is  now  de- 
ceased; Robert  Alexander,  of  this  review,  was  the  oldest  of  the  three. 

Mr.  Scott  received  a  good  common  school  education  in  his  native 
county  and  he  lived  at  home  until  his  marriage,  on  January  10,  1867,  to 
Eliza  Moore,  the  daughter  of  John  and  Eliza  (Hutchinson)  Moore.  Her 
father  was  born  in  Ireland  and  he  came  to  America  when  a  child  with  his 
parents  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  and  there  the 
daughter,  Eliza,  was  born  on  iMay  25,  1845.  She  was  the  next  youngest 
daughter  in  a  family  of  six  children,  namely :  Nancy  J.,  deceased,  married 
J.  B.  Wherry,  who  formerly  lived  in  Jones  county,  Iowa;  ^lary,  who  married 
William  J.  Wheriy,  lived  on  a  farm  near  Wyoming,  Jones  county,  until  Mr. 
Wherry's  death;  William  James  is  living  retired  in  Jackson  county;  Samuel 
G.  is  in  the  mercantile  business  in  New  York  city;  John  Humphrey,  the  young- 
est, enlisted  in  the  Union  army  for  service  in  the  Civil  war,  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  years,  and  he  was  captured  and  confined  in  Andersonville  prison, 
where  he  died. 

Soon  after  the  marriage  of  the  subject  he  came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa, 
and  located  on  a  farm  south  of  Baxter,  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 
Here  he  devoted  himself  to  farming  successfully  until  about  twelve  years 
ago.  He  then  bought  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres  nine  miles  south  of 
Newton,  a  part  of  the  Jesse  Long  place,  which  he  still  owns.  It  is  a  valuable 
and  well  improved  place.  About  ten  years  ago  he  bought  property  in  Newton 
and  retired  from  active  farming  and  stock  raising,  having  since  lived  quietly 
in  his  beautiful  home  in  this  city.  He  was  very  successful  in  his  life  work, 
having  always  applied  himself  very  carefully  to  whatever  he  had  in  hand. 

:\rr.  and  MFs.  Scott  are  the  parents  of  three  children,  namely:  Alice 
Orena,  born  September  25,  1867,  married  George  Alfred,  and  they  are  now 
living  in  South  Dakota  and  have  three  children.  John  A.,  born  March  14,  1871, 

(37) 


578  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

lives  on  a  farm  south  of  Newton,  and  they  have  one  child.  Elba  Job,  bom 
May  2-^,  1875.  lives  in  Xewton. 

]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Scott  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church. 
He  Avas  a  charter  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  at  Baxter;  Mrs. 
Scott  is  a  member  of  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps. 

Mr.  Scott  has  always  taken  an  abiding  interest  in  the  general  develop- 
ment of  Jasper  county  and  has  always  stood  reeady  to  aid  in  any  worthy 
movement.  He  has  made  a  host  of  warm  personal  friends  since  coming  to 
this  county  by  his  exemplary  life,  his  public  spirit  and  his  industry. 


LEONARD  ALDING  GREENLIEF. 

One  of  the  most  interesting^  figures  in  Jasper  county  is  Leonard  Aiding 
Greenlief.  Genial,  kindly  and  at  all  times  cheerful,  he  is  as  alert  in  mind  and 
body  as  a  man  much  younger  in  years.  x\lthough  almost  blind  for  the  past  few 
years,  this  great  affliction  has  by  no  means  cast  a  shadow  over  his  courageous 
and  buoyant  spirit,  and  his  fund  of  ready  humor  is  a  delight  to  all  who  know 
him.  As  a  teller  of  war  stories  (for  he  is  one  of  the  veteran  heroes  of  the 
great  civil  strife  of  the  sixties)  he  has  few  equals.  \Miile  his  stories  are 
told  in  a  humorous  vein,  for  it  is  his  nature  to  hold  up  the  brighter  side  of  a 
picture  to  one's  view,  yet  their  dramatic  quality  graphically  portrays  the 
horrors  of  that  great  conflict. 

Mr.  Greenlief  was  born  on  February  22,  1841,  in  the  eastern  part  of 
Canada,  in  Shepherd  county,  about  seven  miles  north  of  Vermont.  He  is  the 
son  of  William  C.  and  Mary  (Whitcomb)  Greenlief.  both  natives  of  Canada, 
where  the  father  engaged  in  farming,  moving  with  his  family  in  1858  to 
Illinois,  settling  near  Bloomington,  later  mo\'ing  to  the  southern  part  of  the 
state,  remaining  there  about  a  year,  then  went  back  to  Canada ;  but  in  a  little 
while  he  came  back  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Henderson  county.  In  1862  he 
moved  to  Scott  county,  Iowa,  where  his  son,  Leonard  A.,  of  this  review,  had 
preceded  him  the  year  before.  In  1864  he  came  to  Jasper  county  and  bought 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land,  in  Mound  Prairie  township,  not  far 
from  Prairie  City,  and  here  he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1894, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight  years.  William  C.  Greenlief  was  twice 
married.  His  first  wife,  mother  of  the  subject,  died  in  Canada  .before  the 
family  came  to  the  states.  After  her  death  he  married  Eunice  Brown.  Seven 
children  were  born  of  the  first  union,  namely :     Mary,  Adaline,  Leonard  Aid- 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  579 

ing,  George,  Lyman,  Lottie  and  :Mark.  Lottie  is  a  widow,  living  in  Cali- 
fornia. By  the  second  marriage  four  children  were  born:  Hattie  died  in 
infancy;  Emma  J.  died  when  seventeen  years  old;  Charles  lives  in  Newton; 
Homer  has  no  fixed  home. 

Leonard  A.  Greenlief  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  of 
Canada,  and  was  seventeen  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
the  United  States.  He  broke  prairie  sod  for  his  father  in  Illinois.  In  1861 
he  came  to  Scott  county,  Iowa,  and  worked  for  some  time  at  breaking  sod. 
In  July,  1862,  he  pro\ed  his  loyalty  to  the  constitution  by  enlisting  in  the 
Union  army,  taking  out  his  first  papers  looking  toward  citizenship  at  that 
time.  His  enlistment  was  at  Davenport  in  Company  C,  Twentieth  Iowa 
Volunteer  Infantry.  He  saw  a  great  deal  of  hard  service,  and,  according 
to  his  comrades,  made  a  most  efficient  soldier.  He  was  in  the  battle  of 
Prairie  Grove,  Arkansas,  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  for  two  months,  at  Fort 
Morgan,  Fort  Gaines,  Fort  Blakely,  the  outer  works  of  Mobile,  Alabama. 
After  the  engagement  at  Prairie  Grove  their  company  was  sent  to  Van  Buren, 
taking  no  provisions  with  them,  expecting  to  find  forage  there,  but  the  enemy 
had  decamped,  taking  or  destroying  everything  in  the  nature  of  forage,  and 
the  day  following  they  marched  back  to  Prairie  Gro^■e  again,  covering  a  dis- 
tance of  forty  miles  without  a  bite  to  eat.  'Whenever  videttes  were  called 
for  he  always  volunteered,  until  after  he  had  a  most  horrifying  experience, 
after  which  he  was  not  so  eager  for  vidette  duty.  He  was  one  of  five  who 
were  sent  to  different  posts  to  watch  the  movements  of  the  enemy.  He  was 
the  only  one  of  the  five  who  succeeded  in  reaching  the  post  assigned  him.  The 
enem}-  advanced  rapidly  and  the  opposing  factions  engaged  each  other  at  about 
a  distance  of  twenty  rods  with  vidette  Greenlief  between  them,  lying  among 
the  weeds  as  close  to  the  ground  as  he  could,  remaining  there  from  eight  in 
the  morning  until  nine  at  night,  when,  under  cover  of  darkness,  he  got  back 
to  camp.  After  that  his  voice  was  not  the  first  to  answer  for  vidette  duty. 
He  was  sent  on  detached  duty  to  serve  in  guarding  a  fleet  -of  sixteen  boats 
from  Duvall's  Bluff  to  Little  Rock.  He  was  never  injured  nor  was  he  in 
the  hospital  during  the  service.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Mobile,  Alabama, 
and  discharged  at  Clinton,  Iowa,  after  three  years  of  gallant  service  under  the 
flag  of  his  adopted  country.  After  his  return  from  the  army  he  remained 
in  Scott  county  only  a  month,  then  came  to  Jasper  county.  In  the  fall  of 
1866  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Mound  Prairie  township,  and  from 
time  to  time  lie  has  added  to  it  until  at  the  present  time  he  owns  nine  hun- 
dred acres  of  valuable,  productive  and  well  improved  land,  in  two  tract?. 
He  made  a  pronounced  success  as  a  general  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  becoming 


-go  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

one  of  the  substantial  men  of  this  part  of  the  county.  Thirteen  years  ago  he 
retired  from  active  work  and  mo\  ed  to  Newton,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home,  having  a  modern,  attractive  and  neatly  furnished  home  in  one  of  the 
choice  residental  sections  of  the  city. 

On  May  i,  1866,  Mr.  Greenlief  was  united  in  marriage  with  Hattie  Chap- 
man, who  was  born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  in  1848,  the  daughter  of  J.  O. 
and  Mary  (\\'oodruff)  Chapman,  both  natives  of  Ohio,  where  Mr.  Chap- 
man followed  farming  and  owned  a  general  store  at  Marysville,  also  at 
Richland.  He  came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  in  1865  and  bought  land  in 
]\Iound  Prairie  township,  and  here  he  became  very  well  established.  He  died 
at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years.  There  were  six  children  in  his  family,  namely  : 
Mrs.  Martha  Thompson,  deceased;  Mrs.  Ellen  Hurd,  deceased;  Mrs.  Frances 
Halferty  lives  in  Spokane,  Washington;  Albert  is  engaged  in  the  butcher 
business  in  Colfax;  George  is  farming  in  Newton  township;  Hattie,  wife  of 
]\Ir.  Greenlief  of  this  review.  The  mother  of  these  children  died  when  the 
wife  of  the  subject  was  five  years  old,  and  the  father  married  again,  two  chil- 
dren being  born  by  his  second  union,  Charles  A.,  who  is  living  in  Oregon, 
and  j\Irs.  Mary  Galusha,  of  Wichita,  Kansas. 

]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Greenlief  have  one  child,  Mertie,  who  married  Frank 
Clymer;  they  live  on  their  farm  near  Prairie  City  and  have  five  children,  Vera, 
Kathryne,  Nellie,  John  L.  and  William. 

'Mr.  Greenlief  is  a  Democrat,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
church,  as  is  also  his  wife;  she  is  a  member  of  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps. 


JOHN  M.  HIATT. 


Specific  mention  is  made  within  the  pages  of  this  book  of  many  of  the 
worthy  citizens  who  have  honored  Jasper  county  with  their  residence — citizens 
who  have  figured  in  the  growth  and  development  of  this  favored  section  of 
the  great  Hawkeye  commonwealth  and  whose  interests  are  or  have  been 
identified  with  its  every  phase  of  progress,  each  contrilmting  in  his  sphere  of 
action  to  the  well  being  of  the  community  which  he  selected  for  the  arena  of 
his  life  labors  and  to  the  advancement  of  its  normal  and  legitimate  growth. 
Among  this  worthy  number  of  a  past  generation  none  w^as  more  influential  or 
conspicuous  than  the  late  John  M.  Hiatt,  a  man  coml lining  many  praiseworthy 
characteristics  of  head  and  heart,  much  of  whose  busy  and  useful  life  was 
spent  within  the  borders  of  this  county,  whose  interests  he  ever  had  at  heart 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  58 1 

and  sought  to  foster  while  laboring  to  advance  his  own.  For  his  public  spirit, 
his  industry  and  exemplary  character  he  was  held  in  high  regard  b\-  all  classes. 

Mr.  Hiatt  was  born  in  Licking  county,  Ohio,  March  21,  1819.  He  was 
the  son  of  Elsey  and  Sallie  Hiatt.  who  were  among  the  old  settlers  of  that 
county,  the  family  finally  moving  from  there  to  Shelby  county,  Ohio,  when  the 
son,  John  ^I.  Hiatt,  was  about  four  years  old.  and  there  grew  to  maturity  on 
the  home  farm  and  received  a  good  education  in  the  countr\-  public  schools. 
He  remained  at  home  with  his  parents  until  he  was  married  to  Catherine  Ike. 
of  Shelby  county,  Ohio,  on  February  24.  1842.  She  was  born  in  that  county 
on  Februar)^  2,  182 1,  she  and  Mr.  Hiatt  having  been  schoolmates  there.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  William  and  Hannah  Ike,  pioneer  residents  of  that  lo- 
cality, where  they  became  prosperous  farmers  and  influential  in  the  affairs  of 
the  neighborhood. 

After  their  marriage  John  M.  Hiatt  and  wife  remained  in  Shelby  county. 
Ohio,  three  years,  then,  in  1845,  moved  to  Dearborn  county,  Indiana,  locating 
on  a  farm  where  they  spent  three  years,  thence  moving  to  Ross,  that  state, 
where  ]\Ir.  Hiatt  engaged  in  carpentering  until  1854.  then  started  on  the 
overland  trip  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  having  been  joined  in  Davenport.  Iowa, 
by  the  parents  of  Mr.  Hiatt,  who  accompanied  them  to  Jasper  county.  Thev 
located  on  farms  in  Rock  Creek  township,  purchasing  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  from  the  government,  the  county  being  new.  unimproved,  in  fact.  wild. 
There  the  parents  established  a  good  home,  in  which  they  spent  the  remainder 
of  their  lives  and  there  John  M.  Hiatt  and  wife  lived  until  1863.  when  they 
sold  out  and  moved  to  Newton,  which  city  was  Mr.  Hiatt's  place  of  abode 
until  his  death,  on  January  13.  1887,  at  the  home  on  West  High  street,  where 
his  widow  continued  to  reside  until  summoned  to  her  reward,  some  twenty- 
three  vears  afterwards.  Here  Mr.  Hiatt  followed  carpentering  and  contract- 
ing, with  the  exception  of  three  years,  when  he  was  in  the  drug  business  on  the 
east  side  of  the  public  square.  He  was  very  successful  in  whatever  he  turned 
his  attention  to  and  he  became  one  of  the  best  known  contractors  in  this 
locality,  many  of  the  substantial  buildings  over  the  county  today  being  monu- 
ments to  his  skill  as  a  builder. 

Mr.  Hiatt  was  a  strong  Republican  and  he  took  an  active  interest  in  party 
affairs.  He  was  a  worthy  and  active  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Newton.  He  left  his  widow  a  beautiful  home  and  several  valuable 
buildings  in  Newton,  which  she  owned  until  her  death,  on  Deceml^er  27.  1910, 
having  attained  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years.  She  was  active  and  hearty 
almost  to  the  last,  her  mind  acute  and  memory  excellent.     It  was  a  rare  treat 


582  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

to  hear  her  recall  reminiscences  of  the  early  days  and  conditions  of  pioneer 
times,  both  here  and  in  Ohio.  She  led  a  devout  Christian  life  and  always 
enjoved  the  association  of  a  host  of  warm  friends. 

To  iVIr.  and  Mrs.  John  M.  Hiatt  one  child  was  born,  a  daughter,  Sophia 
Jane,  whose  birth  occurred  on  December  27,  1842,  in  Shelby  county.  She  died 
when  six  years  of  age. 

John  jM.  Hiatt  was  admired  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him,  and  he 
did  much  for  the  early  development  of  Jasper  county  along  material  and 
moral  lines,  and  he  and  his  faithful  life  companion  are  eminently  deserving  of 
a  conspicuous  place  in  her  history. 


JAMES  EASTMAN. 


It  is  an  axiom  demonstrated  by  human  experience  that  industry  is  the 
keynote  of  prosperity.  Success  comes  not  to  the  man  who  idly  waits,  but  to 
the  faithful  toiler  whose  work  is  characterized  by  sleepless  vigilance  and 
cheerful  celerity,  and  it  was  by  such  means  that  James  Eastman,  late  of  New- 
ton, Jasper  county,  forged  to  the  front  and  won  an  honored  place  among  the 
substantial  citizens  of  the  locality  of  which  this  volume  treats.  He  was  widely 
and  favorably  known  as  a  man  of  high  character,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
his  influence  in  the  community  was  marked  and  salutary. 

Mr.  Eastman  came  to  us  from  England,  where  his  birth  occurred  in  1832, 
and  when  sixteen  years  of  age  he  emigrated  to  America,  arriving  on  the  shores 
of  the  United  States,  but  later  he  went  to  Canada,  and  remained  at  Toronto 
for  five  years,  then  he  went  to  the  state  of  New  York,  where  he  spent  four 
years.  In  1855  he  was'Uftited  in  marriage  with  Martha  Hadley,  of  Machias, 
New  York,  in  which  place  she  was  born  in  1837,  the  daughter  of  John  and 
Paulina  Hadley,  of  that  place.  After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eastman 
came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  and  located  in  Newton  in  the  spring  of  1856, 
and  there  Mr.  Eastman  remained  until  his  death.  Owing  to  failing  health  he 
retired  from  active  work  about  four  years  prior  to  his  death,  wnich  occurred 
on  February  20,  1907,  at  the  home  where  his  widow  now  resides.  No.  600 
East  Temperance  street.  His  remains  were  interred  in  Newton  cemetery.  He 
was  among  the  old  settlers  aiid  was  for  years  a  prominent  character  here ;  he 
was  influential  in  the  development  of  the  city  and  county  and  played  well  his 
part  in  the  same.  He  devoted  his  life  to  contracting,  both  in  stOne  and  wood 
work,  and  was  verv  successful.     Manv  of  the  finest  and  most  substantial 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  583 

buildings  which  stand  in  Xewton  today  are  monuments  to  his  skill  as  a  builder. 
His  services  were  in  great  demand  owing  to  his  adroitness  in  his  chosen  line 
of  endeavor  and  his  honesty  in  all  his  contracts.  He  left  considerable  valuable 
property  to  his  widow,  including  a  modern  and  substantial  home  in  Xewton. 

Mr.  Eastman  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Congregational  church, 
having  united  with  that  church  when  a  young  man.  He  was  also  an  active 
and  worthy  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  and  the  United  Workmen  of  Xew- 
ton. Politically,  he  was  a  stanch  Republican,  taking  a  leading  part  in  the 
affairs  of  his  party. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Eastman  six  children  were  born,  as  follows: 
Eva  died  in  X^ewton  when  seven  years  of  age;  Clarence  also  died  here  when 
ten  years  of  age;  Bertha  married  Harry  Aloore,  of  Xewton;  they  moved  to 
Oklahoma,  where  the  wife  died,  leaving  two  children,  Marian  and  Florence, 
who  remain  with  their  father,  he  being  a  very  prosperous  farmer  there.  George 
Eastman  is  a  large  contractor  in  Omaha,  Xebraska ;  he  married  Winnie  Ouin- 
lan,  of  Xewton,  and  they  have  one  son,  Clarence.  Florence  Eastman  married 
Arthur  Joy,  of  X^ewton,  and  they  have  two  children,  Lucile  and  Morris,  both 
attending  school  at  Xewton.  James  H.  Eastman  married  Maud  Joy,  of  Xew- 
ton, and  they  have  three  children,  Joy,  Harry  and  Arthur,  also  attending 
school  at  Xewton. 


REV.  JAMES  E.  RYAX. 

X'o  estimate  of  the  immense  amount  of  good  that  comes  from  a  long  and 
useful  life  like  that  of  the  late  James  E.  Ryan,  can  be  made,  for  it  was  far- 
reaching  in  its  effects  and  will  continue  through  coming  generations,  like  the 
light  that  ''shines  more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day."  Few  lives  have  been 
so  unselfish,  so  pregnated  with  good  deeds  and  so  controlled  by  an  insatiable 
desire  to  be  kind  and  beneficial  to  his  fellow  men;  therefore,  his  memory  is 
cherished  wherever  he  was  known,  by  thousands  whom  his  life  touched  directly 
or  indirectly. 

Rev.  Mr.  Ryan  was  born  in  the  city  of  Roscrea.  Ireland.  His  parents 
came  to  Xew  York  in  1831  when  he  was  a  small  boy,  thence  they  went  to 
Montreal,  Canada,  and  there  they  were  living  during  the  year  of  the  great 
cholera  epidemic.  His  parents  being  poor,  the  subject  was  compelled  to  start 
in  life  for  himself  when  very  young,  being  about  nine  years  old  when,  in 
1837,  he  began  clerking  in  a  dry  goods  store  in  Toronto,  continuing  in  the  same 
line  of  work  seven  years  there  and  in  Ontario,  Buffalo  and  Xew  York  City 


:^84  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

and  a  number  of  other  large  cities.  In  i<^45  he  united  with  the  Episcopal 
church  and  resolved  to  become  a  minister,  and  he  at  once  began  a  course  of 
study  at  the  academy  at  Romeo,  Michigan,  then  under  the  direction  of  Prof. 
Rufus  Netting  Law.  During  the  winter  of  1846-1847  Mr.  Ryan  taught 
school  and  boarded  around  among  the  patrons  of  the  school.  In  the  fall  of 
1847  he  entered  the  freshman  class  at  Western  College,  later  locating  at  Hud- 
son, Ohio,  where  he  remained  three  years,  but,  being  poor  and  out  of  funds, 
he  left  college  at  the  close  of  his  junior  year  to  accept  a  position  offered  him 
as  tutor  in  Williams  Hall,  a  school  for  boys,  and  at  the  same  time  he  became  a 
divinity  student  at  Bexley  Hall,  both  institutions  being  located  at  Gambler, 
Knox  county.  Ohio,  the  seat  of  Kenyon  College.  He  was  graduated  from 
Bexley  Hall  in  1853  and  the  same  year  he  was  ordained  deacon  by  Rev.  Charles 
P.  Mcllvaine.  bishop  of  Ohio,  and  the  following  year  he  was  ordained  to  the 
second  office  of  priest  by  the  same  bishop.  For  several  years  he  served  as 
rector  of  Grace  church  at  Warren,  Ohio.  In  1858  he  was  sent  by  the  church 
as  a  missionary  to  Kansas,  later  taking  charge  of  the  church  at  Atchison,  that 
state,  then  he  was  called  to  St.  Paul's  church  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  and  he  en- 
tered upon  the  duties  of  that  important  parish  in  the  fall  of  1864  and  for  a 
period  of  twenty-six  years  he  labored  faithfully  and  effectively  in  the  diocese 
of  Iowa,  giving  his  best  efforts  to  the  various  churches  to  which  he  was  called. 
In  1 87 1  and  again  in  1877  ^e  had  the  honor  of  representing  the  diocese  of 
Iowa  in  the  general  con\ention  of  the  churches  and  was  for  a  number  of  years 
deacon  of  the  northern  and  central  conventions,  and  in  1885  he  resigned  the 
rectorship  of  the  Good  Shepherd  in  Des  Moines.  Later,  about  1880,  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health,  he  and  his  family  came  to  Xewton.  Iowa,  where  he  spent 
the  balance  of  his  days. 

On  April  8.  1875,  Rev.  Mr.  Ryan  was  united  in  marriage  with  a  lady  of 
talent  and  culture,  Mrs.  H.  C.  Hawkins,  at  her  home  in  Troy,  Kansas.  She 
was  born  April  17,  1834,  in  Canandaigua,  New^  York.  She  first  married  H.  C. 
Hawkins,  of  Marshall,  Michigan.  Afterwards  Mr.  Hawkins  and  his  wife 
moved  to  Topeka,  Kansas,  throughout  which  state  he  became  known  as  one 
of  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  same  and  ranked  high  as  a  public  man,  serving,  at 
one  time,  very  ably  and  commendablv  as  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  that 
state.  His  death  occurred  when  he  was  a  comparatively  young  man,  forty- 
three  years  old.  By  their  union  one  son,  J.  C.  Hawkins,  was  born,  who  married 
Eva  Ketman,  of  Humboldt,  Iowa,  the  daughter  of  a  very  prominent  family 
there,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  C.  Hawkins  are  now  living  in  Newton.  Iowa,  where 
they,  like  Mrs.  Ryan,  have  a  host  of  friends  and  are  highly  respected  and  in- 
fluential in  the  best  social  circles. 


JA§PER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  585 

Rev.  James  E.  Ryan  was  a  man  whom  to  know  was  to  love,  admire  and 
praise,  for  he  was  high-minded,  learned,  kind,  generous,  untiring  in  his  efforts 
to  do  good  and  at  the  same  time  unassuming,  content  merely  to  follow  in  the 
footsteps  of  the  humble  Gallilean  and  to  know  that  he  was  doing  His  will,  con- 
sequently the  widespread  fame  and  honor  he  won  was  justly  due  him.  and  the 
world  is  better  and  hai)pier  by  his  having  lived  in  it. 


DAVID  EDMUXDSOX. 

Widely  known  as  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  central  Iowa  during  her 
pioneer  history  and  the  subsequent  period  of  her  development,  the  name  of 
David  Edmundson  stands  out  conspicuously,  and  although  he  has  long  since 
been  called  to  a  higher  plane  of  action,  the  influence  of  his  useful  life,  the  many 
unselfish  and  charitable  deeds  he  performed  will  continue  to  pervade  the  lives 
of  succeeding  generations,  and  the  hearts  of  those  who  had  the  good  fortune 
to  be  associated  \vith  him  are  warmed  and  their  spirits  braced  by  some  faint 
echo  of  the  words  of  wisdom  and  kindness  he  spoke.  His  well  directed  efforts 
in  the  practical  aft'airs  of  life,  his  capable  management  of  his  business  interests 
and  his  keen  discernment  brought  him  prosperity  and  his  life  demonstrated 
what  may  be  accomplished  by  any  man  of  energy  and  ambition  who  is  not 
afraid  to  work  and  has  the  perseverance  to  continue  his  labors  in  the  face  of 
any  discouragements  which  may  seem  to  arise.  In  all  the  relations  of  life  he 
commanded  the  respect  and  confidence  of  those  with  whom  he  was  brought 
into  contact,  and  a  biographical  history  of  Jasper  county  would  certainly  lack 
an  important  link  were  a  record  of  his  useful  and  interesting  career  omitted. 

David  Edmundson  was  the  scion  of  a  fine  old  Southern  family,  many 
winnine  characteristics  of  which  he  seemed  to  inherit,  and  he  himself  was 
born  on  Dixie  soil,  his  birth  occurring  in  Harrison  county,  Kentucky,  June  9. 
181 1,  and  there  he  spent  his  early  boyhood,  removing  with  his  parents,  William 
and  ]Mary  Emundson,  to  Indiana,  locating  at  Greencastle  in  1827.  and  there 
the  death  of  his  father  occurred,  and  afterwards  David  Edmundson  came  to 
Burlington.  Iowa.  He  located  in  Des  Moines  countv  in  18  ?6  and  there  he 
remained  until  in  Alarch.  1841,  when  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Tem- 
perance Gordon,  a  lady  of  many  beautiful  attributes  and  the  representative  of 
an  excellent  old  familv.  her  birth  haxing  occurred  in  May,  1821,  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, she  being  the  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Elizal3eth  Gordon.  After  their 
marriage  they  moved  to  Oskaloosa.  Iowa,  having  remained  in  Des  Moines 


386  JASPER    COUNTY^    IOWA. 

county  but  a  short  time.  Remaining  about  a  year  in  the  former  place,  they 
moved,  in  1846,  to  Jasper  county,  and  here  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  where  the  county  poor  farm  is  now  located;  after  remaining  there  three 
vears  they  moved  to  Xewton  in  1849  ^"^^  there  Mr.  Edmundson  assisted  in 
laving  out  the  city,  and  here  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  from 
the  government,  he  and  his  wife  being  among  the  very  earliest  settlers  of  this 
county  and  city,  and  certainly  none  were  more  influential  or  prominent  in  its 
earlv  history  than  they,  and  none  better  known  or  more  highly  esteemed,  for 
with  old-time  hospitality  and  genuine  neighborly  impulses  they  performed  un- 
numbered acts  of  kindness  among  the  first  settlers.  ]\Ir.  Edmundson  was 
active  in  politics  and  wielded  a  strong  influence  for  his  party  and  he  was  called 
upon  to  represent  Jasper  county  in  the  state  Legislature  when  the  capital  of  the 
state  was  located  at  Iowa  City.  He  was  afterwards  elected  county  judge,  the 
duties  of  which  important  ofiice  he  performed  in  an  eminently  creditable  man- 
ner, as  he  did  those  of  representative.  He  had  charge  of  building  the  old 
court  house,  in  1862.  which  was  only  recently  torn  down. 

When  the  Civil  war  came  on  Mr.  Edmundson  was  too  patriotic  to  re- 
strain his  impulses  to  fight  in  defense  of  the  old  flag  and  he  offered  his  services 
to  the  Union,  though  he  was  fifty-one  years  old  at  the  time.  He  was  com- 
missioned second  lieutenant  of  Compan}-  D.  Fortieth  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  after  a  very  gallant  service  of  two  years  resigned  and  returned  to  this 
county  and  for  the  next  fifteen  years  de\oted  his  attention  very  largely  to  the 
oflice  of  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  one  of  the  brave  band  who  crossed  the 
trackless  western  plains  to  the  gold  fields  of  California,  he  and  a  number  of 
other  Jasper  county  citizens  making  the  long  and  prolix  journey  in  1850,  the 
trip  rc(|uiring  tliree  months.  The  return  trip  was  made  by  water  by  way  of 
the  Isthmus  of  Panama  and  up  the  Mississippi  river.  He.  in  later  life,  talked 
most  interestingly  of  this  experience  in  the  far  \\>st  and  of  other  earlv  occur- 
rences. Politically,  he  was  early  in  life  a  AMiig  and  after  the  Republican  party 
was.  organized  he  loyally  supported  its  principles.  He  made  a  splendid  record 
as  judge,  both  in  this  county  and  at  the  military,  post  at  Columbus.  Kentucky. 

The  death  of  this  excellent  citizen  occurred  at  his  late  residence.  Xo.  520 
East  Temperance  street.  Xewton,  Iowa,  on  July  26,  1895,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four  years.  One  of  his  brothers  lived  to  be  ninety-two  years  old  and  his 
mother  was  ninety- four  years  of  age  when  she  passed  away  in  Oskaloosa,  Iowa. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Edmundson  eight  children. were  born,  namely: 
Araf^ella,  the  eldest  child,  is  the  wife  of  S.  W.  Macy.  of  Spokane.  Washington; 
Alex  lives  at  Los  Angeles.  California:  David  G.. lives  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa; 
Ella  is  deceased:  Freda  lives  at  the  old  home  in  Xewton:  Marv  is  deceased; 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 


0°/ 


Charles  is  deceased;  Elizabeth  lives  with  her  sister,  Freda,  at  the  old  home- 
stead mentioned  above,  and  here  the  mother,  who  was  a  woman  of  gracious 
personality,  passed  to  her  rest  on  April  2,  1910. 

The  Edmundson  family  has  ranked  in  the  forefront  of  Jasper  county 
citizens  from  the  earliest  pioneer  days  to  the  present,  none  standing  higher 
socially,  and  no  one  has  done  more  for  the  locality  honored  by  his  citizenship 
than  David  Edmundson.  whose  memory  is  revered  by  all  who  knew  him  per- 
sonally or  of  his  work. 


L.  A.  WELLS. 


Good  intellectual  training,  thorough  professional  knowledge  and  the  pos- 
session and  utilization  of  the  qualities  and  attributes  essential  to  success  have 
made  L.  A.  Wells,  of  Xewton,  Jasper  county,  eminent  as  an  attorney-at-law, 
and  he  stands  today  among  the  enterprising  men  of  this  profession  in  central 
Iowa,  figuring  prominently  for  some  time  in  the  affairs  of  his  locality,  although 
yet  young  in  years. 

Mr.  Wells  was  born  October  31,  1879,  in  Crawford  county,  Iowa,  and 
he  is  the  son  of  X.  A.  and  Emma  J.  (  Benefiel)  Wells,  the  father  a  native  of 
A^ermont  and  the  mother  of  Davenport,  Iowa.  X.  A.  Wells  was  for  many 
years  a  well  known  stock  buyer,  having  come  to  Jasper  county  twenty-six 
years  ago,  moving  from  Crawford  county,  this  state.  He  was  a  successful 
business  man  and  was  prominent  in  political  affairs  and  he  was  representative 
from  Jasper  county  in  1897,  filling  this  important  office  with  much  credit  to 
himself  and  to  the  eminent  satisfaction  of  all  his  constituents.  He  is  at  present 
living  in  Wadena  county.  ^linnesota,  where  he  moved  about  seven  years  ago. 
His  wife  died  ]^Iarch  20,  1898.  There  were  five  children  in  their  family, 
named  as  follows:  W.  B..  of  the  United  States  navy,  was  with  Rear  Admiral 
Schley,  on  the  famous  cruiser  "Brooklyn"  at  the  great  naval  battle  of  Santiago 
during  the  Spanish- American  war.  He  is  now  on  detached  duty  at  the  Annap- 
olis X^aval  Academy,  and  is  writing  text-books  on  marine  engineering  and 
naval  construction :  he  is  a  graduate  of  the  academy  at  Annapolis,  and  stands 
very  high  in  naval  circles.  S.  H.  Wells  is  on  a  ranch  in  Wyoming:  Mrs.  Edith 
Kohler  lives  on  a  farm  twelve  miles  south  of  Xewton ;  Mrs.  Mattie  Lewis  lives 
in  Oklahoma. 

L.  A.  Wells,  of  this  review,  came  to  Jasper  county  with  his  parents  when 
a  child  and  he  was  reared  on  a  farm  five  miles  south  of  Xewton,  and  when 
old  enough  he  assisted  with  the  various  duties  about  the  place,  attending  the 


588  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

neighboring  schools  during  the  winter  months.  He  was  always  an  ardent 
student  and  he  made  a  splendid  record  while  attending  the  high  school  at 
Xewton,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1898,  and  the  University  of  Iowa, 
having  graduated  from  the  law  department  of  the  latter  in  1901,  after  which 
he  began  practice  at  once  in  Xewton,  and  was  very  successful  from  the  first, 
his  practice  having  continued  to  grow  steadily  to  the  present  time,  being  re- 
garded as  a  very  cautious,  energetic  and  safe  advocate  and  an  earnest  and 
logical  exponent  before  a  jury. 

During  the  Spanish- American  war  in  1898,  just  as  he  was  finishing  high 
school.  INIr.  W^lls  gave  vent  to  his  patriotic  impulses  by  enlisting  in  Company 
F,  Fiftieth  Iowa  Infantry,  and  was  stationed  at  Jacksonville,  Florida,  for  six 
months,  from  April  to  November. 

On  April  18,  1902,  Mr.  ^^'ells  was  married  to  INIary  J.  Manning,  daughter 
of  Richard  Manning,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Xewton.  Iowa,  in  which  city  Airs. 
A\'ells  was  l:;orn,  reared  and  educated  and  where,  owing  to  her  genial  nature, 
she  has  always  been  a  favorite  in  the  best  social  circles.  This  union  has  been 
graced  by  the  birth  of  two  daughters,  Hortense,  seven  years  old,  and  Esther, 
five  years  old. 

Politically,  Air.  Wells  is  a  Republican  and  he  has  long  supported  every 
laudable  movement  looking  to  the  betterment  of  his  county  and  state,  and  he 
has  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  who  know  him,  his  career  so  far  having 
been  characterized  by  lofty  purpose  and  honest  precept. 


lOHX  HEWS. 


The  life  history  of  John  Hews,  one  of  Jasper  county's  best  known  and 
highly  honored  pioneer  citizens,  would  indicate  that  he  is  the  possessor  of 
sterling  qualities  that  cannot  help  winning  in  any  vocation  if  back  of  them  is 
an  indomitable  courage,  as  seems  to  have  been  the  case  in  this  instance,  and 
he  has  labored  to  goodly  ends,  ever  keeping  the  interests  of  his  neighbors  and 
the  locality  in  general  before  him  while  working  to  advance  himself  and,  there- 
fore, he  has  played  well  his  role  in  the  local  drama  of  civilization.  He  is  one 
of  the  gallant  veterans  of  the  great  Union  army,  having  gladlv  sacrificed  much, 
like  many  legions  of  brave  comrades,  "in  order  that  the  nation  might  live." 
Thus  many  reasons  might  be  advanced  why  Mr.  Hews  is  justly  entitled  to  con- 
spicuous and  exhaustive  mention  in  the  history  of  this,  one  of  the  most  thriv- 
ing and  favored  sections  of  the  great  commonwealth  of  Iowa,  whose  interests 
he  has  ever  had  verv  much  at  heart. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  589 

Mr.  Hews  was  born  September  3,  1837,  in  Saratoga  county,  New  York, 
the  son  of  James  and  Sally  Maria  (Efnor)  Hews,  he  being  the  third  child  in 
order  of  birth,  the  two  that  preceded  him  dying  in  early  infancy.  These  par- 
ents with  their  only  child,  John,  who  was  too  young  to  take  any  note  of  hap- 
penings at  that  time,  1838,  made  the  long  overland  journey  from  New  York 
to  Illinois  and  in  that  state  the  son  grew  to  young  manhood  and  received  most 
of  his  education.  The  family  finally  moved  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  when  this 
country  was  new  and  unsettled,  or  very  sparsely  so,  and  here  the  subject  as- 
sisted in  building  a  school  house  which  he  attended  for  a  while.  It  was  built  of 
round  logs  and  the  seats  were  made  by  splitting  a  log  in  halves,  and  holes  were 
bored  in  the  ends  in  which  the  legs  were  fastened ;  puncheons  were  also  used 
for  flooring.  It  was  a  typical  first  settlers*  school  house.  Being  the  oldest  of 
the  family,  a  great  deal  of  responsibility  fell  to  him  and  he  knew  the  meaning 
of  hard  work  in  all  its  significance.  The  nearest  mill  to  them  was  at  Lynn- 
ville,  and  there  he  had  to  go  to  mill,  and  later  he  went  to  Oskaloosa  on  the 
same  errand ;  but  these  long  trips  were  looked  upon  as  a  pleasure  rather  than 
as  irksome,  for  he  was  usually  accompanied  by  some  lively  companion  whom 
he  not  infrequently  made  the  butt  of  practical  jokes.  He  drove  an  ox  team 
and.  taking  sufficient  rations  for  the  entire  trip,  would  camp  by  the  road  over 
night,  the  trips  consuming  four  or  fi\e  days.  On  one  occasion  he  was  com- 
pelled to  haul  water  to  be  used  in  the  mill,  before  steam  could  be  generated 
with  which  to  grind  his  corn.  He  tells  many  interesting  stories  of  conditions 
and  happenings  here  when  he  was  a  boy  and  when  all  were  on  an  equal  footing 
financially  and  socially;  when  there  were  few  roads,  no  fences;  when  there 
were  wolves,  wild  turkey  and  plenty  of  good  game  of  various  species ;  in  fact, 
he  would  be  apt  to  tell  you  that  those  old  times,  the  good  old  days  of  the  pio- 
neers, were  the  best,  and  who  of  us  would  have  the  temerity  to  dispute  him? 

Alr.  Hews  enlisted  on  August  8,  1862,  at  Galesburg,  in  Company  K, 
Twenty-eighth  Iowa  \'olunteer  Infantry,  and  after  remaining  at  Camp  Pope, 
Iowa  City,  a  short  time,  was  sent  to  Helena,  Arkansas,  thence  to  Port  Gibson, 
where  he  took  part  in  the  battle,  later  fought  at  Champion's  Hill,  then  was  in 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg  for  forty-eight  days,  then  he  was  in  the  skirmishing 
about  Jackson  for  fourteen  days,  after  which  his  regiment  was  sent  with 
General  Banks  on  the  Red  River  expedition ;  later  Mr.  Hews  went  with  Gen- 
eral Sherman  into  the  Shenandoah  valley,  and  he  took  part  in  the  sanguinary 
battles  of  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill  and  Harrisburg;  he  was  in  camp  at  Cedar 
Creek  and  from  there  was  sent  to  Martinsburg  to  guard  a  supply  train  and 
while  he  was  there  the  Cedar  Creek  battle  was  fought.     He  marched  bare- 


590  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

footed  from  Cedar  Creek  to  Winchester.  From  there  he  was  ordered  with  the 
rest  of  the  regiment  to  Savannah,  Georgia,  and  there  Mr.  Hews  was  honorably 
discharged,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
after  having  seen  some  hard  service.  According  to  his  comrades  he  was  al- 
ways very  faithful  in  the  performance  of  duty,  and  for  meritorious  service  he 
was  promoted  to  sergeant  at  Vicksburg.  He  was  in  seventeen  or  eighteen 
general  engagements  and  many  skirmishes. 

After  he  returned  from  the  war,  ]\lr.  Hews  went  back  to  farming;  he 
had  married  in  1859  and  at  the  time  of  his  enlistment  he  had  two  small  chil- 
dren. He  owned  forty  acres  of  land  in  Elk  Creek  township  and  the  wife  and 
children  lived  there  until  he  returned  from  the  front.  She  was  known  in  her 
maidenhood  as  Elizabeth  Payton,  who  was  born  in  Hendricks  county,  In- 
diana, the  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (McDaniels)  Payton,  natives  of 
Kentucky.  The  family  came  to  Iowa  fn  1855  and  settled  near  Galesburg. 
There  were  eight  in  the  family  that  grew  to  maturity,  namely  :  Mary  A.,  wife 
of  Xapoleon  B.  Mayfield,  now  of  Kansas,  was  the  first  wdiite  child  born  in 
Jasper  county;  she  became  well  educated,  was  highly  intellectual  and  at  one 
time  was  superintendent  of  schools  of  this  county;  Mrs.  M.  E.  Hays  is  living 
in  Kansas;  Mr.  Hays  was  formerly  sheriff  of  the  county  when  he  lived  at 
Sharon  Springs;  Milton  C.  lives  at  Creston,  Iowa;  Spencer  H.  lives  at  Lynn- 
ville,  this  county. 

The  death  of  Mrs.  Hews  occurred  in  1876,  leaving  eight  children,  only 
three  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  namely :  Edwin  O.,  a  landscape  gardener  in 
California;  Alva  was  kicked  by  a  horse  and  killed  when  twenty-seven  years  of 
age ;  William,  living  in  Kansas. 

In  1878  Mr.  Hews  again  married,  his  second  wife  being  Frances  A. 
Hewitt,  who  was  born  at  Burlington,  Iowa,  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Anna 
(Buntin)  Hewitt,  natives  of  Ohio.  By  this  marriage  one  child  was  born, 
Leota  May,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years.  Mr.  Hews'  second  wife  passed 
to  her  rest  at  Galesburg,  February  14,  1909. 

Mr.  Hews  has  been  very  successful  in  his  business  relations,  having 
owned  various  farms,  and  in  1869  he  went  to  Nebraska  and  bought  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  which  he  sold  four  years  later.  Returning  to  Jasper 
county,  he  quit  farming  in  a  short  time  and  took  up  carpentering,  which  he 
has  followed  more  or  less  ever  since,  but  is  now  leading  a  retired  life  with  his 
sister,  Mrs.  Snodgrass.  in  Newton,  whose  husband  died  in  October,  1890;  she 
owns  a  good  farm  of  over  a  hundred  acres  in  Newton  township,  but  prefers 
to  live  in  the  town  of  Newton. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  59 1 

I\Ir.  Hews  spent  eight  years  in  Wichita,  Kansas;  for  the  past  two  years 
he  has  Hved  in  Xewton,  this  county.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  at 
Newton;  also  belongs  to  Garrett  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  is  a 
"standpat"  Republican,  and  while  living  in  Nebraska  he  was  elected  justice 
of  the  peace  on  the  Republican  ticket,  and  he  held  various  offices  in  Elk  Creek 
township.     He  is  a  worthy  member  of  the  Christian  church. 


WILLIAM  HARVEY  NOLIN. 

One  of  the  honored  vocations  from  the  earliest  ages  has  been  husbandry 
and  as  a  usual  thing  men  of  worthy  impulses  have  been  patrons  of  agriculture. 
The  free  outdoor  life  of  the  farm  has  a  decided  tendency  to  foster  and  develop 
that  independence  of  mind  and  self-reliance  which  characterizes  true  manhood 
and  the  boy  is  indeed  fortunate  who  is  reared  in  close  touch  with  nature  in 
the  healthful,  life-inspiring  labor  of  the  fields. 

Among  the  enterprising  young  farmers  of  Fairview  township,  Jasper 
county,  Iowa,  is  William  Harvey  Nolin.  who  vvas  born  in  Marion  county, 
Iowa,  February  21,  1885.  He  is  the  son  of  Cyrus  Nolin  and  wife,  a  complete 
sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

The  subject  was  the  second  in  a  family  of  four  children,  the  others  being. 
Robert  George,  now  deceased ;  Elvin  Meek ;  Mary  Alice  Blanch. 

William  H.  Nolin  attended  school  at  Sunny  Point  and  he  grew  up  on  the 
home  farm,  assisting  with  the  general  work  there  when  a  boy.  On  the  even- 
ing of  his  twenty-first  birthday  he  was  married,  and  he  then  began  renting 
land  of  his  father-in-law,  and  the  year  following  he  rented  of  his  father.  In 
191 1  he  and  his  brother,  Elvin,  bought  a  portion  of  the  James  A.  Tool  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  renting  other  land  also,  operating  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  in  all.  The  two  live  together  and  work  the  place 
together  and  they  are  making  a  success  as  general  farmers  and  stock  raisers, 
making  a  specialty  of  Poland-Chma  hogs,  Belgian  and  Shetland  horses  and 
light  Brahma  chickens. 

William  H.  Nolin  is  independent  in  politics,  voting  always  for  the  l>est 
man.  regardless  of  party.  He  is  a  prohibitionist  in  belief.  He  belongs  to 
Tool's  Chapel  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Mr.  Nolin  was  married  on  February  21,  1906,  to  Grace  Lucile  Jarnagin, 
who  was  born  December  19,  1884.  in  Marion  county.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
Alpheus  Jarnagin,  who  came  from  Illinois  to  Iowa  in  1865.  Mrs.  Nolin  at- 
tended the  Enterprise  district  school  in  Fairview  township,  this  county. 


5^2  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  < 

To  the  subject  and  wife  three  children  have  been  born,  namely:  Karl 
William,  Burt  Roscoe  and  Harold  Elvin. 

Elvin  Meek  Nolin,  mentioned  above,  as  in  partnership  with  the  immediate 
subject  of  this  sketch  in  operating  the  farms  in  this  township,  was  born 
October  4,  1887.  in  Fairview  township,  this  county.  He  attended  the  rural 
schools  and  the  high  school  at  Alonroe,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1898, 
after  which  he  taught  school  very  acceptably  for  two  years;  but  he  has  pre- 
ferred farming  and  he  is  making  good. 

On  February  21,  191 1,  Mr.  Nolin  was  married  to  Cattolina  Fennema, 
who  was  born  in  1890,  the  daughter  of  John  F.  and  Wllhelmina  L.  (Dejong) 
Fennema.  These  parents,  who  are  of  Holland  descent,  are  farmers  in  ]\Iarion 
countv. 


CAPT.  JOSEPH  R.  RODGERS. 

No  resident  of  Colfax  is  better  known  to  its  people,  stands  higher  in 
their  regard,  or  comes  from  a  more  honored  family,  which  he  by  his  life  has 
made  more  honored,  than  does  Capt.  Joseph  R,  Rodgers,  now  retired,  who 
was  the  first  mayor  of  Colfax,  installed  as  such  on  September  9,  1875.  -^^ 
came  to  Newton,  Jasper  county,  in  1854  with  his  parents,  Hugh  and  Emily 
(AlcManus)  Rodgers.  Hugh  Rodgers  came  to  this  county  from  his  native 
city,  Charleston,  South  Carolina.  He  was  the  son  of  Henry  and  Jane 
(Nealy)  Rodgers,  respectively  natives  of  Limerick  and  Cork,  Ireland.  Two 
of  Hugh's  brothers,  Dr.  Henry  Rodgers  and  William  Rodgers,  also  located 
at  Newton,  where  the  three  brothers  were  among  the  leaders  of  the  people 
for  many  years.  Hugh  Rodgers  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  and  was 
coroner  of  Jasper  county  from  1858  to  1864  and  from  1871  to  1876.  The 
brothers  were  prominent  in  Masonic  circles.  Hugh  was  the  first  junior 
warden  of  Newton  Lodge  No.  59,  of  Masons,  instituted  on  March  20,  1855, 
was  proxy  for  the  worshipful  master  at  the  grand  lodge  in  June,  1855. 
William  Rodgers  was  the  first  senior  warden  of  the  Newton  Lodge,  the  first 
principal  sojourner  of  Gebul  Chapter  No.  12,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  insti- 
tuted in  1856,  and  was  a  charter  member  of  Commandery  No.  22,  Knights 
Templar,  and  of  Lodge  No.  73  of  Odd  Fellows.  Dr.  Henry  Rodgers  was  a 
resident  of  Newton  in  1850,  and  is  credited  with  being  the  pioneer  doctor  of 
Jasper  county.  He  was  treasurer  of  Newton  township  in  1850,  county 
treasurer  from  1850  to  1854,  and  county  recorder  from  1850  to  1858.  A  son 
of  Henry  Rodgers,  T.  F.  Rodgers,  still,  in  1910,  resides  on  a  farm  near  New- 
ton. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  593 

Joseph  R.  Rodgers  attended  school  in  Xewton,  and  in  uS6i  enhsted  in  the 
first  company  to  leave  Newton,  Company  B,  Fifth  Iowa  Infantry.  In  1863  he 
became  captain  of  Company  B,  Forty-eighth  Iowa  Infantry,  and  was  so  mus- 
tered out  in  October.  1864.  He  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Corinth.  luka.  and 
all  the  battles  of  the  Western  army  up  to  and  including  the  siege  of  Vicksburg. 

In  1868  Captain  Rodgers  came  to  Colfax  and  engaged  in  the  grain  and 
lumber  business,  in  which  he  continued  until  1898,  when  he  retired,  after 
thirty  years  of  successful  experience,  in  which  his  business  abilities  were 
strongly  demonstrated.  He  was  the  first  mayor  of  Colfax,  served  on  the  local 
school  board  for  some  years,  and  was  town  clerk  for  nine  vears.  He  was  ap- 
pointed land  appraiser  on  the  Dawes  Indian  commission  in  the  Indian  Terri- 
tory, and  served  for  three  years.  He  has  been  during  all  this  time  a  loyal  Re- 
publican. E.  \\'.  Duncan  Post  Xo.  283.  Grand  Army,  numl>ers  him  among 
its  most  enthusiastic  and  active  meml^ers.' 

Captain  Rodgers  was  married  at  Newton  to  Emma  J.  IVIanning,  the 
daughter  of  Ben  and  Mary  (Gibson)  Manning.  Her  parents  came  to  Newton 
in  1854  from  Plainfield,  N^e\^•  Jersey,  and  were  prominent  in  the  city.  Mrs. 
Rodgers  died  on  April  10,  1909.  at  the  age  of  sixty-four.  She  left  one 
daughter,  Anna  L.  Rodgers,  the  wife  of  W.  S.  Cutter.  Mrs.  Rodgers' 
brother,  Col.  W.  R.  Manning,  of  Newton,  is  past  state  commander  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  A  sister  and  a  brother  of  Captain  Rodgers  live 
in  Newton,  the  sister.  Ella  Townsend.  being  the  widow  of  Col.  Nathaniel 
Townsend,  who  was  adjutant-general  of  Iowa ;  the  brother  is  Ward  M. 
Rodgers,  the  editor  of  the  Xczctoji  Record. 

The  record  of  the  Rodgers  family  is  an  honorable  one.  and  its  members 
are  types  of  the  best  of  American  citizenship.  Capt.  Joseph  Rodgers  is  a  man 
whom  his  community  delights  to  honor  for  his  services  freely  rendered,  and 
whom  it  ranks  among  its  first  and  foremost  citizens.  He  has  in  his  lifetime 
endeared  to  himself  manv  friends. 


ANDREW  J.  WIGGIN. 

Eighty-two  years  ha\e  i)assed  with  leaden  feet  through  the  relentless 
gates  of  the  irrevocable  past  since  Andrew  J.  \\'iggin.one  of  Jasper  county's 
best  known  and  most  highly  respected  citizens,  first  saw  the  light  of  day  in  an 
old  house  in  New  England,  but  the  years  have  been  kind  to  him  and  he  is  as 
active  as  most  men  are  at  the  age  of  fifty.  All  his  faculties  have  been  well 
preserved,  so  that  he  reads  without  glasses,  can  climb  a  tree  as  nimbly  as  a 

(38) 


594  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

bov,  has  a  keen,  comprehending  intellect  and  is  still  a  man  of  affairs  and  in- 
fluence. His  early  life  was  that  of  a  soldier  of  fortune,  a  prospector  and  gold 
digger  in  the  far  West  in  the  early  fifties,  and  later  was  to  be  found  gallantly 
defending  his  nation's  flag  on  the  field  of  battle,  and  in  many  ways  he  en- 
countered and  endured  hardships  and  difficulties  that  would  have  crushed 
many  of  a  less  sterling  spirit,  but  his  courage,  energy,  tact  and  robustness  car- 
ried him  safely  through  and  now,  in  the  mellow  Indian  summer  of  his  years,  he 
finds  himself  surrounded  by  peace  and  plenty  upon  the  pleasant  place  he  pro- 
cured over  thirty  years  ago. 

]Mr.  W'iggin  was  born  on  April  14,  1830,  in  New  Hampshire,  the  son  of 
Andrew  \\'iggin  and  wife,  who  lived  on  a  farm  in  that  state,  of  which  they, 
too.  were  both  natives.  His  great-grandfather  W'iggin  came  from  England 
to  Massachusetts  in  the  historic  "Alayflower."  The  subject  was  the  third  in 
order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  eight  children,  namely :  Enoch,  Laura,  Sarah, 
Augusta,  Mary,  George  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  They  were  all  born  in 
New  Hampshire,  all  remaining  in  their  native  state  except  Andrew  J.,  of  this 
review ;  Enoch.  Laura  and  George  are  deceased,  and  the  parents  passed  away 
many  years  ago. 

Andrew  J.  Wiggin  attended  the  country  schools  near  his  home  for  a 
time,  but  at  the  early  age  of  fifteen  years  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself, 
went  to  Boston,  Massachusetts,  where  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which 
he  followed  until  1852,  when,  lured  by  the  call  of  the  western  Eldorado  with 
its  possibilities  of  untold  wealth  to  be  had  for  the  mere  digging,  fortune  favor- 
ing, he  set  out  with  his  savings  to  California,  going  by  steamer  from  New' 
York  and  across  the  isthmus  and  thence  up  the  western  coast  by  steamer.  He 
followed  mining  there  for  five  years,  and  while  not  finding  the  enormous  wealth 
of  which  he  had  dreamed,  yet  he  was  veiy  successful  and  came  away  with 
several  thousand  dollars.  He  returned  to  Boston  in  1857,  and  that  same  year 
he  came  to  Iowa,  making  the  trip  by  rail  to  Mount  Pleasant  and  from  there  by 
stage  to  Prairie  City,  and  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Des  Moines 
township.  The  following  year  he  married  Cynthia  Parker,  who  bore  him  six 
children,  namely:  Morris,  the  eldest,  lives  in  Wyoming;  Mrs.  Mary  Pentacoe 
lives  on  a  farm  near  Des  Moines;  Orin  lives  on  a  farm  in  Nebraska;  George 
makes  his  home  in  Omaha,  Nebraska ;  Carrie,  who  has  remained  single,  lives 
at  home  and  keeps  house  for  her  father;  one  child  died  in  infancy. 

When  the  great  rebellion  broke  out  in  the  early  sixties,  Mr.  Wiggin  felt 
it  his  duty  to  forsake  the  pleasures  of  home,  to  leave  his  fields  to  grow  up  in 
weeds  and  go  to  the  front  and  do  what  he  could  in  saving  the  Union,  conse- 
quently in  August,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  T.  Tenth  Iowa  Volunteer  In- 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  595 

fantry,  in  which  he  saw  much  hard  ser\ice  and  pro\ing  himself  to  be  a  true 
and  gallant  American  soldier,  an  exponent  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  that  has  never 
been  defeated.  He  took  part  in  fourteen  of  the  hardest- fought  battles  of  the 
war,  besides  a  number  of  skirmishes.  He  was  in.  among  others,  both  battles 
of  Corinth,  siege  of  Vicksburg,  Raymond,  Jackson.  Holly  Springs,  luka. 
Champion's  Hill,  New  Madrid  and  Missionary  Ridge.  His  regiment  was  in 
the  brunt  of  the  bloody  clash  at  Cham^pion's  Hill,  and  his  comjjany  of  thirty- 
four  men  lost  twenty-two,  including  Captain  Pogue.  Captain  Garret,  who 
commanded  them  at  the  time  of  their  enlistment,  had  been  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  colonel.  Captain  Drew  was  their  captain  when  they  were  mustered 
out  in  October,  1864,  at  Kingston,  Georgia. 

After  his  return  home  Mr.  W'iggin  took  up  the  cultivation  of  his  land 
and  about  twenty  years  later  he  sold  the  eighty  acres  and  bought  forty  acres 
where  he  now  lives,  adjoining  Prairie  City.  Later  he  added  to  this  until  he 
had  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  he  farmed  successfully  until  ten  vears 
ago,  when  he  retired  from  active  life,  and  a  few  years  ago  he  sold  all  his  land 
but  four  acres  around  his  house,  and  here  he  continues  to  reside,  the  town 
having  grown  out  around  him.  He  has  judiciously  invested  his  monev  in 
various  ways  until  he  now  enjoys  an  income  of  five  dollars  per  day. 

Mr.  Wiggin  has  been  twice  married.  Init  for  a  number  of  years  now  he 
has  lived  single. 

Mr.  Wiggin  is  a  Republican,  but  he  has  never  sought  office.  He  cast  his 
first  \ote  for  Fremont  for  President,  he  having  been  a  resident  of  San  Fran- 
cisco at  that  time.  He  is  a  member  of  the  McCray  Post  Xo.  27.  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  being  a  charter  member  of  the  same.  He  was  its  commander 
for  several  years,  and  at  the  present  time  he  is  senior  vice-commander,  and  he 
has  always  been  active  and  prominent  in  the  organization. 


JOSL\H  P.  TURNER. 

Everybody  in  Prairie  City.  Jasper  count)-,  knows  and  honors  Josiah  P. 
.Turner,  a  kindly,  honest,  genial  veteran  of  the  "grand  army"  that  saved  the 
Union.  For  years  a  typical  "jolly  miller"  of  the  town  which  he  still  claims  as 
home,  his  special  line  of  business  giving  him  a  wide  acquaintance  with  the  sur- 
rounding countrv  for  a  radius  of  many  miles,  he  is  one  of  the  best  known  of 
the  pioneers  of  this  part  of  the  county,  which  he  has  lived  to  see  develop  from 
the  wild  prairie,  taking  an  active  part  in  the  same. 


j;96  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Mr.  Turner  was  born  in  Greene  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  October  5,  1832, 
the  son  of  Isaiah  and  Nancy  (  Moore)  Turner,  the  father  born  in  Maryland 
in  1 80 1,  the  son  of  Abel  Turner.  The  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  The 
mother  of  the  subject  was  born  in  Xew  Jersey  in  1803.  These  parents  were 
married  in  Pennsylvania,  where  they  devoted  their  lives  to  farming.  Ten 
children  were  born  to  them,  of  whom  Josiah  P.,  of  this  review,  was  the  fourth 
in  order  of  birth;  the  others  were  named  as  follows:  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Shirk, 
who  died  in  Pennsylvania;  Mrs.  Martha  Gordon  also  died  in  that  state;  Daniel 
died  in  Xew  Orleans;  Abel,  who  was  a  soldier  in  Company  H,  Fifteenth  Penn- 
svlvania  Cavalry,  died  in  his  native  state;  Mrs.  Sarah  Taylor  also  died  in 
Pennsylvania ;  Mrs.  Mary  Sutton  is  living  in  \\'aynesburg.  Pennsylvania ;  Tillie 
died  in  childhood  ;  X^ancy  Ann.  who  has  remained  single,  lives  in  the  state  of 
Pennsvlvania,  as  does  also  James.  The  mother  of  these  children  died  in 
Greene  county  in  1855,  and  the  father  subsequently  married  Mrs.  Ruth  Clark, 
a  widow,  this  union  having  been  without  issue.  The  death  of  the  father, 
Isaiah  Turner,  occurred  in  1876. 

Josiah  P.  Turner  was  educated  in  the  country  school  of  Greene  county, 
Pennsylvania,  remaining  at  home  until  1854.  when  he  came  to  Lasalle  county, 
Illinois,  and  found  work  in  a  flouring  mill  there,  and  learned  the  business  thor- 
oughl}-.  In  those  early  days  the  newcomers  to  the  Middle  West  frequently 
suffered  from  the  ague,  and  the  subject,  not  being  exempt,  left  that  country  on 
this  account  and  returned  home  after  an  absence  of  two  years.  When  the  call 
for  volunteers  to  suppress  the  rebellion  was  sent  out,  it  at  once  appealed  to  Mr. 
Turner's  patriotic  impulses,  and  as  soon  as  he  could  arrange  to  do  so  he  "bade 
farewell  to  kith  and  kin"  and  in  July,  1862.  he  enlisted  at  Waynesburg  in  Com- 
pany K,  Fifteenth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry.  At  the  battle  of  Antietam  their 
colonel  was  captured,  Ijut  later  made  his  escape,  and  upon  rejoining  his  regi- 
ment it  was  reorganized,  Mr.  Turner's  company  becoming  Company  D.  Their 
colonel,  William  J.  Palmer,  was  later  made  a  brigadier-general.  He  was  al- 
ways greatly  beloved  by  his  soldiers  and  is  now  living  at  Colorado  Springs, 
Colorado.  In  1907  he  held  a  reunion  of  his  regiment,  furnishing  transporta- 
tion for  all  those  living  and  who  could  attend.  The  subject  was  there  and 
the  memory  of  this  reunion  will  fondly  linger  with  him  until  the  final  ''taps" 
are  sounded.  Besides  the  bloody  conflict  mentioned  above,  Mr.  Turner  took 
part  in  the  scarcely  less  sanguinary  conflicts  of  Chickamauga  and. Stone  River. 
He  was  in  the  campaign  about  Atlanta,  then  their  command  was  sent  back 
to  General  Thomas  and  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Xashville.  He  was  with 
General  Stoneman  on  his  campaign  through  North  Carolina,  Georgia,  Ala- 
bama and  Tennessee.     Fie  was  in  manv  skirmishes  and  saw  much  hard  service. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  597 

He  was  wounded  in  the  foot  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  and  he  was  at  one 
time  confined  in  the  hospital  on  account  of  sickness.  According  to  his  com- 
rades he  made  a  most  faithful  soldier,  and  for  meritorious  service  became  first 
sergeant  of  his  compan\ .  After  three  years'  service  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged and  mustered  out  on  June  12.  1865. 

After  his  career  in  the  army  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania  and  the  follow- 
ing year  came  to  Iowa,  where  he  met  Elizabeth  Clark  and  in  March,  1866.  they 
were  married  in  Muscatine  county.  She  was  born  in  Tyler  county,  \'irginia. 
on  October  9.  1842.  the  daughter  of  Remick  and  Maria  (Hatfield)  Clark, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  They  moved  to  Virginia  shordy  after  their  mar- 
riage and  came  to  Muscatine,  Iowa,  in  1865,  later  moving  to  Missouri,  where 
they  bought  a  farm  on  which  they  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives.  Mr.  Clark  dying 
there  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  iiis  wife  reaching  the  age  of  eighty- 
four.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  children  that  grew  to  maturity,  as  fol- 
lows:  Emma,  who  married  a  ]\Ir.  McPherren.  lives  in  Geneva.  Nebraska;  A. 
B.  lives  in  Sullivan  countv,  Missouri ;  Mrs.  Minnie  Bailev  lives  at  Browningf. 
Linn  county.  Missouri;  Mrs.  Joseph  Pratt,  now  deceased,  also  lived  in  Mis- 
souri; Mrs.  Amanda  Johnson  lives  in  Sullivan  county,  Missouri.  Stephen  Hat- 
field, grandfather  of  Airs.  Turner  on  her  mother's  side,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war. 

Following  their  marriage  Mr.  and  !\Irs.  Turner  went  to  Pennsyh'ania. 
but  the  following  year.  1867,  they  returned  to  Iowa  and  have  resided  here 
continuously  to  the  present  time.  For  two  years  Mr.  Turner  farmed  in  Fair- 
^•iew  township,  Jasper  county,  near  the  town  of  M(mroe,  and  in  1870  he 
moved  to  Prairie  City  and  worked  in  the  flouring  mill  there,  which  he  later 
purchased  and  in  which  he  installed  new  machinery,  converting  it  into  a  good 
rolling  mill  and  soon  built  up  an  extensi\e  and  lucrative  business.  This  he 
continued  to  operate  and  own  until  it  was  destroyed  l)y  fire,  nine  years  ago.  He 
did  not  rebuild  it.  but  has  lived  practically  retired  since  that  time.  He  has 
accumulated  a  competency  for  his  old  age  and  is  entitled  to  the  respite  he  is 
enjoying.  He  has  a  pleasant  home  in  Prairie  City,  which  he  bought  June  i. 
1 87 1,  fortv  years  ago.  and  he  has  lived  in  the  same  ever  since.  During  this 
long  period  he  has  witnessed  many  great  changes  in  this  locality. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Turner  six  children  have  been  l>orn,  namely:  \'irginia 
died  when  six  years  of  age;  Anna  'SI.  is  at  home;  Amanda  died  when  a  child; 
Alberta  died  in  infancy;  Xettie  married  Hart  W.  Zachary.  and  they  live  on  a 
farm  three  and  one-half  miles  west  of  Prairie  City,  in  Washington  township, 
and  they  have  four  children,  Leland,  Gerald,  Raymond  and  Grace.  Frank 
Turner  married  Haddie  Hanes  and  lives  in  Prairie  City,  where  he  is  employed 


-q8  jasper    county,    IOWA. 

as  bookkeeper  in  the  First  National  Bank,  and  they  have  one  child,  Francis 
Palmer. 

Politically,  ^Ir.  Turner  is  a  Democrat  and  he  cast  his  first  vote  for  Stephen 
A.  Douglas  in  i860  for  President.  He  is  a  member  of  McCray  Post  No.  177, 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  of  which  he  was  formerly  commander.  Mrs. 
Turner  is  a  member  of  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps. 


CHARLES  H.  JENNINGS. 

All  honor  and  praise  is  due  the  old  soldiers,  they  \\ho,  when  the  Union 
was  in  danger  of  being  disrupted,  gladly  and  unhesitatingly  left  their  varied 
tasks,  forsook  their  cheerful  hearthstones,  bade  farewell  to  home  folks,  shoul- 
dered their  muskets  and  offered  their  services  and  their  lives,  if  need  be,  in 
order,  as  the  Great  Emancipator  said,  "that  the  nation,  under  God,  might  live." 
By  their  great  sacrifices  we  of  today  are  enjoying  the  fruits  of  their  labors, 
the  glorious  heritance  which  is  inestimable.  One  of  this  W'Orthy  number  is 
Charles  H.  Jennings,  of  Newton,  Jasper  county,  a  man  whose  life  has  been 
led  along  consistent  lines,  resulting  in  much  good  to  those  with  whom  he  has 
come  into  contact  and  he  is  held  in  high  esteem  wherever  he  is  known. 

Mr.  Jennings,  who  is  of  English  and  Irish  ancestry,  w-as  born  in  Knox 
county,  Ohio,  May  26,  1845,  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Eliza  (McCowai)  Jen- 
nings, of  New-  England.  They  came  to  Ohio  when  both  were  children.  The 
paternal  grandfather,  Joseph  Jennings,  owned  land  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  on 
the  stage  road,  his  home  becoming  a  stage  station  in  the  early  days,  in  fact,  his 
place  was  a  sort  of  tavern  and  there  both  driver  and  teams  w-ere  changed.  His 
son  Joseph,  father  of  the  subject,  when  fifteen  years  of  age,  began  driving  the 
stage  through  Knox  and  adjoining  counties  and  continued  in  this  business  for 
a  period  of  twenty-five  years.  In  1856  he  came  to  Iowa,  driving  overland  in 
■'prairie  schooners"  from  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  where,  at  Reynoldsburg,  he 
had  kept  a  grocery  store,  the  trip  here  requiring  a  month,  for  the  roads  were 
very  rough;  on  the  way  a  sick  horse  was  traded  for  a  good  yoke  of  oxen.  He 
arrived  with  his  family  in  Newton  in  April,  1856,  his  family  at  that  time  con- 
sisting of  three  children,  four  having  been  born  at  later  dates,  and,  liesides 
himself  and  wife,  his  father  also  came  along,  but  the  latter  later  returned  to 
Ohio  and  his  death  occurred  at  Columbus.  During  the  first  year  of  his  resi- 
dence here  Joseph  Jennings  engaged  in  freighting.  He  handled  the  brick 
for  the  first  two  brick  houses  built  in  Newton,  those  for  George  Anderson  and 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  599 

Colonel  Meyers,  both  still  substantial  buildings.  The  same  year  he  bought 
one  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Newton  township,  which  land  now  lies  in 
Sherman  township,  paying  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  acre  for  the  same. 
This  he  cultivated  for  over  thirty  years,  during  which  time  he  became  one  of 
the  township's  leading  farmers,  and  laid  by  a  com])etcncy  ;  then  he  lx)ught 
property  in  Newton  and  moved  there,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his 
death,  in  1898,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-two  years,  his  wife  having  pre- 
ceded him  to  the  grave  many  years  before.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  char- 
acter and  always  a  hard  worker  and  a  useful  citizen. 

Charles  H.  Jennings  was  the  second  child  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of 
seven,  named  as  follows:  Isabel,  who  married  Milton  Heifner,  a  farmer,  died 
some  time  ago,  leaving  four  children;  Mary  F.,  who  married  Austin  Niffin, 
taught  school  a  number  of  years  in  this  county,  and  her  death  occurred  in 
Newton  a  few  years  ago;  George,  Cordelia,  Maggie  and  William,  all  died 
during  childhood. 

The  subject's  schooling  was  not  extensive,  owing  to  the  fact  that  he  grew 
up  in  a  pioneer  county ;  however  he  improved  such  opportunity  as  he  had  in  the 
subscription  schools,  walking  three  miles,  also  going  to  school  some  in  New- 
ton. When  seventeen  years  of  age  he  ran  away  and  joined  the  army,  his 
father  having  opposed  his  suggestion  to  become  a  soldier;  but  he  enlisted  in 
Company  L,  Ninth  Iowa  Cavalry,  on  August  3,  1863.  His  service  was  mostly 
in  Missouri  and  Arkansas,  taking  part  in  a  number  of  minor  engagements  and 
skirmishes,  and  while  he  was  not  wounded  he  suffered  from  a  severe  sun- 
stroke, which  has  proved  detrimental  to  his  health  ever  since.  He  was  also 
badly  hurt  by  his  horse  falling  on  him.  He  was  honorably  discharged  on 
February  3,  1866,  and  after  his  return  home  he  began  farming.  In  1871  he 
took  up  a  homestead  claim  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Kansas,  remain- 
ing there  until  1873,  when  he  sold  it  and  returned  to  Jasper  county.  In  1878 
he  bought  land  in  Adair  county,  but  sold  it  a  few  years  later,  after  which 
he  followed  carpentering  in  Newton  for  ten  years.  He  was  appointed  janitor 
of  the  court  house,  which  position  he  held  for  five  years.  He  bought  a  sub- 
stantial residence  property  on  Main  street  in  the  west  part  of  Newton,  and  in 
1894  traded  this  for  his  home  place,  which  is  pleasantly  situated  in  the  north 
end  of  the  city,  surrounded  by  four  and  one-half  acres  of  ground,  and  on  this 
Mr.  Jennings  has  planted  a  number  of  fruit  trees  of  excellent  variety,  and  that 
same  year  he  built  a  good,  cozy  house  here.  Besides  this  valuable  property, 
he  is  the  owner  of  a  very  desirable  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in 
Wells  county,  Colorado. 


600  JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

Mr.  Jennins^s  was  married  in  \H()H  lo  Araniinta  Runil)aui^h.  which  union 
proved  a  faihu^e  and  continued  less  than  a  }ear.  In  1876  he  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  wife  heing  Mary  Eleanor  Miller,  whose  death  occurred  in 
1896;  this  union  was  without  issue,  but  they  adopted  a  son  when  he  was  three 
davs  old,  he  ha\ing  proved  to  be  a  good  boy  and  a  great  comfort  to  his  foster 
parents.  Two  years  after  the  death  of  his  second  wife  Mr.  Jennings  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Airs.  Alma  Sager  Kintz,  who  was  born  in  Jasper 
county.  Iowa,  the  daughter  of  Simon  and  Eliza  Sager.  By  her  former  mar- 
riage, she  became  the  mother  of  one  child.  William  Kintz.  who  is  now  li\ing 
in  Xewton ;  he  is  a  moulder  and  carpenter.  The  two  boys  just  referred  to  grew 
up  together.  The  ado|)ted  son  was  named  Charles  Ernest  Jennings.  He  is 
now  in  Colorado. 

The  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  Garret 
Post  Xo.  16.  He  has  always  been  a  Republican. 


AVARREN  McVAY 


The  gentleman  to  whom  attention  is  directed  in  this  review  is  an  in- 
di\'idual  who  has  attained  pronounced  prestige  by  reason  of  native  and  ac- 
quired ability,  and  also  because  of  his  high  standing  in  the  domain  of  private 
citizenship.  Warren  McVay,  of  Newton,  Jasper  county,  is  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative men  of  this  vicinity  and  for  several  decades  past  has  been  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  industrial  and  business  interests  of  the  locality  of 
which  this  history  treats.  He  takes  a  deep  and  abiding  interest  in  everything 
pertaining  to  the  material  advancement  of  the  town  and  county  and  every 
enterprise  intended  to  promote  the  ad\-ancement  of  the  same  is  sure  to  recei\'e 
his  hearty  support.  He  is  rated  as  one  of  the  progressive  citizens  of  the 
county  in  which  he  has  lived  for  a  period  of  more  than  thirty  years  and  the 
high  respect  in  which  he  is  held  by  all  classes  of  people  is  a  deserving  compli- 
ment to  an  intelligent,  broad-minded  and  most  worth}-  man. 

yir.  McVay  was  born  on  February  15,  1862,  in  Schuyler  county,  Illinois, 
near  the  town  of  Rushville,  the  son  of  Alvin  and  Phoebe  (Sparks)  McVay, 
the  father  having  been  born  in  Ohio,  the  son  of  Isaac  McVay.  The  familv  is 
of  Scotch-Irish  extraction.  Alvin  McVay  was  a  cooper  by  trade.  He  spent 
most  of  his  life  in  Illinois,  one  year  in  Iowa  and  for  a  time  resided  in  Denver, 
Colorado,  later  returning  to  Illinois,  and,  after  a  successful  and  useful  life  he 
died  in  1894  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years     His  wife  was  born  in  Indiana  and 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  60I 

her  death  occurred  in  Denver  in  October.  1909,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four 
years,  having  made  her  home  in  that  city  after  the  death  of  her  husband. 
Warren  Mc\'ay  was  the  third  child  in  a  family  of  ten  children,  the  others 
being  named  as  follows:  Alary  j.,  wife  of  Milton  McVay.  a  distant  relative, 
lives  at  Camp  Point.  Illinois;  Rosa,  wife  of  John  Hasley.  lives  in  Xcwton ; 
Bert  died  in  Silk,  Colorado ;  Myron  died  in  Xewton ;  Xancy.  the  eldest  child, 
and  Calvin.  John  and  Laura,  all  died  in  infancy. 

^\'arren  McVay  attended  school  in  Adams  county,  Illinois,  and  on  Octo- 
ber 7.  1880.  he  arrived  in  Xewton.  h^wa.  and  he  attended  one  term  of  school 
in  Adamson's  Grove,  after  coming  to  Jasper  county.  In  order  to  get  a  start  in 
the  new  country  he  worked  by  the  month  on  different  farms  for  five  years, 
then  went  to  Den\er.  Colorado,  and  he  farmed  in  that  state  for  six  rears ;  but 
not  taking  any  too  kindly  to  rancliing  in  the  Centennial  state,  he  returned  to 
Iowa  in  1891.  locating  in  Jasper  county,  living  for  a  time  at  Kellogg. 

In  1893  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  May  Belle  Peters,  who  was  born 
in  Fayette  county,  Iowa,  the  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Landers)  Peters. 
Her  mother  was  a  native  of  Pennsyhania  and  the  father  of  Ohio.  He  de- 
voted his  life  to  farming.  He  was  only  nine  years  of  age  when  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Iowa  and  here  he  grew  up  with  the  country,  the  state 
being  new  when  he  arrived.  John  Peters  was  a  soldier  in  the  L'nion  army 
during  the  Civil  war,  having  enlisted  early  in  the  struggle  in  Company  F. 
X^inth  Iowa  \"olunteer  Infantry,  in  which  he  served  very  gallantly  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  receiving  an  honorable  discharge.  He  saw  some  hard  ser- 
\ice  in  many  campaigns  and  battles,  in  one  of  which  he  received  a  wound,  but 
not  of  serious  consequence.  Although  he  was  compelled  to  undergo  many 
hardships  of  camp,  skirmish  and  march,  he  never  regretted  his  service  to  his 
country.  He  is  still  living,  making  his  home  in  Marshalltown,  being  now 
sixty-eight  vears  of  age.     Mrs.  Peters  passed  away  in  1900. 

Eight  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Peters,  namely :  May 
Belle,  wife  of  Mr.  McVay;  Ida.  wife  of  T.  E.  Roseman,  who  is  in  the  mail 
service  at  Kellogg,  this  county;  Etta,  wife  of  Horace  Morgan,  lives  at  Mar- 
shalltown :  Anna,  wife  of  Albert  Haines,  also  lives  at  Marshalltown :  Xellie. 
who  married  Harvev  Gilbert,  lives  at  Grinnell.  Iowa;  Wilder  makes  his  home 
in  Wisconsin;  Willis  is  a  citizen  of  Marshalltown;  Martha  died  in  infancy. 

After  his  marriage  Air.  Mc\^ay  farmed  for  himself  and  as  a  general 
farmer  and  stock  raiser  met  with  encouraging  success  all  along  the  line.  In 
1910  he  moved  to  Xewton  and  started  a  dairy  business,  which  has  grown  int(i 
extensive  proportions,  and  his  patrons  still  constantly  increase.  He  is  well 
prepared  for  this  work  and  understands  every  detail  of  the  same.     He  hn^^ 


602  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

every  modern  appliance  and  equipment  to  carry  on  an  up-to-date,  sanitary  and 
successful  dairy.  His  honesty  has  been  so  pronounced  that  all  who  have  had 
dealings  with  him  have  confidence  in  his  integrity.  He  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful in  his  life  work,  and  besides  his  dairy,  owns  a  substantial  and  pleasant 
home  on  Greencastle  avenue,  Xewton. 

Three  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  McVay,  namely:  Alma 
and  Glen  are  both  attending  school  in  Xewton ;  Leola,  the  youngest,  died  in 
infancy. 

Politically,  ]\Ir.  McVay  is  a  Republican,  and  while  he  is  loyal  to  his  party 
and  a  booster  for  Newton  and  vicinity,  he  is  in  no  sense  a  politician,  preferring 
to  give  his  attention  exclusively  to  his  individual  affairs.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Modern  \\'oodmen  and  of  the  Christian  church  at  Kellogg.  He  and  his 
wife  have  made  a  host  of  friends  since  coming  to  Newton. 


CHARLES  H.  BRIDGES. 

Among  the  native-born  residents  of  Jasper  county  who  have  reached  a 
well  merited  success  must  certainly  be  included  the  name  of  Charles  H. 
Bridges,  well  known  young  business  man  of  Newton  He  represents  one  of 
the  county's  old  and  influential  families,  and  honesty  and  fair  dealing  having 
been  his  watchwords,  these  twin  virtues  having  ever  been  personified  in  his 
active  life.  He  has  kept  unsullied  the  fair  name  of  his  forbears  and  is  in 
every  way  deserving  of  the  high  respect  which  is  accorded  him  by  all  his 
acquaintances. 

^Ir.  Bridges  was  born  in  Newton  township,  this  county,  April  i6,  1877. 
He  is  the  son  of  Absolom  Green  Bridges,  commonly  known  as  "Green'' 
Bridges.  He  was  born  in  Indiana  and  he  married  Sarah  A.  Reynolds,  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  who  came  to  Iowa  when  twelve  years  of  age,  her  parents 
having  gome  direct  to  Jasper  county  from  Kentucky  in  1853.  Green  Bridges 
was  also  young  when  he  came  to  this  county,  his  advent  here  being  in  1845 
or  1846.  He  came  with  his  mother  and  first  wife,  who  died  a  few  years  after 
locating  here.  Here  the  parents  of  Charles  H.  Bridges,  of  this  review,  met 
and  married.  They  devoted  their  lives  to  farming,  their  parents  also  having 
been  farmers  on  both  sides  of  the  house.  By  thrift  and  untiring  industry 
Green  Bridges  became  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  the  county,  at  one  time 
owning  five  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  valuable  land,  all  in  Newton  town- 
ship.    Later,  through  his  too  generous  nature  and  his  kindness  of  heart  and 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  603 

faith  in  his  fellow  men,  he  lost  a  considerable  portion  of  this  property.  He 
was  ever  willing  to  heed  the  story  of  another's  misfortunes  and  always  willing 
to  help.  He  frequently  gave  assistance  that  was  not  properly  appreciated,  and 
lost  by  so  doing.  He  was  a  sturdy,  true,  likable  character  and  few  men  in  the 
country  were  better  liked.  A  man  of  strong  convictions,  he  was  deeply  in- 
terested in  educational  and  church  work,  serving  the  church  and  his  town- 
ship in  many  capacities.  For  years  he  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
school  and  was  always  working  to  ameliorate  local  conditions,  to  make  his 
fellow  men  better.  Once  he  left  the  farm  and  came  to  Newton,  where  he  con- 
ducted a  general  store  for  three  years,  but  returned  to  the  farm  when  he  sold 
the  store,  dying  soon  afterwards  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Republican  and  was  active  in  party  affairs,  in  fact,  he  was  a  local  leader  in  his 
party  and  served  it  in  many  ways. 

By  his  first  marriage  Green  Bridges  became  the  father  of  three  children, 
but  one  of  whom,  Emoline,  wife  of  Joseph  Reynolds,  of  Des  Moines,  is  living. 
Twelve  children  were  born  of  his  second  union,  five  of  whom  are  now  living, 
namely:  Freddy  and  Etta  died  when  children;  Oliver  Perry  died  in  Xewton 
when  twenty-six  years  of  age ;  Hayden  died  on  the  home  farm  when  twenty- 
five  years  of  age;  Absolom  G.  died  there  when  twenty- four  years  old;  Carrie 
May  died  at  home  when  seventeen  years  old;  Rilla  Maud  died  at  the  age  of 
fifteen.  Those  living  are:  Rebecca,  wife  of  John  W.  Foreman,  lives  in  Xew- 
ton; Jennie  is  the  wife  of  \Y.  E.  Smith,  of  Newburg,  Iowa;  Joseph  M.  lives 
in  Plankinton,  South  Dakota;  Charles  H.,  of  this  review;  Frank  G.,  the 
youngest,  lives  with  his  mother  in  Newton.  All  the  children  by  the  second 
marriage  were  born  in  Newton  tow-nship  and  all  but  two  in  the  same  house. 

After  the  death  of  the  father  Charles  H.  Bridges  was  left  to  care  for  the 
home  farm,  and  he  managed  the  same  very  successfully  for  a  period  of  five 
years,  although  a  mere  youth.  He  left  the  same  when  eighteen  years  old  and 
came  to  Newton  and  engaged  in  the  livery  business.  After  about  three  years 
he  added  a  transfer  business,  which  combination  was  continued  for  eight  years, 
at  the  end  of  which  time,  the  transfer  business  becoming  so  large,  he  disposed 
of  the  livery  business,  and  now  devotes  his  attention  exclusively  to  his  transfer 
work,  his  patronage  ever  increasing.  He  handles  all  kinds  of  baggage  and 
freight,  moves  household  goods  and  pianos,  and  he  is  well  equipped  for  prompt 
and  first  class  service  in  every  respect.  He  has  only  reliable  and  competent 
assistance  and  he  has  made  a  great  success  in  this  line  l)y  his  courteous  and 
fair  dealing  with  the  public.  During  the  past  four  years,  howe\er,  he  has  l)een 
agent  at  Newton  for  the  American  Express  Company. 


604  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

On  October  3.  1906,  Mr.  Bridges  was  iinitetl  in  marriage  with  Pauline 
Xugteren,  daughter  of  Peter  Nugteren,  a  native  of  Holland.  Both  parents 
are  living  near  Prairie  City.  Mrs.  Bridges  was  born  near  Pella,  Iowa.  She 
is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Xewton.  Mr.  Bridges  and  wife 
have  one  child,  Earl  LeRoy,  who  was  born  December  1 1.  1909. 

Politically.  Mr.  Bridges  is  a  Republican  and  fraternally  he  belongs  to  the 
Delta  Lodge  No.  53.  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  Newton,  being  at  i)resent  second 
lieutenant  in  the  Uniform  Rank.  He  was  for  four  years  a  member  of  the 
Newton  volunteer  fire  department. 


A.  W.  HALL. 


Of  the  able  and  enterprising  business  men  of  Colfax,  none  stands  higher 
in  the  esteem  of  his  contemporaries,  or  has  shown  more  of  business  sagacity 
and  capability  in  the  management  of  affairs  than  has  A.  \\\  Hall,  the  record 
of  whose  success  is  briefly  told  below. 

A.  W.  Hall  was  born  at  Junction,  Louisa  county,  Iowa,  on  November  22, 
1854,  the  son  of  James  G.  and  Celeste  A.  (Miller)  Hall.  James  G.  Hall  came 
to  Louisa  county,  Iowa,  in  1832,  and  the  next  year  brought  his  wife  and  fam- 
ily from  Crawfordsville,  Indiana,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  on  a 
Louisa  county  farm.  His  son,  A.  W.,  spent  his  boyhood  in  the  usual  pursuits 
of  farm  life,  and  in  1883  came  to  Colfax,  where  he  has  since  resided.  For 
nearly  twenty  years,  until  1902,  he  was  engaged  in  a  general  store  which  did  a 
thriving  business,  his  partner  being  his  brother,  W.  F.  Hall,  and  the  firm  being 
known  as  Hall  Brothers.  Here  Mr.  Hall  gained  that  business  experience 
which  has  stood  him  in  such  good  account  in  his  later  ventures.  In  1901  he 
became,  at  the  organization  of  the  Fry  Bottling  Works,  a  partner  in  the  com- 
pany, is  now  the  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  has  since  that  time  devoted  his 
whole  time  to  the  company's  affairs.  This  company  deals  in  the  celebrated 
Colfax  mineral  waters,  which  it  bottles  and  .ships  all  over  the  United  States, 
their  product  bearing  the  brand  "Fry's  Pure  Colfax  Water,"  which  is  a  guar- 
antee of  its  purity  and  relialjility.  The  sales  of  the  company  are  each  year 
steadily  growing,  and  much  credit  is  due  to  the  enterprise  of  Mr.  Hall  and  his 
associates,  who  have  founded  and  built  up  this  new  business  in  Colfax.  Mr. 
Hall's  attention,  directed  to  his  share  of  the  management  of  the  plant  and 
affairs,  has  contributed  a  large  part  to  the  success  of  the  venture,  for  he  is  a 
thonmgh  and  competent  man  of  affairs,  with  a  brain  wln'cli  can  not  onlv  con- 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  605 

ceive  ideas,  but  which  can  execute  the  ideas  conceived  and  carry  them  out  to 
fruition. 

Mr.  Hall  married  Ella  Young,  a  native  of  Washington,  hjwa.  To  this 
marriage  five  children  have  been  born:  Fred;  J.  X..  a  graduate  of  Grinnell 
College,  now  of  Boston,  ^^lassachusetts ;  Harvey  \\'..  of  (irinnell  College; 
Dorothy  Elizabeth  and  Marjory  Celestia.  now  in  school.  Mr.  Hall  is  much 
devoted  to  his  wife  and  children,  and  has  given  to  the  latter  the  best  advantages 
which  could  be  afforded. 


HEXRY  S.  EFXOR. 


The  veterans  of  the  great  Union  army  that  saved  the  nation  from  dis- 
ruption during  its  darkest  period  should  be  justly  proud  of  what  they  have 
done  for  succeeding  generations,  having  left  an  inheritance  of  which  we 
should  be  very  grateful ;  indeed  we  owe  them  a  debt  of  gratitude  that  we  can 
never  pay.  Xow  that  the  "sunset  of  life"  is  upon  them  and  the  "grand  army 
of  the  republic"  is  continuously  marching  across  the  "great  divide"  to  join 
"the  phantom  army  in  the  silent  land."  let  us  of  the  aftermath  accord  them 
every  courtesy  and  honor,  and  prove  our  gratitude  for  what  they  have  achieved 
while  we  have  the  opportunity.  One  of  this  worthy  number  is  Henry  S. 
Efnor.  long  a  well  known  business  man  and  public  official  of  Jasper  county, 
now  living  in  retirement  in  his  cozy  home  in  Xewton.  surrounded  by  every 
comfort  of  life  as  a  result  of  his  former  years  of  industry  and  right  living. 

Mr.  Efnor  was  lx)rn  May  4,  1839,  in  Saratoga  county,  Xew  York.  He  is 
the  son  of  Samuel  S.  and  Perlexy  (Xims)  Efnor.  both  natives  of  the  state  of 
XTew  York,  where  thev  grew  to  maturity,  were  educated  and  married.  The 
paternal  grandfather  came  from  Germany  with  two  brothers,  locating  in  the 
United  States  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  and  they  fought  in  the  fam<jus 
battle  of  Saratoga,  one  brother  being  killed  there ;  subse(|uently  another  went 
west  and  the  third.  John,  settled  in  Xew  York,  and  from  him  sprang  the 
subject's  family.  In  his  early  life,  Samuel  S.  Efnor.  father  of  Henry  S..  of 
this  review,  was  a  lumberman.  He  came  west  and  located  in  Jasper  county. 
Iowa,  in  1853.  securing  eighty  acres  of  raw  land  in  Elk  Creek  township;  this 
he  improved  and  here  lived  until  his  death,  in  1868.  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight 
years.  His  wife,  who  was  a  "down  East  Yankee."  died  in  1871,  being  also 
fifty-eight  years  old.  The  father  was  a  man  of  splendid  Christian  character, 
of  strict  morality  and  integrity,  having  none  of  the  so-called  bad  habits,  never 
having  used  liquor.     He  was  active  in  church,  educational  and  political  work. 


6o6  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Henrv  S.  Efnor  was  the  only  son  in  a  family  of  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  now  living",  namely:  Electa,  widow  of  Francis  Butin,  lives  in 
Galesburg.  Iowa ;  Fannie  married  H.  M.  Talbot  and  lives  in  Fargo,  Xorth 
Dakota;  Ella  married  John  ]\Iinor  and  lives  in  Harlan.  Iowa. 

Henrv  S.  Efnor  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  and  secured  what  educa- 
tion he  could  in  the  old-time  schools.  Up  to  i860  he  worked  out  as  a  farm 
hand  and  in  the  coal  mines.  He  then  began  contracting  for  coal  delivery  in 
Fulton  county,  Illinois.  On  April  5,  i860,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Esther  M.  Henrv,  of  Pennsylvania,  and  this  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of 
seven  children,  of  whom  two  are  deceased;  Edwin  resides  in  Newton;  Robert 
lives  in  Webster,  South  Dakota ;  George  is  farming  in  Buena  Vista  township, 
this  countv ;  Frank  is  farming  in  Fairview  township ;  Ella  married  Ulysses 
Brown  and  they  live  in  W'ayland,  Iowa ;  Henrietta  died  when  eight  years  of  age 
and  Fannie  when  a  baby. 

In  the  winter  of  i860  Mr.  Efnor  came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  and  began 
farming.  He  could  not  be  content  to  remain  at  the  plow  when  his  country  was 
in  arms,  consequently  in  August,  1862,  he  left  his  young  wife  and  child  and 
enlisted  in  Companv  K,  Twenty-eighth  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Capt. 
John  Meyer.  After  short  stops  at  Iowa  City  and  Davenport,  the  regiment  was 
sent  to  Helena,  Arkansas,  thence  to  Oakland,  Mississippi,  then  was  sent  on 
the  White  river  expedition  to  Duval's  Bluff,  Arkansas,  and  later  took  part  in 
the  famous  siege  of  Vicksburg.  Mr.  Efnor  took  part  in  the  bitter  engage- 
ments of  Grand  Gulf,  Port  Gibson,  Edward's  Station,  Baker's  Creek  and 
Champion  Hills,  having  been  desperately  wounded  in  the  last  named  engage- 
ment, having  been  shot  through  the  right  thigh  and,  being  unable  to  walk,  he 
was  captured,  and  he  was  permitted  to  lie  upon  the  ground  with  no  covering  of 
any  kind  for  two  weeks.  The  wounded  prisoners  were  placed  in  lines  of 
twenty-five  each,  and  received  little  or  no  attention  whatever.  Their  food  con- 
sisted of  but  a  half  pint  of  thin  soup  to  each  man  per  day.  Mr.  Efnor's  wound 
was  not  dressed  for  three  days  after  the  battle ;  in  that  time  it  was  in  a  very 
bad  condition,  and  then  it  was  merely  washed.  In  the  group  of  twenty-five 
wounded  Federal  soldiers  in  which  he  was  in,  all  died  but  Mr.  Efnor.  Two 
weeks  later  the  subject  was  fortunate  enough  to  be  exchanged  and  was  placed 
on  a  boat  bound  for  Memphis.  His  leg  and  right  side  were  swollen  to  twice 
their  normal  size  and  were  a  mass  of  vermine  and  clotted  blood.  After  re- 
maining in  a  Union  hospital  three  weeks,  he  was  taken,  along  with  some  In- 
diana soldiers,  to  Indianapolis.  Later  Governor  Morton  sent  him  to  St.  Louis 
and  from  there  he  was  sent  home  on  a  thirty  days'  furlough.  He  was  using  a 
crutch  and  cane  when  he  returned  to  his  regiment  at  Opaloosa,  Louisiana, 


JASPER    COUXTY,    IOWA.  607 

reaching  there  just  as  it  was  going  into  battle.  Later  he  participated  in  the 
Red  River  expedition  and  fought  at  the  battle  of  Sabine  Cross-Roads.  He  was 
then  transferred  to  the  Eastern  army,  with  which  he  marched  over  a  large 
portion  of  the  South.  He  w^as  at  the  battles  of  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill  and 
Cedar  Creek,  and  he  saw  Sheridan  make  his  famous  ride.  All  told,  Mr. 
Efnor  was  in  fourteen  general  engagements,  besides  numerous  skirmishes,  in 
all  of  which  he  acquitted  himself  most  creditably,  according  to  his  comrades 
After  being  honoraljly  discharged  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  he  returned  home  and 
resumed  farming,  which  he  continued  until  1887,  when  he  began  contracting 
county  bridges.  This  he  continued  with  a  large  measure  of  success  for  four- 
teen years,  building  bridges  all  over  the  county.  Beginning  in  1882.  he  served 
a  term  of  three  years  as  county  supervisor.  In  1890  he  retired  and  moved  to 
Newton.  He  owns  considerable  farm  and  city  property,  all  well  improved  and 
desirably  located. 

\[t.  Efnor's  first  wife  died  about  1906  and  he  subsequentlv  married  Anna 
Swank,  of  Jasper  county,  which  union  has  been  without  issue. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Efnor  is  a  member  of  the  Masons  and  Knights  of 
Pythias.  He  is  a  member  of  Garrett  Post  Xo.  16,  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public, of  which  he  is  past  commander.  He  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Con- 
gregational church,  of  which  he  w^as  formerly  a  trustee  and  is  now  a  deacon. 


A.  C.  AUTEX 


Alex.  C.  Auten  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  July  20,  1839.  and  came 
of  that  stock  which  meant  so  much  to  the  early  history  of  this  country.  He  is 
the  second  child  in  a  family  of  eleven  born  to  J.  C.  and  Rebecca  (Colley) 
Auten,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  of  whom  there  are  only  seven  now  sur- 
viving besides  the  subject,  namely:  Mary  E.,  who  was  the  wife  and  is  now  the 
widow  of  Madison  Boatright,  living  in  Buena  \'ista  township,  Jasper  county, 
Iowa ;  Jacob  Wesley ;  William  Allen ;  James  Finley ;  and  Alice,  who  married 
Wheeler  Cole,  all  living  in  Ohio;  and  Almira,  wife  of  George  Hall,  living  in 
Pennsylvania.  Those  of  the  family  who  have  departed  this  life  are:  Henry 
Clinton,  who  died  some  years  ago;  Louisa  died  at  the  age  of  six;  John  died  in 
infancy;  and  Emma,  who  married  Stucker  Robbins,  died  in  1875.  Both 
father  and  mother  died  in  Ohio,  to  which  state  they  had  removed  soon  after 
the  birth  of  their  eldest  child,  Henry  Clinton,  in  the  year  1837. 

Alex.  C.  Auten  and  his  sister,  Mary  E.  Boatright,  were  the  only  members 
of  the  familv  that  ever  came  to  the  West,  and  on  January  16.  1862.  Mr.  Auten 


6o8  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

was  united  in  marriage  to  Lois  D.  L'oot,  in  Ohio,  who  was  born  in  Knox 
county,  that  state,  being  the  daughter  of  Aninijah  and  EHzabeth  (DilHston) 
Foot.  She  was  one  of  fourteen  children.  One  of  her  brothers,  Wilbur  Foot, 
enlisted  in  an  Ohio  company  and  served  in  the  Civil  war  during  the  struggle 
between  the  North  and  South. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Auten  were  born  two  children.  The  elder,  Frank  ]\Ic- 
Clellan.  was  born  in  October.  -1865,  while  the  faniilv  li\ed  in  Ohio;  and  Jay 
C.  was  born  September  i,  1872,  in  Buena  Vista  township,  Jasper  county,  Iowa, 
but  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years.  In  the  spring  of  1866  the  family  moved 
to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  and  for  three  years  after  coming  west  Mr.  Auten 
rented  land,  after  which  period  he  purchased  forty  acres  in  Hixon  Grove, 
Buena  \'ista  township.  Later  he  sold  this  land  and  in  1895  he  and  his  son, 
Frank,  jnirchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  section  i,  in  Buena  Vista 
township,  which  they  still  hold.  The  son  Frank  lives  near  the  home  place, 
with  his  interesting  family  of  four  children.  The  wife  and  mother,  Susie 
May  (Morris)  Auten,  was  called  from  this  life  on  June  2,  1910,  leaving  to 
mourn  her  loss,  besides  her  husband,  a  little  daughter,  Annie  Lois,  aged  eight 
years ;  two  sons.  Jay  Morris,  seven  years  old :  Charles  Winsor,  four  years  old ; 
and  a  baby  daughter,  Margaret,  aged  only  two  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Auten  are  well  beloved  and  esteemed  by  all  who  know 
them,  and  are  of  the  finest  and  best  citizens  of  Jasper  county.  Both  are  faith- 
ful and  consistent  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


XOBLE  I.  FUGARD. 


A  citizen  of  Xewton  who  has  earned  well  merited  success  is  Noble  J. 
P'ugard,  for  his  life  has  been  led  along  conservative,  industrious  and  hon- 
orable lines  and  he  has  ever  sought  to  do  his  full  duty  as  a  citizen.  He  is  of 
German  descent  and  a  native  of  the  old  Buckeye  state,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  Mercer  county,  Ohio,  April  6,  1862,  and  he  is  the  son  of  John  M.  and  Clara 
(Tindall)  Border,  he  having  been  adopted  into  the  Fugard  family.  His 
parents  were  married  at  Deerfield,  Mercer  county,  Ohio,  and  his  father  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  a  member  of  a  ^•olunteer  regiment  from  that  state, 
in  which  he  served  througiiout  the  struggle.  Returning  to  Ohio  after  the 
war,  he  soon  afterwards  drove  through  from  that  state  to  Jasper  county, 
Iowa,  bringing  his  family  in  an  old-fashioned  covered  wagon,  the  trip  requir- 
ing seven  weeks,  the  country  through  which  they  passed  being  wild  and  the 
roads  very  njugh.     The  hardships  of  the  trip  were  added  to  by  almost  con- 


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JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  609 

tinuous  rains,  all  of  which  greatly  discouraged  them:  but  the  mother,  a  cour- 
ageous little  woman,  refused  to  be  daunted  and  her  admirable  display  of  forti- 
tude kept  up  the  courage  of  the  others,  frequently  singing  the  old  hymn,  "We 
Will  Stand  the  Storm,  It  Will  Not  Be  Long."  The  family  settled  on  a  farm 
in  Clear  Creek  township,  this  county,  and  besides  farming,  the  father,  who 
was  an  engineer,  had  charge  of  a  stationary  engine  in  that  neighborhood, 
working  in  this  capacity  for  a  Mr.  Richards.  But  a  short  time  after  reaching 
here  disaster  visited  the  home  and  the  happy  family  circle  was  broken  up  by 
the  sad  death  of  the  mother,  who  was  burned  to  death.  The  father  then  left 
this  part  of  the  country,  leaving  his  child.  Noble  J.,  of  this  review,  to  the 
care  of  neighbors.  He  was  taken  into  the  home  of  John  F.  Fugard  when  six 
years  of  age  and  remained  with  that  family  until  after  he  became  of  age  and 
he  took  their  name.  Having  never  been  legally  adopted  by  them,  when  he 
reached  his  majority,  he  secured  an  order  from  the  court  changing  his  name 
from  Border  to  Fugard  and  he  has  since  been  known  to  ever)'body  by  the 
latter  name.  After  the  death  of  the  mother  of  the  subject,  the  father  married 
again  a  Mrs.  Young,  and  had  a  daughter,  Mary  Border,  half-sister  of  the 
subject.  She  lives  in  Des  ]Moines,  and  is  now  Mrs.  Frank  Ferris.  His  second 
wife  is  deceased,  but  Mr.  Border  is  living  in  Des  ^loines.  There  was  but 
one  other  child  born  to  the  parents  of  the  subject,  a  daughter,  who  died  in 
infancy. 

yir.  Fugard  knows  but  little  of  his  mother's  people.  She  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  Tindall,  the  latter  a  brother  of  George  Tindall.  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  The  family  owned  considerable  land  where  the  city  of 
Trenton,  New  Jersey,  now  stands. 

On  June  6,  1886,  Noble  J.  Fugard  was  united  in  marriage  with  Lou 
Mason,  whose  death  occurred  on  September  12,  1888.  On  August  17,  1903, 
he  was  married  to  ]\Irs.  Jennie  Edwards,  widow  of  Charles  Edwards,  and  the 
daughter  of  John  W.  and  Rebecca  (Nichols)  Bicknell.  Her  father  was  a 
native  of  North  Carolina  and  was  the  son  of  Pleasant  and  Miary  (Campbell) 
Bicknell.  Her  mother  was  the  daughter  of  John  and  Mar>-  Nichols  and  was 
born  October  15,  1831,  and  died  April  2^,  1863.  Her  people  were  among  the 
earliest  settlers  in  Jasper  county  and  a  full  mention  of  them  will  l)e  found  in 
the  sketch  of  Hannah  Nichols,  appearing  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

To  John  and  Rebecca  Bicknell  five  children  were  lx>rn.  namely :  Wilford 
S.,  Weslev  C,  William  H.,  Elias  M.  and  Mar\-  Jane,  the  wife  of  Noble 
Fugard,  of  this  review.  She  was  born  June  2=,,  1859.  After  her  mother's 
death  her  father  married  Valinda  Blackwood,  and  to  this  union  two  children 
were  born,  Frank,  and  Lester  W.,  who  died  in  191 1. 

(39) 


6lO  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Mrs.  Fugard's  father,  John  Bicknell,  was  a  well  known  man  in  this  local- 
ity. He  was  a  successful  farmer,  carpenter  and  also  owned  a  livery  barn  in 
Xewton  for  a  number  of  years.  His  death  occurred  very  suddenly  on  Sep- 
tember 27,  1895,  in  Buena  Vista  township. 

Mary  Jane  Bicknell  was  married  to  Charles  Edwards,  May  22,  1882, 
and  to  this  union  was  born  one  child,  Etta  May  Edwards,  now  the  wife  of 
Guy  A.  Hammer,  son  of  Nathan  Hammer;  they  have  three  children,  Lois, 
Bessie  and  Lawrence. 

Not  having  any  children  of  their  own,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fugard  took  a  little 
girl  from  the  orphans'  home  in  September,  1907,  when  she  was  six  weeks' 
old.  They  have  adopted  her  and  named  her  Daisy;  she  is  much  beloved  by 
them  and  is  the  sunshine  of  their  home. 

yiv.  Fugard  at  one  time  owned  what  is  known  as  the  old  Nichols  place 
in  Buena  Vista  township,  but  sold  it  a  few  years  ago  and  moved  to  Newton, 
where  he  purchased  a  cozy  home,  known  as  the  Springer  property.  This  at- 
tractive and  pleasant  home  is  surrounded  by  two  acres  of  valuable  land. 

Mr.  Fugard  is  independent  in  politics,  but  is  in  sympathy  with  the  Pro- 
hibitionists. He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  as  is  also  his  wife.  They 
enjoy  the  friendship  of  a  wide  acquaintance  and  their  home  is  known  as  a 
hospitable  one. 


JAMES  K.  TURNER. 


For  various  reasons  James  K.  Turner,  of  Newton,  Jasper  county,  is 
deemed  eligible  for  specific  mention  in  this  volume,  not  the  least  of  which  is 
the  fact  that  he  was  one  of  the  brave  "boys  in  blue"  who  offered  his  services 
in  defense  of  his  country  during  the  dark  days  of  the  early  sixties.  His  life 
has  been  one  of  honest  endeavor  and  certainly  not  de^•oid  of  good  to  his 
fellow  men.  as  many  of  them  will  freely  attest.  He  has  always  been  a  hard 
worker  and  has  never  permitted  obstacles  to  turn  him  from  his  course  when 
once  he  knew  that  he  was  right.  He  was  born  in  July,  1845,  ^^  Henry  county, 
Indiana,  the  son  of  James  and  Priscilla  (Ferrow)  Turner,  the  father  born  in 
Guilford  county.  North  Carolina,  and  the  mother  in  Virginia,  the  latter's 
people  at  one  time  being  ver}^  prominent  in  their  locality  and  owning  a  large 
plantation  along  the  Blue  river.  Her  father  was  a  slave  holder,  owning  about 
one  hundred  slaves,  and  at  his  death  these  and  his  estate  fell  to  the  subject's 
mother  and  her  brother,  John  C.  Ferrow,  later  a  general  in  the  Confederate 
army.     After  Priscilla  Ferrow  married  Mr.  Turner,  most  of  the  slaves  were 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  6l  I 

set  free,  largely  in  view  of  the  fact  that  James  Turner,  father  of  the  subject, 
was  a  Quaker  minister  and  opposed  to  holding  slaves.  In  an  early  day  the 
Turners  moved  to  Indiana,  but  did  not  remain  there  long,  having  returned  to 
High  Point,  Guilford  county.  North  Carolina.  In  1856  he  again  took  his 
family  to  Indiana  and  lived  there  until  his  death,  which  occurred  a  few  years 
later  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight;  the  death  of  the  mother  of  the  subject  oc- 
curred there  two  years  after  the  family  located  there,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight 
years. 

James  Turner  followed  farming,  and  also  engaged  in  the  distillery  busi- 
ness for  some  time,  which  in  those  days  was  universally  regarded  as  a  respect- 
able vocation.  His  family  consisted  of  ten  children,  of  whom  James  K.,  of 
this  review,  was  the  youngest;  four  of  the  sons  were  soldiers  in  the  Civil  war, 
John,  the  eldest,  having  been  with  Morgan ;  he  died  at  Eddy ville,  Iowa.  The 
other  children  were  named  as  follows :  Elizabeth,  who  married  a  Mr.  Smuck, 
is  now  deceased;  Jane  married  Mace  Beetle  and  lives  in  Jay  county.  Indiana; 
Mary  A.  is  the  wife  of  Philip  Oxley;  George  lives  in  Gas  City,  Indiana;  he 
w^as  a  soldier  in  Company  C,  Eighty-ninth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry;  Lewis, 
who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Thirty- fourth  Indiana  \'olunteer  Infantry,  is  now 
living  in  Texas ;  Priscilla,  who  married  Thomas  Tadlock,  also  lives  in  Texas ; 
Nancy,  who  married  Thomas  Mann,  lives  in  Michigan;  Malinda  died  in  In- 
diana. 

James  K.  Turner,  of  this  sketch,  attended  school  for  a  time  at  Buck 
Creek,  Indiana,  also  at  Fairmont.  When  less  than  seventeen  years  of  age  he 
enlisted  in  the  Union  army,  in  April,  1862,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war  with  honor  and  distinction,  seeing  much  hard  service,  having  taken  part 
in  over  thirty  of  the  most  sanginuaiy  battles  of  the  war,  besides  a  number  of 
smaller  engagements.  He  was  shot  through  the  body  at  Jackson,  Mississippi, 
February  6,  1864,  and  was  there  taken  prisoner,  and  it  was  some  time  before 
he  recovered.  As  a  private  in  Company  C,  Eighty-ninth  Indiana  Volunteer 
Infantry,  he  fought  in  the  following  engagements,  among  others :  Green  River 
bridge,  where  he  heard  his  first  cannon,  although  he  had  been  in  previous  en- 
gagements; ^lurfreesboro,  Lafayette,  Guntown,  Tupalo.  Coldwater.  The  two 
months  that  he  was  in  prison  he  subsisted,  mostly,  on  pea  bread  and  water  and 
during  that  time  his  wound  was  dressed  only  once ;  however,  in  the  house 
where  he  was  confined,  which  was  guarded  by  the  Confederates,  was  a  bright 
young  girl,  who,  feeling  sorry  for  the  wounded  Northern  lad,  sometimes  se- 
cretly gave  him  substantial  foocf  and  brought  him  water.  After  he  was  ex- 
changed he  was  sent  home.  As  soon  as  he  was  able  to  be  upon  his  feet  again  he 
reported  for  duty  at  Indianapolis,  but  was  told  that  he  was  unable  to  return  to 


6l2  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

the  front  and  was  ordered  to  the  hospital,  Ijiit  he  begged  so  hard  to  be  per- 
mitted to  rejoin  his  regiment  that  they  allowed  him  to  do  so,  and  he  was  sent 
to  ^lemphis,  later  going  with  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith's  command  on  the  Red  River 
expedition.  Later  in  the  war  Air.  Turner  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Sabine 
Cross  Roads,  Yellow  Build,  Fort  Duruso,  and  in  the  hand-to-hand  engage- 
ment at  Pleasant  Hill,  in  which  one  big  fellow  came  near  choking  him  to 
death,  but  a  comrade  saved  his  life  by  knocking  his  assailant  in  the  head.  They 
followed  General  Price  from  De  Soto  to  Lexington  and  to  Santa  Fe,  Kansas, 
and  had  several  small  engagements;  then  fought  at  Blue  River,  Sedalia,  Lone 
Jack,  and  was  in  the  two-days  battle  of  Xashville,  then  went  to  Xew  Orleans, 
and  he  witnessed  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Pike,  Fort  Morgan  and  Fort 
Gains.  He  was  on  the  sand  battery  and  battery  U.  G.  in  the  charge  on  the 
pontoons.  He  participated  in  the  siege  of  Fort  Blakely  throughout.  Later  he 
was  with  Sherman  in  his  march  to  Meridian,  Mississippi,  and  Avas  wounded 
at  Queen's  Hill.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Mobile.  Alabama,  and  received  an 
honorable  discharge  at  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  in  August,  1865. 

After  returning  from  the  war,  Mr.  Turner  bought  and  sold  cattle  for 
a  while,  then  went  to  Illinois  and  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  and  house 
moving.  He  came  to  Iowa  in  1870,  locating  first  at  Oskaloosa,  but  later 
moved  to  Xew  Sharon  and  there  he  w-as  married  to  Ellen  Shadley,  who  was 
born  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  the  daughter  of  William  and  Malinda  (Pendu- 
lum) Shadley;  the  father,  a  farmer,  was  born  in  Virginia  and  the  mother  in 
Ohio.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  those  living  besides  Mrs.  Turner 
being:  William,  of  Xewton,  Iowa;  Mrs.  James  Mitcheltree,  of  Xew  Sharon; 
Mrs.  Hester  Hilderbran,  of  near  Xew  Sharon;  Mrs.  Abbie  Stanford,  of 
Montezuma.  The  Shadley  family  came  to  Iowa  before  the  war. 

Six  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Turner,  namely :  ]\Iinnie, 
who  married  Edward  Lynn,  lives  in  Des  Moines,  and  they  have  seven  children ; 
Wesley,  who  lives  in  Xewton,  is  married  and  has  two  children ;  Clyde  also  lives 
in  Xewton ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Charles  Pugh,  lives  in  Des  Moines  and  has  three 
children ;  Allison  is  at  home ;  Elsie,  who  married  Bonner  Benedict,  died  leaving 
four  children. 

After  living  in  Xew  Sharon  three  years.  Mr.  Turner  moved  to  Marshall 
county,  but  later  went  back  to  Xew  Sharon.  Five  years  ago  he  came  to  X'ew- 
ton,  Jasper  county,  and  here  he  and  his  sons  are  successfullv  engaged  in  the 
house  moving  business,  having  built  up  a  large  patronage. 

Mr.  Turner  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  Lighton  Post,  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic.  Mrs.  Turner  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  613 

DAVID  FIXCH. 

David  Finch,  an  honored  citizen  of  Xewton  for  over  fifty  years,  one  of 
the  worthy  pioneers  of  this  new  country  whose  interests  he  e\er'had  at  heart 
and  sought  to  promulgate  in  any  way  possible,  was  born  in  Vates  county, 
New  York,  January  19,  1827.  His  childhood  and  vouth  were  spent  in  Ohio, 
in  which  state,  on  May  28,  1854,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Jemima 
Dean,  and  soon  afterward  they  emigrated  to  Iowa,  settling  in  Xewton,  Jasper 
county,  which,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  years  spent  in  Xebraska,  had  been 
his  home  through  all  the  years  until  his  death,  in  1908. 

In  February,  1877,  his  wife  was  called  to  her  rest,  leaving  beside  her 
husband,  three  sons,  Madison,  now  residing  at  W'ray,  Colorado,  and  Edgar 
and  Ernest,  residents  of  Xewton,  Iowa.  An  only  daughter,  Florence,  had 
died  in  early  childhood. 

In  X^ovember,  1879,  Air.  Finch  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  Kime. 
who,  with  their  one  son.  Earl  Finch,  of  Los  Angeles.  California,  survives  him. 
Surviving  him  are  also  four  sisters,  all  that  are  now  left  of  a  familv  of  eleven 
children.  ]\lr.  Fincli  was  a  man  of  industry  and  very  successful  in  a  material 
way, 

Mrs.  David  Finch  was  the  daughter  of  George  W.  and  Julia  Kime,  verv 
old  settlers  of  Jasper  county  and  well  known  here  to  a  past  generation,  both 
being  now  deceased.  The  mother  was  born  in  Ulster  county,  Xew  York. 
May  16,  181 6;  she  moved  to  Ohio  in  1837  and  two  years  later  was  married  to 
George  W.  Kime  and  they  moved  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  in  1852.  Then, 
ten  years  afterwards,  they  moved  to  a  place  three  miles  south  of  West  Union, 
Nebraska,  where  they  remained  until  Mrs.  Kime's  death,  December  5.  1890. 
Her  remains  were  brought  to  X^^ewton,  Iowa,  and  interred  in  the  cemetery 
here.  George  W.  Kiijie,  who  spent  the  latter  years  of  his  life  in  retirement, 
died  at  the  home  of  his  son,  Jarvis  Kime,  near  Dunning,  X'ebraska,  on 
December  22,  1898;  his  remains  were  interred  beside  his  wife  in  the  cemetery 
at  Xewton,  Iowa.  He  was  eighty-one  and  a  half  years  of  age.  having  been 
born  in  A'irginia  on  July  6,  18 17.  He  lived  in  his  native  state  until  seven  years 
of  age  when  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood  and  was  there  married  to  Julia  A  Springer  on  Xovember 
ID,  1839,  and  their  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three  children,  nainely : 
Margaret  E.,  who  died  in  her  seventeenth  year;  Jarvis  M..  who  lives  in 
Nebraska;  and  Mary,  widow  of  David  Finch  of  this  sketch. 

In   1 8 S3  George  W.  Kime  moved  with  his   family  by  wagon  to  Iowa 
countv.  Iowa,  and  there  lived  amid  the  primitive  conditions  prevailing  all  over 


6l4  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

the  state  at  that  period  until  1857,  in  which  year  he  moved  to  Newton,  Jasper 
county,  and  here  made  his  home  until  1879,  when  he  moved  his  family  to 
Custer  county.  Nebraska,  where  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent  on  a  farm. 
David  Finch  had  been  a  faithful  member  of  the  Congregational  church 
for  many  years,  in  fact,  was  one  of  its  pillars  of  strength.  He  was  also  a 
worthy  Mason,  a  Knight  Templar,  one  of  the  last  duties  of  his  life  being  in 
attendance  at  the  funeral  of  a  brother  Knight,  from  which  he  was 
returning  home  on  April  24,  1908,  when  he  was  stricken  with  paralysis  which 
resulted  in  his  passing  away  a  few  days  later  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years, 
three  months  and  twelve  days,  his  death  being  marked  w  ith  rare  fortitude  and 
sublimitv  of  faith. 


DANIEL  W.  WHITCOMB. 

The  world  owes  much  to  the  plain,  plodding  worker  who,  uncomplain- 
ingly, does  his  whole  duty  as  he  sees  it ;  but  beyond  his  labors  there  is  a  sphere 
of  activity  w-herein  the  workers  are  few  and  the  products  produced  are  most 
rare — that  of  genius.  Through  the  medium  of  this  subtle,  sublime,  elusive 
thing,  possessed  of  certain  favored  ones,  all  the  great  treasures  of  art,  litera- 
ture, music  and  science  have  been  given  to  the  world.  Those  who  know  him 
best  do  not  hesitate  to  pronounce  Daniel  W.  Whitcomb,  one  of  Jasper  county's 
best  known  citizens,  as  a  genius  of  high  order,  although  it  is  doubtful  if  many 
who  know  him  appreciate  this  fact  to  the  fullest  extent.  In  his  little  studio 
in  Newton  he  is  producing  photographic  art  studies  which  are  more  than  mere 
every-day  likenesses  as  turned  out  in  a  never-ceasing  stream  from  most  pho- 
tograph galleries;  they  are  works  of  art,  while  his  samples  of  burnt  wood 
etching,  his  painting  in  oil,  pastel,  water  color,  crayon  and  other  mediums  are 
of  the  finest. 

Mr.  Whitcomb  was  lx)rn  in  this  county  on  February  22,  1858,  and  he  is 
the  son  of  W.  A.  and  Anna  (Childs)  Whitcomb,  both  natives  of  New  York 
state.  The  father  was  a  skilled  mechanic  and  his  services  were  always  in  great 
demand;  he  even  made  violins  which  were  marvels  of  perfection.  Back  in  his 
native  state  he  was  a  miller,  and  later  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business.  He 
was  a  comparatively  young  man  when  he  came  to  Indiana  and  settled  near 
Vincennes,  where  he  continued  the  mercantile  business  until  1856.  when  he 
came  by  wagon  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  and  located  in  Rushville,  trading  his 
stock  of  goods  for  forty  acres  of  land,  to  which  he  later  added  forty  acres 
more,  and  he  follow^ed  farming  the  rest  of  his  life.    There  his  death  occurred, 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  6 1 


D 


at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years,  and  his  wife  was  aged  sixty-four  when  she 
was  summoned  to  the  silent  land.  The  old  homestead  is  still  in  the  hands  of 
the  family.  The  father,  as  has  already  been  intimated,  was  a  man  of  splendid 
natural  ability  in  many  ways.  He  was  ardently  interested  in  church  work 
and  in  the  upbuilding  of  his  locality,  and  he  was  an  advocate  of  all  that  was 
best  in  life,  being  highly  honored  by  all  who  knew  him.  His  wife  was  a  noble 
woman,  whose  innate  gentleness  of  character  shed  the  most  loving  and  benign 
influence  upon  her  home  and  friends.  Their  family  consisted  of  eleven  chil- 
married  Joseph  Braley  and  her  death  occurred  in  Kellogg  about  1887;  Am- 
anda, who  remained  unmarried,  died  there  when  twenty-two  years  of  age; 
William  A.  died  in  Rochester,  Washington,  in  1899;  J.  T.  died  in  Oregon 
about  1907;  those  living  are  Lodency,  wife  of  Dr.  \V.  H.  Green,  of  North 
Yakima,  Washington;  Stephen  A.  lives  in  Colorado;  C.  E.  lives  near  Prairie 
City,  this  county;  Eva  lives  in  Des  Moines;  Daniel  W.,  of  this  review. 

In  August,  1877,  Mr.  Whitcomb  entered  as  apprentice  with  Charles  A. 
Clifford,  of  Xewton,  learning  the  old  fashioned  "wet-plate"  process  of  photog- 
raphy, and  he  was  with  him  about  a  year,  after  which  he  went  to  Des  ^loines, 
where  he  remained  two  years.  Then  he  traveled  extensively,  teaching  the 
■'dry-plate"  process  of  photography,  and,  following  this,  he  again  worked  with 
Clifford  and  others  in  different  places. 

On  October  25,  1882,  ~Mr.  XMiitcomb  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Orlina  LaBar,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Sarah 
(Snyder)  LaBar,  the  father  a  native  of  France  and  the  mother  of  Xew  York. 
The  father  died  when  Mrs.  Whitcomb  was  a  baby,  so  she  has  no  recollection 
of  him  whatever.  Her  mother  and  the  rest  of  the  family  came  to  Iowa  in  an 
early  day  and  settled  in  Monroe  about  1867. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitcomb  have  been  lx)rn  four  children,  all  living, 
namely:  Leon  A.,  born  ]\Iarch  19,  1884,  in  Monroe,  and  who  has  been 
crippled  from  infancy,  began  selling  the  Saturday  Blade  when  a  child,  the  cir- 
culation of  which  he  soon  increased  from  thirty-four  to  one  hundred  and 
sixty;  selling  this  out,  he  began  jjcddling  extracts,  toilet  articles  and  other 
things,  and  by  untiring  industry  succeeded  in  getting  together  enough  money 
to  purchase  an  expensive  and  modern  pop^corn  and  peanut  wagon,  which,  with 
its  genial  and  hustling  little  owner  installed  within  it,  is  a  familiar  object  upon 
the  streets  of  Newton,  and  he  is  making  a  decided  success  of  the  business. 
The  other  children  are,  Mabel,  who  married  Thomas  A.  Ciire.  lives  in  New- 
ton ;  Lloyd  is  at  home.  He  has  been  in  the  employ  of  the  One  Minute  Manu- 
facturing Company  for  five  years  and  is  a  young  man  of  good  habits  and 
splendid  promise  in  business  affairs.  Crippled  like  his  brother  from  boyhood, 


6l6  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

he  has  not  permitted  seemingly  untoward  circumstances  to  thwart  him  in 
his  career.  An  operation  on  his  limb  recently  made  him  almost  normal  physi- 
cally. Florence  Edna  Whitcomli  is  with  her  parents,  and  is  a  recent  graduate 
of  the  Newton  high  school. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Whitcomb  opened  a  gallery  at  ]\Ionroe  and  in 
1886  he  went  to  Kellogg,  later  coming  to  Newton,  where  he  has  lived  practi- 
cally ever  since,  although  lie  has  trayeled  alone  and  with  his  family  in  many 
states,  principally  those  of  the  Middle  West.  During  his  travels  he  has  taught 
painting  in  different  mediums,  as  well  as  photography.  He  gave  up  his  pro- 
fession in  the  spring  of  1880  and  went  to  Cheyenne,  Wyoming,  where,  among 
other  things,  he  worked  on  a  newspaper.  At  another  time  he  accepted  a  con- 
tract to  finish  the  Atlas  Distillery  stock  barns.  This  contract  he  completed 
and  made  some  money  in  the  work.  He  has  occupied  his  present  location 
twelve  years  and  has  built  up  a  large  and  constantly  growing  business,  many 
of  his  patrons  coming  from  remote  sections  of  this  and  adjoining  counties,  for 
his  reputation  has  traveled  over  a  wide  territory.  He  makes  every  kind  of 
picture  known  to  the  photographic  art  and  his  ^york  in  all  branches  is  superb. 
He  also  makes  enlarged  portraits  in  water  color,  crayon  and  pastel.  His 
gallery  is  one  of  the  best  equipped  in  the  state,  being  fitted  to  make  all  kinds 
of  cuts,  half-tones,  chalk  plates,  zinc  etchings,  etc. 

Mr.  Whitcomb  in  his  fraternal  relations  belongs  to  the  Kellogg  Lodge. 
Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Modern  Woodmen  and  the  Yeomen,  of  Newton.  He 
is  a  man  of  genial  and  interesting  personality,  and  his  wife  is  admired  by  a 
wide  circle  of  acquaintances. 


GEORGE  W.  SIMPSON. 

George  W.  Simpson  is  a  name  known  to  every  one  who  has  any  acquanit- 
ance  whatever  with  the  business  history  of  Newton  and  Jasper  county,  for  he 
has  long  filled  an  active  place  in  the  industrial  affairs  of  this  locality,  and  as  an 
enterprising,  far-sighted  and  energetic  man  whose  judgment  is  seldom  at 
fault.  His  influence  has  made  for  the  substantial  upbuilding  of  the  commun- 
ity and  he  has  earned  the  good  will  and  esteem  of  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 

Mr.  Simpson  was  born  November  7,  1859,  at  Westfield,  Poweshiek 
county,  Iowa,  and  he  is  the  son  of  John  and  Elizal^eth  (Patrick)  Simpson. 
natives  of  Ohio,  the  father  of  Scotch  descent  and  the  mother  of  Irish.  The 
eider  Simpson  began  life  as  a  farmer.  l>ut  after  coming  to  Iowa  he  preached 
as  an  ordained  minister  in  the  United  Brethren  church.     While  living  near 


JASPER   COUNTY,    IOWA.  617 

Kellogg  he  had  three  charges,  one  of  which  was  forty  miles  west  of  Des 
Moines.  Every  two  weeks  he  dro\e  eighty  miles  to  preach  and  back  again 
after  the  services.  For  this  service  he  was  paid  sixty  dollars  a  year.  This 
one  instance  casts  a  strong  side  light  upon  the  inherent  strength  and  beauty  of 
the  father's  character  and  readily  reveals  why  he  was  one  of  the  best  belox'ed 
men  in  the  county.    All  his  life  was  spent  in  good  works. 

The  family  came  to  Iowa  in  1854,  first  settling  near  Dubuque  and  about 
a  year  later  came  on  to  Westfield.  For  years  the  father  conducted  a  tavern 
on  the  old  stage  road  between  Iowa  City  and  Des  Moines,  and  he  ran  a  general 
store  in  connection  with  the  same.  He  also  bought  and  shipped  cattle  and 
hogs  extensively,  often  driving  droves  of  hogs  as  far  as  Iowa  City  to  market, 
which  place  was  at  that  time  the  western  terminus  of  the  Rock  Island  system. 
After  selling  the  tavern,  he  bought  a  farm  three  and  one  half  miles  southeast 
of  Kellogg,  and  there  he  made  his  home  until  1873,  when  he  retired  from  farm- 
ing and  he  and  his  son  W\  S.  started  a  general  store  in  Kellogg,  which  they 
sold  after  conducting  it  until  1876,  whereupon  the  father  retired.  His  death 
occurred  in  Kellogg  in  1906,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-six  years;  the 
mother  is  still  living  in  that  town,  being  now  eighty-seven  years  old.  John 
Simpson  was  a  local  politician  of  more  than  ordinary  influence  and  he  was  for 
years  mayor  of  Kellogg,  the  last  time  when  past  eighty  years,  making  one  of 
the  best  officials  the  town  ever  had.  He  was  a  loyal  Republican  and  served 
his  township  in  many  capacities,  always  in  a  manner  that  reflected  much  credit 
upon  himself  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 

Eight  children  were  born  to  John  Simpson  and  wife,  of  whom  six  are 
living,  namely:  Thomas  J.  died  in  California,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years; 
Wallace  W.  died  in  Kellogg,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years;  W.  S.  is  an  eye 
and  ear  specialist  in  Des  Moines;  A.  J.  owns  and  operates  the  home  place  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres;  T.  L.  resides  in  Kellogg,  owning  the  only  hotel 
there,  and  also  has  two  farms ;  Sarah  E.  is  the  wife  of  James  Bennett  and  lives 
in  Kellogg;  George  \\  .  of  this  review  ;  L.  E.  is  a  retired  farmer  and  resides  in 
Kellogg. 

George  W.  Simpson  began  railroading  in  1876  as  water  boy  on  the  con- 
struction of  the  Rock  Island.  Two  years  later  he  began  working  with  the 
steam  shovel  gang  in  Missouri.  Then  in  the  fall  of  1879  he  began  braking 
on  the  Rock  Island  road,  in  Missouri,  remaining  two  and  one-half  years. 
From  that  state  he  went  to  Ogden.  Utah,  then  the  western  terminus  of  the 
Union  Pacific  road,  with  his  headquarters  at  Evanston,  Wyoming.  After 
about  a  year  he  was  transferred  to  Idaho  and  given  a  train.  This  he  con- 
ducted but  a  short  time,  when  he  was  placed  in  the  yards  at  Pocatello,  Idaho, 


6l8  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

as  yard  master.  All  told,  he  worked  twenty-three  months  for  the  Union 
Pacific.  He  then  went  to  San  Francisco  and  other  points  on  the  Pacific  coast, 
then  returned  east,  and  began  braking  out  of  Trenton,  ]Missouri,  continuing 
at  this  a  year  and  a  half,  after  which  he  ran  a  train  several  years,  being  a  con- 
ductor both  on  a  freight  and  a  passenger.  He  was  in  many  wrecks  and  saw 
much  hard  service,  a  great  deal  of  it  under  the  old-fashioned  style  of  apparatus, 
before  the  days  of  safety  devices  and  modern  improvements.  In  making  an 
old-fashioned  coupling  he  was  injured,  losing  a  part  of  his  hand.  He  was  in 
a  bad  wreck  in  January  before  quitting  the  railroad  business  in  February. 
At  one  time  he  worked  for  the  W^abash  railroad  three  months,  but  most  of  his 
long  service  was  with  the  Rock  Island  and  Union  Pacific.  He  became  widely 
known  in  railroad  circles  and  was  regarded  as  a  faithful,  honest  and  capable 
employe. 

Mr.  Simpson  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  Brotherhood  of  Railway 
Trainmen  and  was  its  first  delegate  ever  sent  to  the  grand  lodge  at  San  An- 
tonio, Texas.  Later,  however,  he  dropped  it  for  the  Order  of  Railway  Con- 
ductors, of  which  he  is  now  a  dimitted  member. 

After  he  quit  railroading  Mr.  Simpson  purchased  an  eighty-acre  farm 
near  Kellogg,  on  which  he  spent  nine  years,  then  sold  out  and  bought  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres  in  Kellogg  township  which  he  farmed  three  years ;  selling 
this,  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  forty -three  acres  in  Newton  township. 
After  living  here  three  years  he  sold  it  for  one  hundred  sixty-two  dollars  and 
fifty  cents  per  acre,  then  purchased  the  one-fourth  city  block  in  the  heart  of 
the  business  district  of  Newton  where  he  has  a  feed  store  and  hitch  yard, 
which  is  doing  a  large  business.  Besides  this  property,  he  owns  a  splendid 
modern  residence  in  Newton  and  valuable  farming  interests  in  Dickerson 
county. 

On  March  31,  1887,  Mr.  Simpson  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mattie  E. 
Stringer,  of  Missouri,  and  the  daughter  of  James  Stringer  and  wife,  both  now 
deceased ;  they  were  farmers  and  highly  respected  in  their  neighborhood  in 
^Missouri. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simpson  five  childien  have  been  born,  all  of  whom  are 
living,  namely:  Earl  E.,  born  February  26,  1888,  is  a  mail  carrier  in  Newton; 
Harry  V.,  born  December  6,  1889,  lives  in  De  Soto,  Iowa;  Guy,  born  August 
24,  1896;  Ruth,  born  April  26,  1902;  Gerald,  born  February  5,  1905,  the  last 
three  named  being  at  home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simpson  are  members  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  active 
and  sincere  workers  therein. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  619 

Mr.  Simpson  is  at  present  third  \ice-president  of  the  Methodist  Brother- 
hood. He  has  in  the  past  been  a  trustee  in  the  church  and  was  assistant  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday  school  two  years  and  teacher  of  the  men's  class  one 
years.  While  in  the  country  he  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  three 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  Central  Lodge  No.  73,  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  at  Newton,  being  its  present  treasurer.  In  January,  1903,  he  joined 
as  a  charter  member  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  at  Trenton,  Missouri,  later 
transferring  his  membership  to  Lodge  No.  76  at  Kellogg,  Iowa,  in  which  he 
has  passed  all  the  chairs  except  those  of  outer  guard  and  prelate.  At  this 
time  he  is  a  member  of  the  Newton  lodge,  which  he  has  represented  in  the 
grand  lodge  several  times.  He  was  a  delegate  from  the  Kellogg  lodge  to  the 
grand  lodge  at  Council  Bluffs.  Both  he  and  his  \vife  are  members  of  the 
Rebekahs,  and  Mr.  Simpson  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Brotherhood  of 
America,  of  which  he  is  secretary.  Mr.  Simpson  has  served  on  the  school  board 
of  Buena  Vista  township  for  three  years  and  as  road  supervisor  for  two  years. 
He  also  served  two  years  as  clerk  of  Newton  township.  He  is  regarded  as  one 
of  Jasper  county's  useful  and  representative  men. 


WILLIAM  ENSIGN  HILL. 

As  long  as  history  endures  will  the  American  nation  acknowledge  its  in- 
debtedness to  the  heroes  who,  between  1861  and  1865,  fought  for  the  preser- 
vation of  the  Union  and  the  honor  of  that  starry  banner  which  has  never  been 
trailed  in  the  dust  of  defeat  in  a  single  polemic  struggle  in  which  the  country 
has  been  involved.  Among  those  whose  militar}^  records  as  valiant  soldiers  of 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion  reflect  lasting  honor  upon  them  and  their  descendants 
is  William  Ensign  Hill,  well  known  citizen  of  Jasper  county,  where  he  has  long 
maintained  his  home  and  won  an  honored  name  by  virtue  of  his  consistency  to 
truth,  honesty  and  right  living.  Therefore  he  is  eminently  qualified  for  a  place 
in  the  present  volume. 

Mr.  Hill  was  born  in  Lyons  county.  New  York,  September  15,  1843,  and 
he  is  the  son  of  Joshua  and  Eliza  (Teller)  Hill.  His  father  was  a  carpenter 
and  died  when  the  subject  was  nine  years  old,  consequently  the  latter  knows 
but  little  of  his  father.  After  his  death,,  the  mother  continued  to  reside  in 
Knox  county,  Illinois,  whither  the  family  had  moved  when  the  son  William  E. 
was  five  years  old.  Later  they  moved  to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  where  the 
mother  remarried,  her  second  husband  being  John  Ladu.  They  subsequently 
moved  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  and  located  near  Newton. 


620  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

William  E.  Hill  is  one  of  a  family  of  eight  children,  of  whom  but  four 
are  now  living:  two  died  in  infancy;  Aaron  is  conducting  a  hotel  in  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri ;  Mrs.  ]\Iary  Smith  lives  in  Albany,  Oregon :  Mrs.  Richard  Barnes  is 
deceased;  \Mlliam  E.,  of  this  sketch,  is  next  in  order  of  birth;  Sarah  Andrews, 
who  later  became  ]\Irs.  Burris,  is  deceased ;  Charles  Hill  is  living  retired  in 
Newton. 

Upon  the  death  of  his  father.  William  E.  Hill  began  helping  his  mother 
support  the  family,  and  he  remained  at  home  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of 
age.  On  May  14,  1864,  not  being  able  to  longer  suppress  his  patriotism,  he 
enlisted  in  Company  B,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-eighth  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantrv.  under  Capt.  L.  B.  Hunt,  and  was  sent  to  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kansas, 
on  garrison  duty.  Later  he  was  among  the  troops  sent  down  the  river  after 
General  Price.  Returning  to  Fort  Leavenworth  he  was  mustered  out  and  dis- 
charged from  the  service  on  October  15,  1864.  when  his  term  of  enlistment 
had  expired.  Seven  weeks  before  his  discharge  he  fell  ill  with  fever  which 
had  been  brought  on  as  the  result  of  exposure,  and  although  he  had  been  fairly 
robust,  he  weighed  but  ninety-five  pounds  when  he  reached  home.  For  three 
months  after  he  returned  to  his  fireside  he  could  not  work,  but  when  spring 
came  on  he  went  to  the  fields  as  a  farm  hand.  In  the  following  autumn,  he 
and  his  brother  Aaron,  who  had  also  been  a  soldier,  serving  three  years  in  the 
Federal  army,  purchased  a  threshing  outfit,  which  they  operated  all  over  the 
county.  After  selling  the  machine  they  each  rented  farms  and  began  farm- 
ing. As  renter  and  then  owner,  the  subject  continued  farming  successfully 
until  fourteen  years  ago,  when  he  retired  and  came  to  Newton,  where  he 
owns  a  splendid  home  and  valuable  tow'n  property,  and  his  farm  in  Malaka 
township  is  one  of  the  best. 

On  December  8.  1867,  Mr.  Hill  was  united  in  marriage  with  Rebecca 
Emmert,  daughter  of  Philip  Emmert,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  To  this 
union  two  children  were  born,  one  of  whom,  Floreno  Adelpha,  died  when 
seven  months  old;  Philip  S.,  born  May  11,  1869.  is  living  on  a  farm  in 
Malaka  township,  this  county.  The  wife  and  mother  passed  to  her  rest  on 
October  28,  1880,  at  Morristown,  Illinois.  Subsequently,  on  October  13. 
1 88 1.  Mr.  Hill  was  united  in  marriage  with  Phebe  A.  Anderson,  of  Orion, 
Henry  county,  Illinois.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Anderson,  of 
Pennsylvania.  Her  parents  were  farmers  and  are  now  both  deceased.  Mrs. 
Hill  is  one  of  a  family  of  three  children,  all  daughters,  two  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing; Margaret,  who  married  Richard  O.  Richardson,  resides  in  Newton; 
Addie  Elizabeth,  who  married  John  Robbins,  is  deceased. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  6JI 

Thomas  Anderson,  mentioned  in  the  preceding  paragraph,  and  Aaron 
Hill,  brother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  were  together  when  thev  enlisted 
for  service  in  the  Union  army  at  Peoria,  Illinois,  September  20,  1862,  in  the 
One  Hundred  and  Twelfth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  they  had  a  rather 
remarkable  record,  seeing  much  hard  and  dangerous  service,  and  were  in  the 
following  engagements:  Monticello,  Kentucky;  Blue  Springs,  Philadelphia, 
Campbell's  Station,  Knoxville.  all  in  Tennessee;  Fort  Sanders,  Mossy  Creek, 
Strawberry  Plains,  Dandridge,  Rocky  Face  Ridge,  Resaca,  Carrsville,  Dallas, 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  Chattahoochie  river,  siege  of  Atlanta.  Decatur,  Stony 
creek,  Lovejoy  Station.  Duck  river.  Spring  Hill,  Franklin,  Xashville,  Port 
Anderson,  Town  creek.  \\'ilmington,  Kingston  and  Goldsborough  and  others, 
making  forty-one  engagements.     They  were  discharged  June  20,  1865. 

Although  reared  a  Democrat.  Mr.  Hill  is  at  present  a  supporter  of  the 
Republican  ticket.  He  has  always  been  a  public-spirited  man  and  willing  to  do 
his  part  in  all  public  matters.  He  served  seven  years  in  succession  as  super- 
visor of  roads  in  ]Malaka  township,  this  county.  He  and  his  wife  are  both 
members  of  the  ]\Iethodist  Episcopal  church  of  Xewton,  and  he  belongs  to 
Garrett  Post  No.  16,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  Mrs.  Hill  is  a  member 
of  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps  and  has  served  as  junior  vice-president  and  has 
also  been  color-bearer  of  the  post. 


H.  S.  MORRISON. 


Standing  with  the  best  citizens  of  his  county  and  state  and  a  man  whose 
sterling  worth  and  inherent  human  kindness  endears  him  to  all  who  know  him 
is  H.  S.  Morrison.  Jasper  county  can  boast  of  no  better  all  round  man;  no 
more  affable,  courteous  gentleman  than  he.  He  was  born  in  Orange  county, 
New  York,  November  2^,  1851,  his  father,  H.  S.  ^lorrison,  Sr.,  and  his 
mother,  Harriet  Mariah  Jackson  Sherman,  being  also  natives  of  that  great 
state.  The  father  was  born  August  31,  1809,  and  died  April  22,  1854,  at  the 
age  of  forty-six  years,  dying  in  New  York  when  the  subject  of  this  review- 
was  but  three  years  old.  The  father  was  principally  a  farmer,  although  he 
kept  a  store  for  a  brief  period.  The  mother,  born  September  15,  1814,  shortly 
after  the  death  of  her  husband  in  1856,  removed  with  her  family  to  Wisconsin, 
where  the  business  of  farming  was  carried  on  until  1863.  when  the  familv  came 
to  Iowa,  settling  in  Scott  county.  Here  land  was  rented  and  farming  re- 
sumed, the  sons  doing  the  work.     In  the  fall  of  1869  another  move  was  made. 


622  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

this  time  to  Jasper  county,  the  family  settling-  upon  a  farm  ten  miles  northeast 
of  Newton,  upon  which  they  remained  until  1891,  at  which  time  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  and  a  brother,  together  \vith  the  mother,  moved  into  Newton, 
where  thev  have  remained  ever  since.  The  mother  died  January  25.  1901. 
while  making  her  home  with  her  children 

It  was  something  like  forty-one  years  ago  when  Mr.  IMorrison,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  came  to  Jasper  county,  and  settled  on  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  raw  prairie.  Newton  was  then  but  a  small  town  and  wolves  were 
plentiful,  but  he  went  to  work  with  a  stout  heart  and  built  a  small  house.  By 
untiring  and  earnest  effort,  he  and  his  brothers  came  to  own  over  one  thousand 
acres  of  land  in  the  county.  At  one  time,  the  years  of  1873-4.  he  operated  a 
threshing  machine  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Morrison  is  one  of  nine  children,  five  boys  and  four  girls,  of  whom 
four  are  living,  Mr.  Harrison  being  the  youngest  of  the  family.  The  living 
ones  are:  John  W..  who  resides  in  Wisconsin,  aged  seventy-one  years.  He 
has  retired  from  active  business.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Northern  army  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war;  Catherine  E.  Wallace,  aged  sixty-six,  wife  of  John  Wallace, 
retired  farmer,  resides  in  Springfield,  Pennsylvania ;  Sarah  E.  Brown,  aged 
sixty-two,  wife  of  James  M.  Brown,  a  retired  business  man  and  Civil  war 
veteran,  resides  in  Newton;  the  next  and  last  is  Mr.  Morrison,  of  this  history. 

Upon  September  9,  1891,  Mr.  Morrison  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Mattie  Pickens,  daughter  of  James  and  Eliza  (Gordon)  Pickens,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Ireland,  her  parents  having  married  in  Ireland,  and  coming  to 
America  in  1868,  landing  at  New  York.  From  New  York  they  came  to  Scott 
county,  Iowa,  where  they  remained  for  nine  years,  after  which  they  came  to 
Jasper  county,  settling  upon  purchased  land  northeast  of  Newton. 

In  1899,  Mrs.  Morrison's  father  died,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years. 
Her  mother  is  still  living,  making  her  home  with  a  daughter,  Mrs.  David  Paul, 
of  Grinnell.  Iowa.  Mrs.  Morrison  is  one  of  six  children,  namely:  Mary  A. 
Morrison,  born  April  i,  1855,  died  December  24,  1902.  She  married  ar 
brother  of  the  subject  of  this  review;  Margaret  H.  Paul,  wife  of  David  Paul, 
retired,  resides  in  Grinnell,  born  March  4,  1857;  Thomas  A.,  born  May  14, 
1859,  resides  in  Newton;  Eliza  G.  Bergman,  wife  of  Henry  G.  Bergman,  a 
horse  dealer  of  Newton,  was  born  November  5,  1861  ;  Hannah  Lyman,  wife 
of  J.  Fred  Lyman,  a  farmer,  was  born  December  14.  1863,  and  resides  in 
Rockwell  City,  Iowa;  Mattie  B.,  wife  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
July  7,  1868. 

To  Mr.  and  Airs.  Morrison  have  been  born  four  children,  all  boys  and 
all  living  at  home:     Horace  Henry,  born  August  28,  1892;  Leland  P.,  born 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  623 

October  21,  1895;  Charles  William,  born  July  28,  1899;  James  Gordon,  born 
May  16,  1905. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morrison  are  members  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church  of  Newton,  Mrs.  Morrison  being  also  a  member  of  the  Ladies'  Aid 
Society  and  the  Woman's  Missionary  Society.  She  is  a  teacher  in  the  Sun- 
day school,  an  earnest  worker  in  the  church  and  a  most  interesting  and  estim- 
able woman.  Mr.  Morrison  is  also  a  teacher  in  the  Sabbath  school  and  for 
sixteen  years  has  been  ruling  elder  in  his  church.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
Newton  Lodge  No.  59,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  of  Gebal 
Chapter  No.  12,  Royal  Arch  Masons.  Always  an  active  temperance  worker, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Anti-Saloon  League,  has  served  as  director,  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  county  schools  and  justice  of  the  peace  of  his  township.  He 
is  also  vice-president  of  the  Farmers  Mutual  Fire  and  Lightning  Insurance 
Company. 

At  one  time  Mr.  Morrison  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  in  Newton 
for  eight  years,  selling  out  to  go  to  California.  He  remained  there  but  one 
year,  however,  when  he  returned  to  Newton.  He  traces  his  family  back  to  the 
Revolution  and  is  eligible  to  join  the  Sons  and  Daughters  of  the  :\merican 
Revolution. 


CAPT.  JACOB  ROOKER  WITMER. 

Jacob  R.  Witmer  was  born  near  Safe  Harbor,  Lancaster  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, the  son  of  J.  S.  and  Mary  (Parker)  Witmer.  This  family  is  of 
Swiss  descent,  the  great-great-grandfather,  John  Witmer,  having  been  born 
in  that  country  in  1688.  He  came  to  America  and  located  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1728.  The  Captain's  great-grandfather  was  Michael  Wit- 
mer and  his  grandfather  was  Herman  Witmer.  Mary  Parker,  mentioned 
above,  was  the  daughter  of  Abram  and  Elizabeth  (Ebby)  Parker,  both  natives 
of  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania. 

Captain  Witmer  was  one  of  a  family  of  ten  children,  an  equal  number 
of  sons  and  daughters,  three  besides  himself  coming  to  Jasper  county. 

Captain  Witmer  was  reared  in  his  native  state  and  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  He  came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  in  1866  and  here  launched  in  the 
lumber  business,  running  a  saw-mill  and  maintaining  a  lumber  yard,  and  here 
he  resided  until  his  death.  He  was  married  here  to  Lizzie  Kendig,  daughter 
of  John  and  Maria  (Kaufman)  Kendig,  pioneers  of  Sherman  township,  this 
county,  who  came  from  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  the  father  being  now 


624  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

deceased.  The  wife  of  the  subject  was  called  to  her  rest  on  February  6,  1900, 
when  fifty  years  of  age.  The  following  children  were  born  of  this  union: 
Emma  married  Peter  Pink,  of  Sherman  township:  ISlinnie  is  the  wife  of 
George  Sapp,  formerly  of  Colfax,  now  of  Sunnyside,  Washington;  Mary  is 
the  wife  of  Hamilton  Sumpter,  of  Acton,  Iowa;  Lincoln  Witmer,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business  at  Kennewick,  Washington,  served  two  years 
in  the  marine  service  of  the  United  States  in  this  country  and  two  years  in 
the  Philippine  Islands;  Cora  married  Milo  Kapel,  of  Tacoma,  Washington; 
Jacob  lives  at  Denver,  Colorado;  Cristal,  who  has  remained  single,  lives  in 
Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

Captain  Witmer's  war  record  is  a  notable  one.  Scarcely  had  news  of  the 
firing  on  Fort  Sumter  been  received  when  he  offered  his  services  in  defense  of 
the  flag,  enlisting  in  April,  1861,  and  serving  throughout  the  conflict  and  even  a 
year  after  the  surrender,  not  leaving  the  service  until  in  April,  1866.  He 
ser\'ed  as  a  private  in  Company  B,  Seventy-ninth  Pennsylvania  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  as  second  lieutenant  of  Company  E,  Two  Hundred  and  Four- 
teenth Volunteer  Infantry,  of  that  state  and  he  was  mustered  out  as  first  lieu- 
tenant of  his  company.  He  was  in  the  Army  of  the  West  and  took  part  in  the 
battle  of  Perryville,  Kentucky;  later  he  was  transferred  to  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  and  served  with  it  in  the  Shenandoah  valley.  He  was  captain  of  a 
company  of  one  hundred  soldiers  that  guarded  the  prison  where  Captain 
Wertz  was  confined,  and  in  the  absence  of  his  captain,  the  subject  acted  as 
provost  marshal  at  Annapolis,  Maryland. 


E.  M.  s.  McLaughlin. 

The  name  of  E.  M.  S.  McLaughlin,  of  Newton,  needs  no  introduction 
to  the  professional  circles  of  central  Iowa.  Selecting  the  law  as  his  sphere 
early  in  life,  he  has  devoted  his  energies  to  that,  ignoring  other  aspirations  to 
make  himself  what  he  is  today,  a  thorough  master  of  legal  science  in  all  its 
ramifications.  The  common  law,  the  statutes  of  Iowa,  the  history,  progress 
and  growth  of  jurisprudence,  as  well  as  the  higher  and  more  abstruse  prin- 
ciples of  equity,  are  all  completely  at  his  command,  constituting  him  a  leader 
at  the  bar,  whicli  position  is  readily  conceded  him  by  his  associates. 

Mr.  McLaughlin  was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Iowa,  November  4,  1869, 
the  son  of  Angus  and  Catherine  (Sells)  McLaughlin,  the  father  a  native  of 
Ohio  and  the  mother  of  Pennsylvania,  the  paternal  grandparents  being  natives 
of  Scotland  and  the  maternal  grandparents  of  Pennsylvania.     Angus  Mc- 


E.  M.  s.  McLaughlin 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA,  625 

LaugliHn  spent  his  active  life  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  is  at 
present  living  retired  in  Los  Angeles.  California.  He  came  west  to  Iowa  in 
1855,  and  entered  land  in  Hamilton  county,  which  land  he  improved,  trans- 
forming it  from  the  wild  prairie  to  a  fine  farm,  the  same  still  being  in  pos- 
session of  the  family.  At  one  time  he  was  the  owner  of  four  hundred  and 
twenty-six  acres,  which,  since  his  retirement,  has  been  added  to  by  the  sub- 
ject and  his  brothers  until  they  now  own  jointly  nine  hundred  and  fifty-nine 
acres  in  one  body,  all  well  kept  and  valuable  land,  situated  in  one  of  the  most 
favored  agricultural  sections  in  the  state. 

Angus  McLaughlin  is  a  man  of  exceptional  intelligence  and  sterling 
innate  characteristics.  He  was  always  much  interested  in  educational  mat- 
ters, also  politics,  having  served  the  Republican  party  in  many  capacities, 
having  been  supervisor  of  his  county  for  two  terms  besides  holding  other 
offices,  always  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  con- 
cerned. His  wife  died  on  February  22,  1909.  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  In 
an  early  day  the  father  made  a  trip  across  the  western  plains  to  the  Black 
Hills  and  to  Colorado,  where  he  mined  gold  for  a  year.  He  is  now  making 
his  home  with  his  daughter,  Elizabeth  A.  McLaughlin,  an  osteopathic  phy- 
sician of  Los  Angeles.  His  other  children  are:  J.  J.,  a  veterinary  surgeon  of 
Blue  Earth,  Minnesota;  A.  A.,  of  Des  Moines,  is  attorney  for  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  Railroad  Company;  E.  M.  S..  of  this  review;  W.  M.  is  an  at- 
torney at  Des  Moines  and  ex-city  solicitor  of  that  place;  Maud  M.  is  the  wife 
of  D.  D.  McGillivary,  an  attorney  of  Lowden,  Iowa. 

E.  ]\I.  S.  McLaughlin  remained  on  the  home  farm  until  the  fall  of  1889, 
then  attended  the  Northern  Iowa  Normal  School  at  Algona  for  one  term, 
teaching  the  winter  term  of  school.  The  following  August  he  entered  the 
Iowa  State  College  at  Ames  for  a  four  years"  course,  teaching  during  the  win- 
ters. He  made  an  excellent  record  and  was  graduated  from  that  institution 
with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Electrical  Engineering,  on  November  10,  1894. 
Then  he  again  taught  school  and  worked  some  at  his  chosen  calling. 

On  February  26,  1896.  ^Ir.  McLaughlin  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Minnie  A.  Parmenter,  of  Polk  county,  Iowa,  and  the  daughter  of  Edward  and 
Anna  Parmenter,  of  Ohio.  They  came  to  Iowa  in  an  early  day  and  spent 
their  active  lives  in  farming;  the  father  is  now  deceased,  but  the  mother 
survives.  Two  children  were  born  to  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  McLaughlin,  Ruth  and 
Ralph,  both  of  whom  are  at  home  and  in  school. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  McLaughlin  lived  on  his  farm  for  three  years, 
after  which  he  entered  the  law  department  of  Drake  University,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws.     He  applied  himself 

(40) 


626  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

verv  assiduously  to  his  studies,  becoming  exceptionally  well  equipped  for  his 
life  work,  and  in  1900  he  opened  a  law  office  in  Newton,  which  he  has  since 
maintained,  doing  a  general  practice  in  all  courts  and  building  up  a  large  and 
constantly  increasing  clientele.  He  has  met  with  a  large  measure  of  success, 
being  a  careful,  ])ainstaking,  tireless  and  honest  advocate  and  exceptionally 
strong  in  the  trial  of  cases.  His  reputation  extends  far  beyond  the  limits  of 
his  county  and  has  placed  him  in  the  front  ranks  of  his  professional  brethren 
in  this  section  of  the  state  which  has  long  been  noted  for  its  high  order  of 
legal  ability. 

'Sir.  McLaughlin  has  long  been  active  in  the  affairs  of  the  Republican 
partv  and  is  at  this  time  chairman  of  the  county  central  committee.  His 
advice  and  counsel  is  freely  sought  in  campaigns  by  candidates  and  political 
leaders.  He  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  Newton  Business  Men's  Asso- 
ciation. Fraternally,  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  he  is 
state  consul  of  that  organization,  and  served  as  its  delegate  to  Indianapolis  in 
1903  and  at  Alilwaukee  in  1905,  and  he  was  delegate  to  the  head  camp  at 
Bufifalo  in  June,  191 1.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Brotherhood  of  American 
Yeoman,  lieing  its  delegate  to  the  grand  conclave  at  Colorado  Springs  in  1903. 
He  was  also  sent  to  Minneapolis  in  1909  as  a  member  of  the  national  law 
committee  and  is  at  this  time  chairman  of  the  national  committee  of  appeals 
and  grievances  of  said  order.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Delta  Lodge  No.  53, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  of  Xewton.  Personally,  ]\Ir.  McLaughlin  is  a  very 
pleasant  gentleman,  courteous,  genial,  obliging,  straightforward  and  unas- 
suminsf. 


JOSEPH  R.  SITLER. 


To  say  that  a  man  has  been  true  to  himself  all  his  days,  is  to  pay  him  a 
very  great  compliment,  but  to  add  to  this  that  he  has  been  a  good  father,  kind 
and  considerate  husband,  brave  soldier  and  a  man  whose  citizenship  has  been 
without  taint  or  tlaw  is  to  place  that  man  high  among  his  fellows.  Yet  these 
things  may  be  truthfully  said  of  Joseph  R.  Sitler,  the  subject  of  this  review. 

Mr.  Sitler  was  born  in  Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania.  May  19,  1832, 
being  the  son  of  George  Sitler,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Sarah  (Robins) 
Sitler,  a  native  of  New  York.  He  is  one  of  eight  children,  of  whom  but  four 
survive,  as  follows:  Mr.  Sitler,  of  this  review,  the  eldest:  Henry  F.,  born  in 
1836,  resides  in  Dodge  City,  Kansas,  of  which  city  he  has  been  one  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  and  builders.     An  old  cattle  man  and  railroad  contractor,  he 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  62/ 

has  been  one  of  the  most  important  factors  in  the  upbuilding  of  his  home  city, 
a  portion  of  it  l)eing-  upon  land  which  he  formerly  owned  as  a  cattle  ranch; 
Jessie  R.  Sitler.  born  in  1840.  resides  in  Bliss.  Oklahoma,  and  is  engaged  in 
the  grain  business;  Frank  J.  was  killed  at  Axtell.  Kansas,  in  1909,  by  falling 
from  a  loaded  straw  wagon;  he  was  born  in  1845;  Ida  Wright,  widow  of 
Rev.  Byron  Wright,  a  Methodist  minister,  resides  in  Xew  ^'ork  City;  Anna, 
wife  of  Rev.  Orin  B.  Coates,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years,  one  week 
after  her  marriage,  her  death  being  as  tragic  as  it  was  pitiful.  Her  husband  of 
one  week  enlisted  in  the  army  and  when  the  news  of  his  enlistment  was  brought 
to  her,  she  fell  to  the  floor  in  a  swoon,  from  which  she  never  revived.  The 
young  husband  went  to  the  front  a  broken-hearted  man.  Two  i)rothers  of  the 
subject  died  in  infancy.  Of  ]Mr.  Sitler's  parents  it  may  be  said  that  they  were 
hardy.  God-fearing  people  of  culture  and  refinement.  The  father  was  a  farmer 
and  was  a  stalwart  among  his  fellow  men.  Neither  e\er  removed  from  Penn- 
syhania.     Both  are  now  deceased. 

The  military  record  of  Mr.  Sitler  is  as  remarkable  as  it  is  creditable. 
Few  men,  even  though  they  took  part  in  that  great  civil  war,  were  compelled 
to  undergo  the  misery,  hardship  and  privation  through  which  Mr.  Sitler 
passed.  Modest  and  retiring  in  manner,  he  gave  only  some  of  the  more  strik- 
ing details  of  his  varied  army  experience  to  the  biographer,  but  it  is  easy  to 
''read  between  the  lines"  and  gather  the  full  purport  of  what  he  passed  through. 
On  October  6,  1861,  in  company  with  forty-four  neighbor  boys,  he  enlisted  in 
the  Second  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and  was  placed  in  the  department  of  the 
army  guarding  \\'ashington.  For  six  months  he  took  part  in  the  famous 
chase  after  Mosby  and  his  men.  after  which  he  was  transferred  to  the  Army 
of  the  Potomas.  He  took  part  in  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run  and  was  in 
the  great  battle  of  Gettysburg.  Here  it  was  he  acted  as  first  lieutenant  of 
provost  guards,  the  captain  being  absent,  and,  hurrying  here  and  there,  super- 
vising, directing  and  reporting  to  his  superiors,  he  was  under  fire  for  hours. 
He  saw  the  famous  charge  of  rebel  General  Pickett.  The  next  battle  of  im- 
portance in  which  he  took  part  was  that  of  Mine  Run.  \'irginia.  and  for  days 
thereafter  was  under  fire.  Then  came  the  terrible  battle  of  the  Wilderness  and 
the  desultory  fighting  along  the  Rapidan  river  during  which  battle  he  was 
again  in  command.  Before  the  battle  of  the  W^ilderness  he  was  sent  home  to 
recruit  men  for  the  army,  recruiting  one  hundred  men  from  Crawford  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  one  month.  On  April  26.  1864.  along  with  four  hundred 
men  who  had  been  home  on  furlough,  he  re-enlisted  and  was  soon  in  the  thick 
of  the  fight,  two  days  thereafter  being  detailed  'with  a  scouting  party  to  watch 
the  actions  of  the  rebel  cavalrv  along  the  Rappahannock  river.  On  the  night 


628  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

of  Alay  7,  1864.  following  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  he  was  captured  and 
marched  to  General  Lee's  headquarters,  where  he  was  kept  for  twelve  days 
in  company  with  forty- four  officers  and  fourteen  hundred  other  prisoners, 
with  no  rations  except  what  they  were  able  to  buy  for  themselves.  Next  they 
were  marched  to  Lynchburg,  Virginia,  a  distance  of  sixty-five  miles,  two 
crackers  being  issued  to  each  prisoner  before  starting  Some  of  the  men  got 
none.  At  Lynchburg  the  men  were  robbed  of  everything  they  possessed,  and 
were  then  taken  to  ALicon.  Georgia,  to  the  rebel  prison  camp.  Here  they  were 
kept  until  July  10,  when  they  were  taken  to  Saxannah.  and  then  to  Charleston, 
South  Carolina.  Here  it  was  that  they  were  confined  to  the  jail  yard  and  the 
Northern  prisoners  were  exposed  purposely  to  the  Northern  artillery  fire  in 
order  that  an  exchange  might  be  enforced,  but  none  was  made.  October  9, 
1864,  they  were  taken  to  "Camp  Sorghum,"  South  Carolina,  so  called  for  the 
reason  that  the  rations  consisted  of  a  pint  of  corn  meal  each  day  and  all  the 
sorghum  molasses  they  could  use.  From  Camp  Sorghum  they  were  taken 
across  the  river  and  put  in  the  asylum  prison  at  Columbia.  Then  a  number 
of  moves  were  made  to  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  to  Wilmington,  South  Caro- 
lina, and  to  many  other  places  in  the  vain  attempt  to  avoid  the  fast  approaching 
Northern  army,  but  finally  at  Wilmington,  Mr.  Sitler,  along  with  many  others 
was  paroled.  Here  occurred  one  of  those  striking  and  romantic  incidents 
so  frequent  in  the  great  war.  Standing  among  the  Northern  troops  was  a 
tall,  commanding  looking  man,  who  eyed  the  subject  of  this  sketch  as  he  moved 
about  among  the  other  wretched  prisoners.  Suddenly,  something  familiar 
appealed  to  him  and  he  clasped  the  thin  hand  of  the  prisoner.  It  was  his 
brother,  Jesse,  at  that  time  an  adjutant  of  the  Seventy-sixth  Pennsylvania. 
After  a  long  siege  in  the  hospitals,  finding  him  unable  to  serve  further,  the 
authorities  gave  Mr.  Sitler  an  honorable  discharge  as  first  lieutenant  and  he 
returned  home. 

Mr.  Sitler  was  commissioned  to  serve  on  court  martial  duty  twice,  first 
after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  and  second  at  Annapolis.  Maryland.  This  was 
an  exceptional  honor  to  be  given  a  line  officer  and  he  was  the  junior  member 
of  the  court  both  times. 

Mr.  Sitler  is  a  member  of  Garrett  Post  No.  16,  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  of  Newton,  of  which  he  has  been  adjutant  since  1895.  He  has  also 
been  commander  of  the  post.  He  came  to  Jasper  county  August  2,  1866,  and 
has  resided  here  e\er  since  with  the  exception  of  one  year  spent  in  Dodge 
City,  Kansas.  On  l^^bruary  16,  1864,  he  married  Carrie  Spalding,  daughter 
of  Rev.  Josiah  S])alding,  who  bore  him  the  following  children:  Harry,  born 
March  i,  1867,  residing  in  Jasper  county;  Anna,  born  January  12,  1869,  is 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  .  629 

unmarried,  and  resides  with  her  father  at  home;  one  child  died  in  infancy,  the 
wife  and  mother  dying  soon  after. 

On  March  2,  1881,  Mr.  Sitler  was  married  to  Rebecca  Goodrich,  daughter 
of  Levi  Goodrich,  a  native  of  Maine.  She  still  survives  and  is  the  considerate 
and  loyal  companion  of  Mr.  Sitler,  being  a  sweet- faced  woman  of  rare  ac- 
complishments. Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sitler  are  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  of  Newton  and  Mrs.  Sitler  is  prominent  in  temperance  work, 
being  an  active  member  of  the  Anti-Saloon  League. 

Mr.  Sitler  is  a  large  land  owner,  besides  owning  elegant  city  property  and 
being  interested  in  the  Jasper  County  Mutual  h'ire  and  Lightning  Insurance 
Compan}\  of  which  he  has  been  treasurer  for  seventeen  years.  Few  men  are 
better  known  and  none  are  more  respected.  In  politics  Mr.  Sitler  is  a  Re- 
publican. 


CAPT.  FELIX  WOODARD  COZAD. 

A  romantic  glamour  clings  about  the  life  history  of  Capt.  Felix  Woodard 
Cozad,  gold  digger  of  the  days  of  the  "forty-niners,"  loyal  soldier  and  officer 
in  the  great  Civil  war  and  now-  retired  business  man  of  Newton,  Jasper  county, 
who.  although  well  past  his  eightieth  milestone,  is  hale  and  hearty,  as 
straight  as  a  pine,  and  as  alert  as  most  men  of  fifty.  He  comes  of  a  hardy 
New  England  ancestry.  His  grandfather  was  born  just  at  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  when  he  was  nine  years  old  he  was  playing  with 
three  vounger  brothers  when  a  band  of  Indians  surprised  and  captured  them, 
carrying  them  away  into  captivity.  The  youngest,  unable  to  keep  up.  cried 
bitterly  and  was  promptly  brained  with  a  tomahawk.  The  others  were  held 
captive  four  years  before  they  were  rescued  by  their  father.  They  had  by 
that  time  become  so  attached  to  the  Indians  and  the  Indians  to  them,  that  it 
was  with  great  difficulty  that  the  father  persuaded  them  to  go  home  with  him. 

Captain  Cozad  was  born  in  Lewis  county,  \\'est  Virginia.  February  17, 
1827.  being  the  son  of  Jacob  W.  and  Beedy  (Beaman)  Cozad.  the  father  born 
in  the  same  county  as  the  subject  and  the  mother  in  \\ermont.  She  died 
when  the  son  Felix  W.  was  four  years  old.  and  the  father  being  left  alone  with 
three  small  children,  remarried,  his  second  wife  being  Phoebe  Beeman.  who 
was  a  sister  of  the  first  wife.  By  the  first  marriage  there  were  born  these  chil- 
dren:  Jacob  C.  now  deceased;  Cecelia,  the  widow  of  Jacob  Pifer.  lives  in 
Buckhannon.  L^pshire  county.  West  Virginia,  the  home  of  her  birth;  and 
Felix  \y.,  of  this  sketch.    The  second  marriage  resulted  in  the  birth  of  Clara, 


630  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

who  married  Luther  Bhick,  and  died  in  Colorado,  whither  she  had  gone  for 
her  health;  David  is  now  living  in  Butler  county,  Ohio;  Francis  Marion,  who 
has  not  been  heard  from  for  twenty-five  years;  George  W.  died  in  Wheeling, 
West  Virginia,  in  1882.  The  death  of  the  father  of  these  children  occurred 
in  1845,  ^vhile  yet  a  young  man,  only  thirty-eight  years  old. 

Soon  after  attaining  his  majority,  early  in  1849,  Captain  Cozad,  of  this 
review,  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  carriages  in  Cincinnati.  Later  in  that 
year,  attracted  by  the  stories  of  treasure  and  adventure  coming  from  the  far 
West,  he  set  out  by  w^ay  of  the  isthmus  of  Panama  for  the  new  Eldorado.  The 
holidays  of  1849-50  were  spent  on  the  isthmus  at  a  point  not  far  from  where 
the  present  great  canal  is  being  built.  In  January,  1850,  he  embarked  on  a 
sailing  vessel  up  the  Pacific  coast,  arriving  at  San  Francisco  on  April  8th  fol- 
lowing, the  landing  there  being  made  upon  the  bare  shore,  there  being  no 
wharf  of  any  kind  there  at  that  time.  Securing  his  mining  outfit,  he  plunged 
into  the  interior  wilds  of  that  region,  finally  locating  in  Trinity  county,  where 
he  remained  two  years,  spending  three  years  in  all  in  the  gold  diggings,  during 
which  time  he  met  with  far  greater  success  than  many  others  of  the  great 
army  of  prospectors.  In  June,  1853,  he  returned  to  Cincinnati  and  in  1854 
came  to  Xewton,  Iowa,  being  among  the  pioneers  of  this  region,  and  here 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  which  he  continued  until  1862,  w^hen  Lin- 
coln issued  his  call  for  three  hundred  thousand  volunteers,  whereupon  Mr. 
Cozad  closed  out  his  business  and  in  four  days'  time  raised  a  company  of  one 
hundred  men,  of  which  he  was  elected  captain,  this  being  Company  D,  For- 
tieth Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  soon  at  the  front,  proving  to  be  an 
efficient  and  gallant  officer,  remaining  until  the  close  of  hostilities,  being  hon- 
orably discharged  on  March  27,  1865,  ten  days  prior  to  the  actual  close  of  the 
w^ar.  While  he  did  not  participate  in  any  of  the  great  battles  of  the  war.  he 
took  part  in  many  lively  skirmishes  and  was  in  the  famous  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg.  During  the  last  year  of  his  service  he  was  taken  sick  with  chills  and 
fever  and  forced  to  enter  the  regimental  hospital,  and  from  there  he  was  sent 
home,  this  illness  causing  him  to  tender  his  resignation  a  few  days  before  the 
close  of  the  war.    According  to  his  comrades,  he  made  a  very  efficient  officer. 

In  1856  Captain  Cozad  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  A.  Scott,  a 
native  of  Richmond,  Virginia,  and  this  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three 
children,  as  follows:  Ida  V.,  born  February  14.  1857,  who  married  George  B. 
McCullough.  now  residing  in  Jefiferson,  Iowa;  Charles  B.,  born  in  April, 
1859,  engaged  in  the  drug  and  jewelry  business  in  Adel,  Iowa,  married  Laura 
Cowman,  and  he  has  been  postmaster  at  Prairie  City  for  years;  Cecelia  C. 
born  February  14,  1862,  died  when  four  years  old.     The  wife  and  mother 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  63 1 

passed  to  her  rest  on  October  25,  1(899,  and  eight  years  later,  October  14, 
1907,  Captain  Cozad  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Celia  Therese  Worm- 
ley,  widow  of  Frederick  P.  W'ormley.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Hale  and  Mary  A.  (Connable)  Carlton,  and  her  birth  occurred  on  January  16, 
1834,  at  Keene,  New  Hampshire,  her  parents  being  natives  of  Massachusetts. 
Mrs.  Cozad  is  one  of  three  children,  a  sister,  Ellen,  was  the  wife  of  George  R. 
Parsons  and  she  and  a  brother,  Edgar  L..  are  both  deceased. 

Mrs.  Cozad  was  formerly  prominent  in  social  life,  devoting  much  time  to 
different  social  clubs  and  also  organized  for  benevolent  and  literary  pur- 
poses; but  of  late  years  she  has  practically  withdrawn  from  society  and  now 
devotes  most  of  her  time  to  her  home.  She  is  a  woman  of  education,  culture 
and  affable  disposition  which  has  made  her  a  favorite  with  a  wide  circle  of 
friends.  She  and  the  Captain  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
of  Newton,  and  she  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  and  is  a 
charter  member  of  the  chapter  in  Pueblo,  Colorado.  The  Captain  belongs  to 
Newton  Lodge  No.  59,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  having  been  a 
]\Iason  since  1862;  he  is  also  a  member  of  Garrett  Post  No.  16,  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  which  post  was  named  for  his  colonel. 

Captain  Cozad  has  an  attractive  and  substantial  home,  surrounding 
which  are  some  beautiful  and  stately  maple  trees  which  he  planted  from  the 
seed  fifty-two  years  ago. 


CHARLES  F.  SAUERMAN. 

One  of  the  best  known  men  in  Jasper  county  and  one  of  her  worthiest  and 
most  representative  citizens  is  Charles  F.  Sauerman,  for  many  years  a  leading 
farmer  and  stock  raiser,  but  now  living  in  retirement  in  his  beautiful  home  in 
Newton.  He  is  a  fine  type  of  the  truly  public-spirited  citizen,  and  withholds 
his  co-operation  from  no  movement  which  is  intended  to  promote  public  im- 
provement, and  as  president  of  the  Jasper  County  Agricultural  Society  he  has 
done  a  very  commendable  service  to  this  locality.  Wliat  he  has  achieved  in 
life  proves  the  force  of  his  character  and  illustrates  his  steadfastness  of  pur- 
pose, his  own  persistent  and  well  directed  efforts  winning  him  not  only  ma- 
terial success,  but  also  the  good  will  and  confidence  of  his  fellow  men. 

Mr.  Sauerman  was  born  in  Frederick  coimty.  Maryland,  October  24, 
1851.  He  is  the  son  of  William  F.  and  Sarah  A.  (Kershaw)  Sauerman,  the 
father  a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany,  and  the  mother  of  Maryland,  her  family 
having  been  more  or  less  prominent  in  the  Oriole  state  for  many  generations, 


632  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

and  there  she  grew  to  maturity,  was  echicated.  met  and  married  Mr.  Sauer- 
man,  who  emigrated  to  America  in  1840  and  located  at  Baltimore.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  shoemaking  in  his  youth,  which  he  followed  successfully  until 
he  was  sixty  vears  of  age  when  he  went  to  farming.  He  came  west  when 
Charles  F.,  of  this  review,  was  three  years  of  age,  in  November,  1854,  locating 
among  the  pioneers  at  Blue  Grass,  Scott  county,  Iowa,  where  he  developed 
a  good  farm,  became  well  established,  and  where  he  remained  until  his  death, 
in  June,  1902,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-nine  years;  his  wife  survived  him 
until  1905,  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years.  Mr.  Sauerman  was  strong 
in  his  allegiance  to  the  Union,  although  he  was  too  old  to  serve  in  the 
Federal  arm  v.  He  was  a  greatly  beloved  old  gentleman  and  he  and  his  wife 
numbered  their  friends  by  the  scores  in  their  vicinity  in  Scott  county.  They 
were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  four  of  whom  are  living  at  this  writing : 
Henrv  A.,  now  deceased,  served  in  the  Union  army  for  four  years;  William 
E.  lives  at  (larner.  Cherokee  county.  Iowa;  xMrs.  Sarah  E.  Spratt,  of  Sac 
Citv.  Iowa;  Mrs.  Anna  E.  Mewshaw.  of  Huntsville,  Texas;  Charles  F..  of  this 
review. 

The  subject  was  three  years  of  age  when  his  parents  brought  him  to  Iowa, 
and  he  grew  to  maturity  on  his  father's  farm,  where  he  worked  when  a  boy. 
He  attended  the  public  schools  during  the  winter  months  and  received  a  fairly 
good  education.  He  took  up  farming  for  a  livelihood,  which  he  followed  suc- 
cessfullv  until  March  i,  1910.  He  remained  in  Scott  county  until  he  was 
thirty-two  years  old,  then,  in  1884.  he  went  to  Poweshiek  county,  Iowa,  where 
he  lived  sixteen  years,  moving  to  Jasper  county  in  the  spring  of  1900,  locating 
five  miles  south  of  Newton,  where  he  lived  five  years,  then  bought  a  farm 
north  of  Colfax  and  lived  there  five  years,  moving  to  Newton  on  March  i, 
1910.  and  retired  from  active  life.  He  improved  a  number  of  good  farms  and 
by  persistent  labor  and  good  management  became  well  established.  Besides 
general  farming  he  made  a  success  of  stock  raising.  He  has  a  modern,  com- 
modious, attractive  and  neatly  kept  home  on  East  Main  street,  the  presiding 
spirit  of  which  is  a  lady  of  many  attractive  characteristics,  who  was  known  in 
her  maidenhood  as  Mary  E.  Agar,  to  whom  JVIr.  Sauerman  was  married  on 
March  31.  1876.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Lucy  Agar,  and  her 
birth  occurred  in  Livingston  county.  New  York,  where  she  was  reared  and 
educated,  coming  west  with  her  parents  in  1865.  To  this  union  seven  children 
have  been  born,  five  of  whom  are  living,  namely :  Harry  C,  of  Lawton, 
Oklahoma;  Leroy  T.  died  in  1906;  Anna  L..  Lollie  P.,  Henry  A.  are  all  at 
home;  Ernest  E.  died  when  two  vears  old;  Nellie  E.  is  at  home. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA,  633 

Mr.  Sauerman  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  county  superx'isors,  to  which 
he  was  elected  in  1908,  on  the  Repubhcan  ticket  and  he  is  still  in  office,  having 
very  ably  and  conscientiously  discharged  the  duties  of  the  same  and  winning 
the  hearty  commendation  of  all  concerned.  This  board  of  three  members  had 
charge  of  building  the  new  court  house,  which  is  one  of  the  finest  buildings  in 
Iowa.  Mr.  Sauerman  has  given  a  great  deal  of  his  time  and  attention  to  this 
work,  as  well  as  looking  after  the  bridges  and  roads  of  the  countiy.  Mr. 
Sauerman  has  been  president  of  the  Jasper  County  Agricultural  Association 
for  the  past  three  years,  during  which  time  he  has  done  much  to  encourage  and 
strengthen  this  work,  having  always  taken  a  great  pride  and  interest  in  the 
work  of  the  association,  and  he  has  worked  for  it  in  a  manner  that  has  won 
the  admiration  of  all  concerned.  He  is  active  in  the  Republican  party,  and  he 
has  often  refused  public  office.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  he  and  his  wife  belong  to 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


SPENCER  H.  REES. 


One  of  Jasper  county's  substantial  and  representative  citizens  is  Spencer 
H.  Rees,  who  is  essentially  a  self-made  man,  and  as  such  ranks  with  the  most 
enterprising  and  progressive  of  his  contemporaries.  He  has,  from  early  life, 
steadily  pursued  the  honorable  course  which  in  due  time  brought  social  recog- 
nition and  the  high  position  he  has  long  occupied  in  the  industrial  life  of  New- 
ton. By  a  life  consistent  in  motive  and  action  and  because  of  his  many  fine 
personal  qualities  he  has  earned  the  sincere  personal  regard  of  all  who  know 
him.  and  in  his  home,  which  is  the  center  of  a  large  social  circle,  there  is  always 
in  evidence  a  spirit  of  generosity. 

Mr.  Rees  was  born  of  a  sterling  old  Buckeye  family,  on  August  4.  1847. 
in  Hancock  county,  Ohio,  being  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  A.  (Prouty) 
Rees,  the  father  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  mother  of  Ohio.  In  1840 
Thomas  Rees  came  to  Ohio,  where  he  followed  his  trade  of  stone  cutter  for 
about  eight  years,  during  which  time  he  met  and  married  Mary  A.  Prouty. 
Shortlv  after  the  birth  of  his  son,  Spencer  H.,  of  this  review,  he  emigrated  to 
Iowa,  reaching  Jasper  county  in  the  fall  of  1848,  settling  in  Palo  Alto  town- 
ship, and  there  he  entered  wild  prairie  land  from  the  government,  on  which 
he  built  a  one-roomed  log  cabin  and  began  life  in  pioneer  style,  setting  reso- 
lutelv  to  work  to  carve  out  a  new  home  in  a  new  countrv.     Here  he  became 


634  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA, 

well  established  in  due  course  of  time,  developing  an  excellent  farm  on  which 
he  remained  until  his  death,  March  10,  1865.  For  three  months  during  his 
first  winter  here  the  only  neighbors  seen  were  Indians,  but  they  were  friendly. 
Wolves,  deer  and  turkey  were  plentiful.  Thomas  Rees  became  a  man  of 
much  influence  in  his  community,  being  a  man  of  fine  personal  characteristics 
and  pronounced  public  spirit.  The  first  election  held  in  the  township  was  in 
his  barn.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  one  of  the  county's  largest  land 
owners,  having  seven  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Palo  Alto  township.  After 
his  death  his  widow  married  Isaac  G.  Badger,  a  native  of  England.  She  lived 
with  him  until  her  death,  on  November  22,  1881. 

To  Thomas  Rees  and  his  first  wife  nine  children  were  born,  one  of  whom 
died  in  infanc\- ;  Lewis  died  at  the  age  of  ten,  and  Anson  B.,  well  known  all 
over  the  countv,  died  April  6,  1910;  those  living  are,  Spencer  H.,  of  this  re- 
view ;  Henriette  married  Harry  McVey  and  they  live  in  Rathburn,  Iowa ; 
Rowland  L.  lives  on  a  farm  in  Palo  Alto  township;  Franklin  P.  is  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  at  Wann,  Oklahoma ;  Estella  AI.  married  Dr.  D.  N. 
Johnson,  of  Chickasha.  Oklahoma ;  Effie  C.  married  G.  \\ .  Byington,  a  real 
estate  dealer  in  Little  Rock,  Arkansas.  After  Air.  Rees's  death,  Mrs.  Rees 
married  Isaac  Badger  and  two  children  were  born  to  them,  H.  J.  Badger,  who 
is  now  residing  in  Chinook,  Montana,  and  Alarv  Belle,  who  married  S.  A. 
Guessford,  a  farmer  of  Buena  Msta  township,  this  county. 

On  October  24,  1877,  Spencer  H.  Rees  was  married  to  Margaret  E. 
Holmes,  daughter  of  Ranson  P.  and  Mary  A.  (Duncan)  Holmes,  the  father 
being  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  the  mother  of  Indiana,  Mr.  Holmes  having 
been  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  His  death  occurred  on  February  26,  1893, 
and  that  of  his  wife  on  October  27,  1891.  Their  family  consisted  of  six 
children,  of  whom  five  are  living,  John  W.  Holmes  having  died  in  1905 ;  those 
living  are :  Charles  W.,  of  Texas;  Alnora  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  J.  W.  Hannah,  of 
Tonkawa,  Oklahoma ;  Ida  married  George  W.  Maund  and  lives  in  Jennings, 
Louisiana;  Verna  married  A.  L.  Lewellen,  who  is  living  in  Rosendale.  Mis- 
souri. 

After  the  death  of  their  father,  Spencer  H.  Rees  and  liis  elder  brother 
assumed  control  of  the  farm  and  managed  tlie  same  until  the  estate  was 
settled  upon  the  re-marriage  of  the  mother,  at  which  time  the  subject  began 
working  for  himself,  following  farming  until  1904,  with  more  than  ordinary 
success,  when  he  was  elected  secretary  of  the  Mutual  Fire  and  Lightning  In- 
surance Association  of  Jasper  county,  which  position  he  has  held  ever  since, 
discharging  the  duties  of  the  same  in  a  manner  that  has  reflected  much  credit 
upon  himself  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  concerned.     He  has  served 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  635 

both  as  trustee  and  clerk  of  Palo  Alto  township  for  two  terms  and  has  been 
assessor  of  that  township  three  terms.  He  has  acted  as  trustee  of  roads  and 
upon  coming  to  Xewton  he  resigned  as  clerk  of  the  school  board.  He  is  the 
owner  of  an  excellent  farm  in  Palo  Alto  township,  upon  which  is  the  site  of  the 
cabin  his  father  built  when  he  came  to  this  county.  He  also  holds  considerable 
property  interests  in  Xewton,  having  been  very  successful  as  a  business  man 
in  whatever  he  has  directed  his  attention  to.  During  the  year  1887  he  was 
traveling  mail  weigher  for  the  United  States  government  on  route  Xo.  27036. 
In  1889  he  was  nominated  for  county  auditor  by  the  Union  Labor  partv  and 
endorsed  by  the  Democrats,  being  defeated  by  a  small  margin  only.  In  1895 
Mr.  Rees  was  nominated  for  county  treasurer  by  the  Populists  and  in  the  three- 
cornered  fight  which  followed  he  polled  his  share  of  the  votes.  Both  these 
nominations  came  to  Mr.  Rees  unsought. 

Five  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Rees,  two  of  whom  died  in 
infancy;  those  living  are,  Morris  H.,  born  April  27,  1880;  he  received  a  high 
education  and  is  professor  of  biology  in  the  college  at  Tarkio,  Missouri; 
Edith  Glen,  born  January  8,  1884.  is  unmarried;  Floy  Xaoma.  born  October 
17.  1887,  is  unmarried  and  at  home. 

Both  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Rees  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church. 
While  living  in  Palo  Alto  township  he  was  a  trustee  of  the  church. 

In  March,  1905,  Mrs.  Rees  was  stricken  with  rheumatism  from  which 
she  has  been  a  constant  but  patient  sufTerer.  having  been  almost  helpless  during 
the  past  five  years,  but  here  severe  affliction  has  not  changed  her  genial  and 
kindly  disposition. 

]Mr.  Rees  is  one  of  the  honored  "boys  in  blue,''  having  proved  his  patriot- 
ism and  loyalty  to  his  country  by  enlisting  in  Company  B,  Forty-eighth  Iowa 
Volunteer  Infantry,  on  May  24.  1864.  After  serving  faithfully  for  five 
months  he  was  honorablv  discharged  October  21,  1864. 


^lAYXARD  ELLSWORTH  PEXOUITE. 

Distinguished  as  an  official,  an  attorney  and  pul)lic-spirited  citizen,  the 
name  of  Maynard  Ellsworth  Penquite,  the  present  popular  and  efficient  mayor 
of  Colfax,  has  long  been  closely  interwoven  with  the  history  and  development 
of  Jasper  countv :  in  fact,  few  men  in  this  locality  are  better  or  more  favor- 
ably known  and  none  have  exercised  a  more  potent  influence  in  moulding  and 
directing  public  opinion.  The  family  of  which  he  is  an  honorable  representa- 
tive is  old  and  eminently  respectable. 


636  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Mr.  Penqiiite  was  born  in  this  county  on  January  20,  1872,  and  he  is  the 
son  of  ^^'i^iam  H.  and  Sarah  I.  (Hoping)  Penquite.  The  father  came  to  this 
county  in  1866,  locating  near  dreencastle  and  there  became  well  established 
through  years  of  hard  and  consecutive  endeavor  in  general  farming.  He  was 
a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war.  having  enlisted  in  the  Twenty-second  Ohio  Heavy 
Artillerv  at  Wilmington.  Ohio,  in  1863  and  he  ser\ed  very  gallantly  and  faith- 
fully for  three  years;  however,  his  knee  having  been  injured  early  in  the 
service,  he  was  on  detached  duty  most  of  the  time.  He  was  the  first  post- 
master at  Mingo  and  for  some  time  he  was  clerk  of  his  township.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  Duncan  Post  No.  258.  His  par- 
ents. John  and  Mary  Penquite.  spent  their  lives  in  Ohio,  of  which  state  he  was 
a  native.  The  death  of  William  H.  Penquite  occurred  on  October  24,  1909. 
His  wife  was  the  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Jane  (Stewart)  Hoping,  who  came 
to  Jasper  county.  Iowa,  in  1857.  having  formerly  lived  near  Xenia,  Ohio. 
They  located  near  Greencastle  and  there  they  both  died. 

Maynard  E.  Penquite  was  the  only  son  in  a  family  of  four  children,  his 
sisters  being  Claudia,  the  wife  of  Emanuel  Fry,  of  ]\Iingo;  Bessie  is  the  wife 
of  J.  T.  Stitt.  of  Des  Moines;  Mae  Penquite  lives  at  Ira,  Iowa,  and  is  the  wife 
of  Leon  Richardson. 

The  subject's  mother  owns  the  old  home  place  which  she  has  kept  well 
improved  and  well  cultivated. 

Mr.  Penquite  was  married  in  Jasper  county  to  Lola  E.  \\'arell,  a  most 
worthy  representative  of  an  excellent  family,  being  the  daughter  of  Charles 
and  Eva  Warell,  the  father  having  located  in  Clear  Creek  township  when  a 
boy  and  here  grew  up  with  the  country.  His  wife  was  known  in  her  maiden- 
hood as  Eva  Clapper,  daughter  of  Harman  and  Katherine  (Harsh)  Clapper, 
who  came  to  Jasper  county  in  the  latter  forties  or  early  fifties  and  located  in 
Clear  Creek  township.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Penquite  the  following  children  have 
been  born :  Leon  Maynard,  Gladys  Mae,  Vergil  Ellsworth,  Morris  Oral  and 
Helen  Lola. 

The  subject  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  where  he  worked  during  his  boy- 
hood while  not  attending  the  public  schools.  Turning  his  attention  to  the  law, 
he  took  a  course  in  the  law  department  of  Drake  L^niversity  at  Des  Moines, 
where  he  made  a  splendid  record,  and  from  which  institution  he  was  gradu- 
atetl  in  1899.  Soon  afterwards  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  he  began  prac- 
tice at  Collins,  Story  county.  January  i,  1903,  he  came  to  Colfax,  where 
he  lias  continueil  to  the  present  time  with  ever-increasing  success,  being  re- 
garded as  a  painstaking,  persistent  and  honorable  advocate,  ever  vigilant  of 
his  client's  interests  and  a  forceful  and  logical  pleader  before  a  jury.     He  has 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  637 

figured  prominently  in  the  local  courts  for  the  past  ten  years  and  takes  rank 
with  the  leading  legal  lights  of  the  county.  He  has  been  justice  of  the  peace 
for  three  terms,  discharging  the  duties  of  this  office  in  a  most  worthy  manner, 
his  decisions  being  characterized  by  fairness  to  all  parties  and  given  in  a  man- 
ner as  to  indicate  his  familiarity  with  all  phases  of  jurisprudence.  In  the 
spring  of  1909  he  was  elected  mayor  of  the  town  of  Colfax,  which  office  he  has 
held  to  the  present  time  in  a  manner  that  reflects  much  credit  upon  himself  and 
to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 

Mr.  Penquite  is  a  pleasant  man  to  know  personally,  genial,  honest  and 
straightforward  in  all  his  transactions,  a  man  eminently  meriting  the  high 
esteem  in  which  he  is  held. 


J.  C.  HAWKINS. 

"Unique"  is  the  term  that  best  describes  the  subject  of  this  review. 
Not  so  in  a  notorious  way,  nor  yet  in  the  realm  of  cheap  tinsel  and  tawdry 
accomplishment,  but  unique  as  a  man  who  is  worth  while,  who  is  so  original 
as  to  be  apart  from  the  great  rank  and  file  of  his  fellow  men. 

J.  C.  Hawkins  looks  like  Bourke  Cochran  and  can  talk  almost  as  well. 
He  is  cynical  without  being  bitter,  sarcastic  without  l>eing  narrow  or  unkind. 
Then  he  is  so  absolutely  wide  awake  and  alive  to  what  the  world  is  doing  and 
what  life  means.  He  was  born  in  Troy,  Doniphan  county.  Kansas,  April  30, 
1869,  being  the  son  of  H.  C.  and  Susan  (  W'ormley )  Hawkins,  his  father  being 
a  native  of  New  York  and  his  mother  of  Pennsylvania.  His  father  was  one 
of  the  best  known  men  and  ablest  lawyers  in  Kansas,  being  elected  to  the  Legis- 
lature of  that  state  and  leading  attorney  for  the  Santa  Fe  Railway  Company 
for  many  years  prior  to  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1874.  As  a  speaker  his 
reputation  was  equal  to  his  fame  as  a  lawyer.  After  the  death  of  the  father. 
Mr.  Hawkins's  mother  remarried,  her  husband  being  J.  Evans  Ryan,  an  Epis- 
copal minister  of  Troy.  Kansas.  This  marriage  took  place  when  the  subject 
of  this  review  was  but  six  years  of  age,  he  being  the  only  child  by  the  former 
marriage.  \\'hen  his  mother  and  stepfather  came  to  Jasper  county  in  1880, 
the  little  boy  came  with  them  and  he  has  since  remained  in  Jasper  county, 
although  there  was  a  time  when  he  was  absent,  while  traveling  for  his  health 
for  a  period  of  some  five  years.  His  stepfather  departed  this  life  in  1893  and 
since  then  his  mother  has  made  her  home  in  the  city  of  Newton.  Mr.  Hawk- 
ins began  his  career  in  1892  by  graduating  from  the  law  department  of  the 
Iowa  State  Universitv  of  Iowa  Citv.     After  this  he  went  to  Pueblo,  Colorado, 


638  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

where  he  opened  a  law  office  in  partnership  witli  William  Mitchell,  practicing 
one  vear.  Returning  to  Monroe,  Iowa,  he  practiced  law  one  year  in  partner- 
ship with  Sloan  Coder,  afterwards  coming  to  Xewton^  where  he  has  since  re- 
mained. 

Air.  Hawkins,  since  coming  to  Xewton,  has  been  connected  with  some  of 
the  most  important  cases  in  the  history  of  the  county,  his  efforts  being  char- 
acterized by  signal  success.  Until  the  last  year  prior  to  this  writing,  he  has 
given  his  attention  exclusively  to  the  law,  but  since  then  has  given  much  at- 
tention to  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  an  excellent  office  device  known  as  the 
"Clipless  Paper  Fastener."  of  which  he  is  the  inventor.  This  device,  standing 
almost  alone  among  paper  fasteners,  securely  fastens  the  sheets  of  paper 
together  by  the  paper  itself  and  is  in  constant  and  ever  increasing  demand, 
being  on  sale  in  every  leading  city  in  the  world.  As  an  assistance  to  his  sales- 
men, who  handle  his  invention,  Mr.  Hawkins  has  written  a  delightfully  in- 
genious little  book.  "Salesmanship,  or  How  to  Make  Money,"  which  is  well 
worthv  of  perusal  as  it  contains  much  trite  information  which  could  only  be 
gained  by  actual  experience. 

On  October  18,  1904,  Mr.  Hawkins  was  married  to  E\-a  Ketman.  of 
Humboldt.  Iowa,  daughter  of  H.  J.  and  Frances  Ketman,  she  being  one  of 
twelve  children  living :  Adrian,  Abraham,  Hermanns  and  one  sister,  Mary 
Flemeigh,  wife  of  Charles  Flemeigh.  are  all  engaged  in  farming  near  Hum- 
boldt; Francis,  wife  of  Fred  Morgan,  professor  in  Leland  Stanford  Univer- 
sity, California;  Jennie,  wife  of  Frank  Carpenter,  a  jeweler,  resides  in  Ireton, 
Iowa  ;  Isaac,  residing  in  Winterset,  Iowa,  is  the  owner  of  the  Scarless  Liniment 
Company ;  Peter  is  in  the  real  estate  business  in  Minnesota ;  and  T.  R.,  a  min- 
ister, is  general  manager  for  the  Baptist  Publishing  Society  of  Chicago.  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hawkins  are  most  affable  and  cultured  people  whom  it  is  a 
pleasure  to  know.     They  are  among  the  best  of  Newton's  people. 


BENJAMIN  S.  GILSON. 

The  enterprise  of  Benjamin  S.  Gilson,  long  connected  with  the  agricul- 
tural interests  of  Jasper  county,  now  living  in  retirement  in  Newton,  has  been 
crowned  by  success,  as  the  result  of  rightly  applied  principles  which  never 
fail  in  their  ultimate  effect  when  coupled  with  integrity,  uprightness  and  con- 
genial disposition,  as  they  have  been  done  in  the  present  instance,  judging 
from  the  high  standing  of  Mr.  Gilson  among  his  fellow  men,  whose  individual 
esteem  he  has  justly  won  and  retained. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  639 

Mr.  Gilson  was  born  near  Enimettsburg,  Maryland,  October  25,  1846. 
He  is  the  son  of  Thomas  S.  and  Susan  E.  (Groff)  Gilson,  the  father  born  in 
Frederick  county,  Maryland,  February  27,  1825,  and  the  mother  was  also  born 
in  that  state.  There  they  grew  to  maturity,  w^re  educated  and  married.  They 
came  to  Dubuque,  Iowa,  in  1852,  where  they  made  their  home  until  the  spring 
of  1870,  \\hen  they  removed  to  Marshall  county.  Mr.  Gilson  devoted  his  life 
to  farming,  remaining  on  his  place  in  Marshall  county  until  1885,  when  he 
removed  to  Marshalltown,  where  he  died  in  1892.  He  was  a  man  of  energy, 
upright  character  and  well  liked  wherever  he  lived.  He  was  an  enthusiastic 
worker  in  the  Methodist  church,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  trustee  of 
the  church  at  Marshalltown,  and  he  had  held  other  positions  in  the  church. 
His  wife  was  also  a  member  of  this  church  from  her  early  youth.  They  were 
the  parents  of  three  children,  Thomas  R.,  of  Sioux  Falls,  South  Dakota,  and 
Benjamin  S.,  of  this  review,  the  other  child  being  deceased.  The  mother 
passed  to  her  rest  in  1907,  having  attained  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-tive 
years. 

Benjamin  S.  Gilson  came  west  with  his  parents  and  was  reared  on  the 
home  farm,  where  he  worked  in  the  summer,  and  attended  the  public  schools 
in  the  winter  time.  He  has  always  been  a  farmer  and  delights  in  rural  sur- 
roundings. He  began  life  for  himself  on  a  farm  in  Dubuque  county,  and 
after  he  was  married  mo\ed  to  Marshall  county,  and  in  1891  located  at  Xew- 
ton  and  retired  from  active  farm  work.  For  some  time  he  has  been  speculating 
in  lands  on  his  own  account,  and  his  efforts  have  met  with  success. 

Mr.  Gilson  was  married  Alarch  2,  1869,  to  Frances  E.  Hamilton,  who 
was  born  in  Dubuque  county,  Iowa,  the  daughter  of  James  S.  and  Mary 
(Walker)  Hamilton,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  To  this  union  three  children 
have  been  born  :  Jeanetta  Mabel,  who  keeps  house  for  her  father,  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution.  She  is  rarely  accomplished 
in  china,  water  color,  pastel  and  oil  painting.  She  is  a  graduate  of  the  high 
school  and  is  a  young  lady  of  marked  intellectual  attainments;  Charles  \V., 
who  married  Mrs.  Grayce  (Mertz)  Dixon.  August  30.  191 1,  lives  at  Scott, 
Saskatchewan,  Canada ;  James  Harold.  Both  boys  are  homesteading  in 
Canada.  James  H.  is  a  graduate  of  Xorthwestern  University  at  Chicago,  re- 
ceiving the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts ;  he  is  also  a  graduate  of  the  Comnock 
School  of  Oratoiy  of  Evanston,  Illinois,  having  spent  six  years  in  college.  He 
was  offered  a  professorship,  but  he  preferred  outdoor  life  on  the  farm.  He 
has  financial  interest  in  the  Kittleman  Leather  Goods  Company,  of  Chicago. 
He  was  married  November  9.  191 1.  to  Ruth  Ormiston  Warrington,  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  Thomas  C.  \\''arrington.  pastor  of  McKinley  Park  church  of  Chi- 
cago, and  lives  in  Canada. 


640  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

}ilrs.  Gilson  passed  to  her  rest  in  December.  1906.  when  tiftv-eight  years 
of  age.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  as  is  also  Mr.  Gilson  and 
the  entire  family.  The  father  is  a  Prohibitionist  and  so  votes.  He  has  a 
beautiful  and  neatly  kept  home  on  East  South  street.  While  Mr.  Gilson  is  a 
retired  farmer,  he  is  still  engaged  in  business,  having  large  land  holdings  in 
Canada,  Kansas.  Iowa,  South  Dakota.  Walter,  the  eldest  son,  is  an  expert 
machinist,  and  is  doing  expert  work  for  the  International  Harvester  Com- 
pany in  Canada,  making  his  headquarters  at  Scott,  Saskatchewan. 

Mr.  Gilson  is  a  class  leader  in  the  Methodist  church  at  Xewton  and  has 
held  nearly  all  the  offices  in  the  church.  He  has  been  a  teacher  in  the  Bible 
class  for  fifteen  years.  He  was  twice  a  delegate  to  the  world's  Sunday  school 
congress,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Red  Cross  Society. 

The  reputation  of  the  Gilson  ancestors  is  most  exemplary,  there  having 
been  no  criminals  and  several  preachers  among  them,  and  one  of  them  fought 
in  the  Re\'olutionary  war.  A\^illiam  Gilson  was  the  founder  of  the  family  in 
America.  He  married  Elizabeth  Craighead.  Their  son,  Thomas  Gilson,  mar- 
ried Nancy  Boyd,  and  their  son  Richard  married  Mary  Smith,  and  Thomas, 
the  son  of  the  latter  couple,  was  the  father  of  the  subject. 

David  Boyd  was  captured  by  the  Indians  and  lived  three  years  with  them. 
Upon  his  return  to  his  friends  he  joined  the  patriot  army  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  throughout  \\hich  he  served. 

^Ir.  Gilson  is  a  pleasant  man  to  meet,  hospitable,  kind-hearted  and  pos- 
sessing every  characteristic  of  a  Christian  gentleman  and  he  makes  friends 
easily  and  has  no  trouble  in  retaining  them. 


OLIVER  PERRY  MYERS. 

The  following  is  a  brief  sketch  of  one  who,  by  close  attention  to  business, 
has  achieved  marked  success  in  the  world's  affairs  and  risen  to  an  honorable 
position  among  the  enterprising  professional  men  of  Jasper  county  with  which 
his  interests  have  long  1>een  identified. 

Oliver  Perry  Myers,  well  known  attorney  of  Xewton,  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  Iowa,  July  30.  1856.  The  Myers  family  comes  of 
German  stock.  The  parents  were  John  and  Mary  (Ward)  Myers,  the  father 
having  been  born  in  Indiana  and  he  devoted  his  life  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  came  to  Iowa  in  1856,  locating  in  Washington  county,  where  he  lived 
until   1880,  then  moved  to  Xeosho,  Missouri,  where  he  continued  to  reside 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  64I 

until  his  death,  in  1895,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  He  was  successful 
as  a  business  man  and  prominent  in  public  life,  taking  an  abiding  interest  in 
the  affairs  of  his  community  at  all  times.  He  was  the  Democratic  nominee  for 
the  Legislature  from  Washington  county  at  one  time,  but  declined  the  nom- 
ination. His  wife  was  a  native  of  Indiana,  her  parents  coming  from  New 
Jersey.  Her  death  occurred  in  1866  when  comparatively  young  m  years. 
Grandfather  Myers  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  Being  an  anti-slavery  man,  he 
never  owned  a  slave. 

Ten  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Myers,  three  of  whom  are 
living,  namely:  Joseph  W.,  of  Brighton,  Iowa;  Mrs.  Rebecca  J.  Armstrong, 
also  of  Brighton,  this  state;  and  Oliver  P.,  of  this  review.  The  father,  John 
Myers,  married  again  later  in  life. 

Oliver  P.  Myers  was  born  on  the  home  farm  in  a  log  calkin,  and  there 
he  grew  to  maturity,  knowing  the  meaning  of  hard  work  in  developing  a 
farm  from  the  wild  prairie.  He  received  his  primaiy  education  in  the 
country  schools  there,  going  directly  from  the  rural  schools  into  the  sub- 
freshman  class  at  the  State  University,  at  Iowa  City,  and,  making  a  splendid 
record  for  scholarship  there,  he  was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  1880. 
He  taught  school,  worked  on  the  farm  and  read  law^  at  Iowa  City,  beginning 
the  study  of  law  in  earnest  in  1882,  and  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1883  at 
Newton,  Jasper  county,  having  come  to  Newton  a  short  time  before.  He 
formed  a  law  partnership  with  A.  M.  Harrah  on  January  i,  1884,  which  con- 
tinued until  1 89 1,  in  which  year  Mr.  Myers  went  to  South  Dakota,  where 
he  lived  until  January  10,  1889,  making  his  home  at  Huron.  He  taught 
school,  becoming  one  of  the  leading  educators  of  that  part  of  the  state,  and 
he  was  county  superintendent  of  schools  for  a  period  of  four  years,  the  law 
in  that  state  permitting  only  four  successive  years.  He  returned  to  Newton, 
Iowa,  in  1889  and  re-formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Harrah,  which  con- 
tinued with  their  former  success  until  1905,  when  Mr.  Harrah  went  to 
California,  since  when  Mr.  Myers  has  been  alone.  He  has  built  up  a  large 
and  lucrative  clientele,  which  has  continued  to  grow  from  year  to  year  until 
he  ranks  today  among  the  leading  legal  lights  of  central  Iowa,  being  regarded 
as  a  learned,  painstaking,  cautious  and  vigilant  advocate,  and  a  logical  and 
earnest  pleader  at  the  bar,  so  that  he  has  for  years  figured  prominently  in  im- 
portant litigations  in  the  local  courts.  Long  prominent  in  public  affairs,  he 
was  nominated  for  district  judge  for  the  sixth  judicial  district,  but  was 
defeated,  though  carrying  his  home  county  for  one  judgeship.  He  keeps  fully 
abreast  of  the  times  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  his  profession  and  to  public 
affairs,  is  widely  read  and  an  untiring  worker  in  his  professional  duties. 

(41) 


642  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

.Mr.  Myers  was  married  011  May  i,  1897,  to  Leah  McFarlane,  a  lady  of 
talent  and  many  estimable  traits,  and  the  daughter  of  Samuel  M.  and  Ellen 
(Stewart)  ^IcFarlane.  She  was  born  in  Michigan,  and  her  parents  were  both 
born  in  Great  Britain,  the  mother  in  London  and  the  father  in  Ireland.  They 
emigrated  to  America  when  young,  first  locating  in  Michigan,  then  moved  to 
South  Dakota,  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers  were  married.  This  union  has 
been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  three  children,  Kenneth,  Ruth  and  Dorothy. 

Mr.  ]VIyers  is  regarded  by  those  who  know  him  best  as  an  honest  man 
of  the  highest  type,  honest  in  every  relation  of  life, — his  daily  routine  of 
business,  in  social  relations,  in  public  affairs, — and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  no 
citizen  stands  higher  in  the  esteem  of  the  people  of  Jasper  county. 


ANDREW  H.  HO\\'ARD. 

To  attain  a  worthy  citizenship  by  a  life  that  is  always  honored  and  re- 
spected, even  from  childhood,  deserves  more  than  mere  mention.  It  is  no 
easy  task  to  resist  the  many  temptations  of  youth  and  early  manhood  and  plant 
a  character  in  the  minds  and  hearts  of  associates  that  will  remain  an  unstained 
figure  for  all  time.  One  may  take  his  place  in  public  life  through  some  vigor- 
ous stroke  of  public  policy,  and  ever  remain  in  the  hearts  of  friends  and  neigh- 
bors, but  to  assume  a  position  of  honor  in  the  communitv  by  dint  of  the  prac- 
tice of  an  ui)right  life  and  without  a  cra\"ing  for  exaltation  merely  for  selfish 
ends,  whose  chief  desires  seem  to  be  to  serve  others  and  lead  a  life  of  useful- 
ness and  honor,  is  worthy  of  the  highest  praise  and  commendation.  Such  a 
man  is  Andrew  H.  Howard,  of  Newton,  Jasper  county,  who,  after  a  long  and 
active  career,  is  living  in  retirement. 

J\Ir.  Howard  was  born  in  Herkimer  county,  New  York,  July  24,  1843,  the 
son  of  Chauncey  and  Ann  (Rood)  Howard,  both  natives  of  New  York.  The 
father  was  a  machinist  and  he  spent  his  early  life  in  the  East,  coming  to  Iowa 
in  1856,  locating  in  Jasper  county  in  ^March  of  that  year,  first  at  Monroe, 
where  he  lived  until  the  fall  of  1863,  then  moved  to  Newton,  having  been 
elected  sheriff  of  Jasper  county,  and  he  took  office  January  i,  1864.  He  was 
also  deputy  United  States  marshal  at  that  time.  After  the  war  he  was  ap- 
pointed deputy  revenue  assessor,  and  four  years  later  the  ofiice  of  assessor  was 
abolished  and  he  was  made  revenue  collector  for  this  district,  which  he  held  for 
a  period  of  eighteen  years.  He  declined  the  nomination  for  sheriff  in  1865, 
claiming  that  the  office  should  be  given  to  a  soldier,  which  was  then  done. 
Mr.  Howard  made  Newton  his  home  until  his  death,  on  Julv  16,  1882.     He 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  64^ 

was  one  of  the  organizers,  supporters  and  active  workers  of  the  Universalist 
church  here.  He  was  twice  elected  mayor  of  Xewton  and  also  justice  of  the 
peace.  Politically,  he  was  a  Republican;  he  was  an  influential  and  highly  re- 
spected man,  taking  an  active  part  in  the  early  development  of  the  locality. 
His  wife  survived  until  February  28.  1904.  They  were  the  parents  of  five 
children,  three  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  May  has  remained  single;  Mrs. 
Alice  Carl,  of  Newton;  and  Andrew  H.,  of  this  review. 

The  subject  was  thirteen  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came  to  Jasper 
county ;  he  received  a  meager  schooling  in  the  rural  schools  of  the  early  davs 
here,  and  on  his  eighteenth  birthday  he  proved  his  patriotism  and  courage  by 
enlisting,  on  July  24,  1862.  in  Company  F,  Eighteenth  Iowa  Infantry,  in  which 
he  served  with  distinction  for  three  years  and  one  month,  or  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  He  participated  in  the  Red  River  campaign,  and  was  in  the 
Western  Army,  his  regiment  having  been  rendezvoused  at  Clinton,  Iowa,  and 
mustered  into  service  August  6,  1862,  leaving  Clinton  by  boat  on  the  nth  of 
that  month,  landding  at  St.  Louis  on  the  13th.  They  went  into  camp  at  Benton 
Barracks  where  they  were  drilled  until  August  27th,  when  they  were  sent  to 
Sedalia,  ^^lissouri,  thence  across  the  country  to  Springfield,  where  they  arrived 
on  September  13th,  and  on  the  i8th  were  assigned  to  the  First  Brigade,  of  the 
Second  Division  of  the  Army  of  the  Frontier,  under  command  of  General 
Schofield.  with  "little"  Phil  Sheridan  as  quartermaster  of  the  army.  The 
regiment  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Newtonia,  Missouri,  on  September  27th, 
and  Fayetteville,  Arkansas,  on  October  27th.  From  there  they  came  back  to 
Missouri,  making  a  march  of  over  seven  hundred  miles  in  seventy-five  days, 
and  they  went  into  camp  at  Springfield  for  the  winter.  On  January  8,  1863, 
the  Confederate  General  Marmaduke  attacked  Springfield,  which  was  defended 
by  the  Eighteenth  Iowa  Infantry,  and  the  fight  lasted  from  ten  o'clock  in  the 
morning  until  eight  at  night,  the  Iowa  troops  suffering  heavily.  On  October 
17,  1863.  the  regiment  left  Springfield  in  pursuit  of  the  Confederates  under 
General  Joe  Shelby,  with  whom  they  had  numerous  skirmishes,  finally  driving 
him  across  to  Arkansas,  and  the  regiment  went  into  winter  quarters  at  Fort 
Smith,  remaining  there  until  March  22,  1864,  when,  with  three  divisions  of 
the  Seventh  Army  Corps,  it  marched  to  Camden,  that  state,  all  under  com- 
mand of  General  Thayer.  During  this  raid  the  regiment  took  part  in  the 
battle  of  Prairie  d'Ann  on  April  12th,  Macon  the  following  day.  Poison 
Springs  on  April  i8th,  Jenkins  Ferry  at  Saline  river.  April  30th.  In  the 
battle  of  Poison  Springs  the  regiment  lost  eighty-one  killed,  wounded  and 
missing.  ^Mr.  Howard  was  mustered  out  on  August  3,  1867,  at  Davenport. 
Iowa.  The  regiment  of  which  he  was  a  member  marched  in  all  four  thousand 
one  hundred  and  sixtv  miles.     There  were  only  four  hundred  men  and  eight 


644  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

officers  who  remained  with  the  regiment  at  the  date  of  mustering  out,  the  total 
loss  by  death  and  discharge  having  been  five  hundred  and  fifteen.  Mr.  How- 
ard has  been  twice  president  of  the  Regiment  Association  of  the  Eighteenth 
Iowa. 

After  the  war  he  returned  to  Newton  and  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade 
for  a  year,  then  entered  the  cabinet  shop  of  McCord  &  A^an  Glason,  an  old  firm, 
with  which  he  remained  fourteen  years,  then  entered  the  furniture  business 
for  himself  at  Malcom,  Iowa,  in  which  he  remained  two  and  one-half  years, 
then  returned  to  Newton  and  soon  afterwards  went  on  the  road  as  traveling 
salesman,  which  he  followed  successfully  for  a  period  of  twenty-five  years, 
handling  furniture  five  years  and  undertaker's  goods  the  remainder  of  the  time. 
In  1900  he  and  his  son  put  up  a  laundry  plant  here,  known  as  the  Newton 
Steam  Laundry,  which  they  operated  for  ten  years,  employing  about  fifteen 
people.  In  1908  Mr.  Howard  turned  the  business  of  the  plant  over  to  his 
son,  exchanged  residences  with  him  and  retired. 

On  September  12,  1866,  Mr.  Howard  was  married  to  Adelaide  Tow^n- 
send,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  the  daughter  of  James  and  Esther  Town- 
send,  both  natives  of  New  Jersey.  This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Frances,  wife  of  Murray  Galusha,  of  JNIemphis,  Tennessee, 
he  being  manager  of  the  Western  Newspaper  Union  there;  they  have 
three  children,  Howard,  George  D.  and  Robert.  Charles  E.  Howard,  pro- 
prietor of  the  Newton  Steam  Laundry,  married  Catherine  Saun,  daughter 
of  George  Saun,  formerly  an  old  citizen  of  Newton,  now  living  in  Des 
Moines;  they  have  three  children,  Chauncy  B.,  George  P.  and  Karl  E.  Grace 
How^ard,  now  deceased,  married  Dr.  B.  A.  Miller,  of  Newton,  her  death  having 
occurred  at  Vermillion,  South  Dakota ;  Delia  is  the  wife  of  Roy  B.  Fisk,  deputy 
city  clerk  of  Newton. 

Politically,  Mr.  Howard  is  a  Republican;  he  belongs  to  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic  and  he  is  a  ]\Iason,  having  attained  the  Ivnight  Templar  degree. 


JOSEPH  DeBOLT. 


A  name  known  to  every  one  who  has  the  slightest  acquaintance  with  the 
business  history  of  Newton  and  Jasper  county  is  Joseph  DeBolt,  for  he  has 
for  some  time  filled  a  large  place  in  the  industrial  affairs  of  this  locality,  and  as 
an  energetic,  enterprising  and  far-sighted  man  whose  influence  makes  for  the 
upbuilding  of  the  community  he  has  earned  a  reputation  second  to  none  of  his 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  645 

contemporaries.  He  possesses  a  broad,  inquiring  mind  and  is  keenly  alive  to 
everything  that  tends  to  improve  material  conditions  and  benefit  those  upon 
whose  shoulders  falls  the  burden  of  making  possible  the  phenomenal  progress 
resulting  from  the  development  and  success  of  the  industrial  evolution  in  the 
contemporaries.  He  possesses  a  broad,  inquiring  mind  and  is  keenlv  alive  to 
approachable,  he  has  a  strong  and  vigorous  personality  and  in  the  best  sense  of 
the  term  is  a  leader  of  men  and  well  fitted  to  manage  large  and  important 
enterprises. 

'Sir.  DeBolt  was  born  on  January  13,  1859,  in  Woodford  county,  Illinois, 
the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Sarah  (Bair)  DeBolt,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
where  they  grew  up,  were  educated  and  married  and  began  life  on  a  farm,  not 
long  afterwards,  however,  moving  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Vermilion  count}^ 
and  continued  farming,  the  family  coming -on  to  Iowa  when  the  son  Joseph, 
of  this  review,  Avas  fourteen  years  old,  and  located  near  Perry.  Six  years  later 
they  went  back  to  Illinois,  first  to  Knox  county,  but  four  years  later  returned 
to  Vermilion  county.  Here  Mr.  DeBolt  farmed  until  1905,  when,  having 
accumulated  a  competency  through  many  years  of  consecutive  toil,  he  retired. 
His  death  occurred  in  1908,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  He  was  the  son 
of  Jacob  DeBolt.  who  also  spent  his  life  on  a  farm.  Benjamin  DeBolt  was 
twice  married,  his  first  wife  dying  when  Joseph,  of  this  review,  was  eight  vears 
of  age.  He  was  the  oldest  of  a  family  of  six  children,  the  others  l^eing  Clara, 
wife  of  Frank  Morton,  a  farmer  in  Illinois;  Esther,  now  deceased,  married 
William  Snart,  a  tailor  at  Sterling,  Illinois;  Edward  is  living  at  Galesburg. 
Illinois ;  two.  children  died  in  infancy.  Benjamin  DeBolt's  second  marriage 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  five  children,  namely :  Frank  and  Clark  are  living  at 
Newton;  Harold,  Tina  and  Isabella,  all  of  East  Lynn,  Illinois. 

Joseph  DeBolt  obtained  his  education  in  the  district  schools  of  Wood- 
ford county.  Illinois.  When  nineteen  years  of  age  he  began  working  in  a 
brickyard.  In  the  fall  of  1898  he  came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  and  located  on 
a  farm  in  Newton  township  and  he  farmed  successfully  until  the  fall  of  19 10. 
when  he  moved  to  Newton  and  formed  The  Western  Stock  Remedy  Company, 
a  stock  company  making  and  handling  remedies  for  live  stock.  He  is  president 
of  the  company  and  every  member  of  his  family  owns  stock  in  the  company. 
Mr.  DeBolt  travels  extensively  in  the  interest  of  the  concern,  which  has 
achieved  a  wide  popularity,  its  products  meeting  with  a  ready  sale  wherever 
their  merits  are  known.  They  are  well  equipped  in  every  way  for  the  manu- 
facture of  various  kinds  of  what  has  been  proven  to  be  superior  grades  of 
stock  remedies.  The  prestige  and  success  of  the  company  has  been  due  to  the 
able  management  and  judicious  counsel  of  Mr.  DeBolt. 


646  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

On  October  20.  1880.  Air.  DeBolt  was  united  in  marriage  with  Ida  Bur- 
ton, who  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Illinois,  on  June  22,  1859.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Harvey  and  Rachael  (Carpenter)  Burton,  both  natives  of  Ohio. 
Her  mother  died  when  she  was  hve  years  of  age,  and  her  father  subsequently 
remarried.  By  the  first  marriage  there  are  living  but  two  children,  Oscar,  now 
a  Nebraska  farmer,  and  Ida,  wife  of  Mr.  DeBolt.  The  children  of  the  second 
marriage  now  li\ing  are :  '  John;  Nettie,  wife  of  George  Bandy,  lives  in  Wash- 
ington. iVIrs.  DeBolt's  father  was  a  carpenter  by  trade ;  his  death  occurred 
in  1898  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  DeBolt  six  children  have  been  born,  namely :  Marion, 
who  married  Edna  A.  Gibford,  lives  in  Newton  and  is  manager  of  the  home 
office  of  the  Western  Remedy  Company,  of  which  he  is  a  large  stockholder. 
Earl  DeBolt,  who  also  owns  considerable  stock  in  this  concern,  is  employed  in 
the  home  office  of  the  same;  he  is  unmarried  and  is  still  with  his  parents. 
Flossie  DeBolt  married  Walter  Austin,  and  is  now  deceased,  leaving  a  child, 
Dorothea  V.  Lester,  Glen  and  Clara  are  at  home,  the  last  named  child  having 
been  given  a  good  musical  education. 

Mr.  DeBolt  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  in  Newton;  he  also 
belongs  to  the  Iowa  State  Traveling  Men's  Association.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat,  but  is  not  a  radical  partisan,  though  he  is  interested  in  whatever 
tends  to  promote  the  general  good  in  his  county  w^hether  politically,  morally  or 
materially.  He  and  his  wife  are  consistent  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church. 

Mr.  DeBolt  is  a  man  of  sound  judgment  and  sterling  character,  a  man 
whose  word  is  as  good  if  not  better  than  the  bond  of  most  people. 


ALBERT  LUFKIN. 


A  notable  example  of  the  successful  self-made  man  was  the  late  Albert 
Lufkin,  and  as  such  he  made  his  influence  felt  among  the  people  of  Jasper 
county,  where  he 'cast  his  lot  in  pioneer  days  and  labored  for  his  ow^n  advance- 
ment and  that  of  the  locality  as  well,  thereby  earning  the  right  to  be  classed 
among  the  leading  citizens  of  his  day  in  the  community  honored  by  his  citi- 
zenship. His  life  was  a  long  and  interesting  one,  fraught,  with  much  work  and 
much  good;  indeed,  it  is  doul)tful  if  any  man  of  a  past  generation  was  so  in- 
timately intermingled  with  the  history  of  the  city  of  Newton  and  Jasper 
county  as  was  Mr.  Lufkin.  and  his  career  may  well  be  studied  with  profit  by. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  647 

the  youth  standing  at  the  parting  of  the  ways  whose  career  is  yet  a  matter  for 
future  years  to  determine,  for  it  was  not  only  successful  from  a  material  view- 
point, but  it  was  wholesome  in  every  avenue,  exemplary  in  every  relation  and 
a  model  worthy  of  emulation  by  all  who  would  be  counted  among  those  who 
win  in  the  battle  which  we  commonly  call  life  and  leave  behind  us  the  greatest 
of  all  heritages,  an  honored  name. 

Mr.  Lufkin  was  born  on  a  farm  situated  on  Casco  Bay,  Maine,  about 
twenty  miles  from  Portland,  at  the  town  of  Freeport,  on  January  7,  183 1.  He 
was  the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Eliza  (Pote)  Lufkin,  both  of  English  extraction 
and  both  natives  of  Freeport,  Maine.  Flis  parents  and  all  four  of  his  grand- 
parents are  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  that  place.  The  farm  on  which  the  sub- 
ject was  born  was  partly  cleared  for  the  purpose  of  using  the  wood  in  boiling 
down  sea  water  in  making  salt,  and  in  his  boyhood  he  plowed  up  fragments  of 
the  old  salt  kettles,  interesting  relics  of  a  pioneer  industry.  His  early  educa- 
tion was  obtained  in  the  public  schools.  In  addition  to  the  common  branches 
taught,  he  began  the  study  of  algebra  and  while  yet  at  home  he  took  up  the 
study  of  geometry  and  trigonometr}^  without  a  teacher,  using  an  old  work  on 
navigation,  published  in  1758.  He  learned  the  use  of  logarithms  and  com- 
menced the  study  of  navigation  from  this  book.  He  finished  his  course  in 
Bowditch's  Navigation  unaided,  after  which  he  entered  the  North  Yarmouth 
Academy,  which  he  attended  several  terms.  He  followed  teaching  for  several 
years,  after  leaving  school,  specializing  on  mathematics,  which  ])ranch  he 
taught  one  term  in  Yarmouth  Institute.  He  then  attended  a  school  of  engi- 
neering at  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  under  Prof.  William  A.  Norton.  The 
latter  being  called  to  Yale,  the  subject,  with  most  of  his  class,  followed  and 
entered  the  school  of  engineering  at  Yale  University,  taking  a  course  of  scien- 
tific engineering  and  chemistry.  Leaving  New  Haven,  Mr.  Lufkin  went  to 
work  for  H.  T.  Walling  at  map  making.  In  1853  he  took  a  position  with  the 
Pennsylvania  railroad  as  topographer.  After  making  the  surveys  on  the 
north  branch  of  the  Susquehanna  river,  he  went  to  Philadelphia  and  si)ent 
the  winter  drafting  for  this  road  and  while  there  he  attended  sixty  lectures, 
having  joined  the  Franklin  Institute  and  the  Pennsylvania  Historical  Society. 

In  the  spring  of  1855  Mr.  Lufkin  came  west  and  located  in  Jasper  county, 
Iowa,  purchasing  a  farm  in  what  is  now  Richland  township,  for  himself  and 
his  brother  William,  who  came  out  in  the  fall  of  that  year. 

On  October  9,  1855,  Mr.  Lufkin  was  married  to  Catherine  Grififin,  of 
Freeport,' ]\Iaine.  In  the  spring  of  1858  he  was  elected  county  superintendent 
of  schools  and  moved  to  Newton  in  August  of  that  year.  During  his  term  of 
ofTfice  he  succeeded  in  having  built  many  better  school  buildings.     He  held  the 


648  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

office  two  terms  and  made  many  friends  among  the  people,  teachers  and 
pupils.  He  then  began  the  first  set  of  abstracts  of  titles  in  Jasper  county.  In 
1869,  in  company  with  Gen.  James  Wilson,  he  established  the  Jasper  County 
Bank,  in  which  ^^Ir.  Lufkin  was  interested  for  over  ten  years.  While  yet  in 
the  bank  he  bought  an  interest  in  the  foundry  and  machine  shop  -of  James 
Edgar  &  Company  and  with  J.  H.  Lyday  and  James  Dutot  continued  the 
business  under  the  name  of  the  Newton  Machine  Works.  Later  he  became 
sole  proprietor,  \\hile  he  was  in  the  machine  shop,  Rev.  D.  H.  Rogan  came 
to  him  with  sewing  machine  plans,  and  in  a  room  of  Mr.  Lufkin's  stable  was 
biiilt  the  first  sewing  machine  ever  manufactured  west  of  the  Mississippi  and 
the  first  e\-er  run  with  a  thread  for  a  belt.  This  was  later  sold  to  the  Singer 
Sewing  Machine  Company. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Lufkin  occurred  in  1907,  and  that  of  his  wife  in  1880. 
Their  family  consisted  of  one  daughter  and  two  sons,  namely :  Mary,  Arthur 
K.  and  Herman,  all  of  whom  are  married,  and  the  sons  are  successful  business 
men  and  influential  in  their  communities. 

In  1 88 1  Mr.  Lufkin  married  Fannie  E.  Derbyshire,  and  one  child  was 
bom  to  this  union,  which  died  in  infancy. 

'Mr.  Lufkin  traveled  extensively  in  this  country,  having  visited  all  the 
states  but  four,  and  Canada  repeatedly,  also  old  Mexico. 

Mr.  Lufkin  was  for  over  twenty  years  a  member  of  the  American  Asso- 
ciation for  the  Advancement  of  Science.  He  was  one  of  the  leading  men  of 
his  day  and  generation  and  to  him  Jasper  county  owes  much  and  here  his 
memorv  will  lono-  be  cherished. 


JOSEPH  L.  BUTLER. 

The  name  of  Joseph  L.  Butler  is  a  well  known  one  in  Jasper  county,  and 
he  is  a  worthy  representative  of  one  of  the  old  and  honored  families  of  this 
and  Marshall  county,  members  of  which  have  played  well  their  parts  in  the 
general  progress  of  this  locality,  hence  are  deserving  of  proper  mention  in  this 
work. 

Mr.  Butler  is  a  Buckeye  by  birth,  having  been  born  in  L^nion  county. 
Ohio,  August  28.  1855.  When  but  six  weeks  old  his  parents  emigrated  to 
Iowa,  locating  in  Malaka  township,  Jasper  county,  and  with  the  exception  of 
two  years  he  has  been  a  continuous  resident  of  the  county,  having  lived 
through  its  several  epochs  of  progress  from  the  days  of  the  first  settler  and 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  649 

the  wild  prairie  sod  to  the  present  opulent  state.  He  assisted  his  father  in 
developing  the  home  farm  and  attended  the  public  schools  during  the  winter 
months.  For  years  he  was  one  of  Jasper  county's  successful  farmers,  in  fact, 
farming  has  been  his  chief  life  work,  but  on  January  i,  19 lo,  he  purchased 
the  Rhodes  telephone  system  and  on  March  ist  of  the  same  year  he  moved  to 
Rhodes,  where  he  now  resides  in  a  modern  and  neatly  kept  and  well  furnished 
home.  He  is  making  a  success  of  his  present  work  and  is  rapidly  improving 
and  extending  the  system.  For  twelve  years  he  was  a  photographer  and  his 
fine  work  in  this  line  attracted  widespread  attention.  He  seems  to  possess 
those  qualities  that  make  for  success  in  every  walk  of  life. 

Adams  Butler,  father  of  the  subject,  was  born  in  Carroll  county,  Ohio, 
on  April  6,  1830,  and  his  death  occurred  on  March  14,  1904.  He  married 
]Mary  ]\I.  Beard,  who  was  born  in  Union  county,  Ohio,  on  July  28,  1853,  and 
who  died  on  December  7,  1907.  They  became  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
an  equal  number  of  sons  and  daughters,  namely  :  J.  \\'.,  born  ]\Iarch  17,  1854, 
married  Henrietta  W'ilsterman,  February  19,  1902,  and  lives  near  Newton, 
Iowa;  Joseph  L.,  of  this  review,  born  August  28,  1855;  D.  \V.,  born  August 
9,  1858,  married  Myrtle  Higgins,  June  4,  1891,  and  lives  in  Xewton;  J.  F. 
married  Alice  M.  Deihl,  August  4,  1885,  and  lives  at  Xewton;  he  was  born 
on  July  II,  i860;  Mrs.  Rosetta  E.  Martin,  born  December  14,  1861,  lives  in 
Mahaska  county,  and  married  J.  W.  Martin  July  6,  1880;  Louisa  M.,  who 
married  A.  T.  Heaverlo,  was  born  April  11,  1863,  and  lives  in  Spencer,  Iowa; 
Mrs.  Hattie  B.  Kline,  born  April  21,  1865.  is  residing  now  in  Spencer,  Iowa; 
Mrs.  Amanda  O.  Heaverlo,  born  May  2"],  1867,  lives  in  ^lahaska  county.  The 
two  oldest  children  were  born  in  Ohio,  the  others  in  Jasper  county. 

Joseph  L.  Butler  was  married  on  July  7,  1887,  to  Emma  F.  McKinney, 
who  was  born  in  Adams  county.  Illinois.  June  i.  1859.  When  seven  years  of 
age  she  came  w-ith  her  parents  to  Iowa,  the  family  locating  in  Wapello  county. 
Her  father,  Greenbury  ^IcKinney,  was  born  in  Adams  county,  IlHnois,  July 
29,  1829,  and  died  at  the  home  of  ATr.  and  Mrs.  Butler,  at  Baxter,  Iowa,  Sep- 
tember 21,  1909.  The  maiden  name  of  Mrs.  Butler's  mother  was  Mahala  E. 
Abbott,  who  was  born  in  Rushville.  Schuyler  county.  Illinois.  April  13.  1838, 
and  her  death  occurred  on  February  7.  1905.  The  wife  of  the  subject  was  the 
oldest  child  in  a  family  of  five  children:  the  others  are:  John  W.  McKinney 
now  lives  in  Alaska :  Thomas  Jefiferson  lives  in  Buxton.  Iowa :  Robert  W. 
lives  in  Indian  Territory :  Mary  Agnes  died  when  four  years  old.  The  mother 
of  these  children  spent  her  last  days  at  Eddyville.  Wapello  county,  Iowa,  where 
this  family  settled  in  1866. 


650  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Politically,  ^h:  Butler  is  a  Republican.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
school  board  and  road  supervisor  for  a  number  of  years.  Fraternally,  he  is  a 
member  of  Baxter  Camp  No.  5642,  Modern  \\'oodmen  of  America,  at  Baxter, 
and  Mrs.  Butler  is  a  member  of  Rainbow  Camp  No.  3448,  Royal  Neighbors 
of  America,  at  Baxter,  and  she  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church  at  Eddy- 
ville.  They  advance  every  worthy  cause  and  are  well  informed,  keeping  an 
excellent  libraiy  and  they  enjoy  the  esteem  of  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 


G.  H.  \\^\RNER. 


In  the  face  of  obstacles  that  would  have  utterly  discouraged  one  of  less 
stamina  and  determination,  G.  H.  Warner,  the  well-known  and  successful  real 
estate  dealer  of  Newton,  Jasper  county,  has  won  for  himself  not  only  a  fair 
competency,  but  also  the  honest  regard  and  esteem  of  those  with  whom  he  has 
for  many  years  been  associated.  He  has  taken  an  abiding  interest  in  the 
general  welfare  of  his  county  and  has  aided  in  its  development  in  every  way 
possible  and  by  his  judicious  course  has  won  the  friendship  and  good  will  of 
all  classes, 

Mr.  Warner  is  a  native  of  Scott  county,  Iowa,  his  birth  having  occurred 
there  on  November  28,  1865.  He  is  the  son  of  Frank  and  Ellen  (Johnson) 
Warner,  the  father  born  in  Germany  and  the  mother  in  Ireland.  Frank 
Warner  emigrated  to  America  when  a  young  man  and  he  came  to  Iowa  about 
1863  and  devoted  his  life  to  farming,  becoming  well  established  here.  His 
death  occurred  on  April  18,  19 10,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years,  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  in  August,  183 1.  Four  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Frank  Warner,  namely :  G.  H.  of  this  review ;  Frank  W.  lives  on  a  farm  in 
this  county;  Anna  J.  is  the  wife  of  John  A.  Pulley  and  is  living  in  Faribault 
county,  Minnesota ;  Ella  died  in  young  womanhood. 

G.  H.  Warner  spent  his  babyhood  on  the  parental  farm  in  Scott  county, 
coming  to  Jasper  county  with  his  parents  in  the  spring  of  1868,  when  three 
years  old  and  he  has  since  made  his  home  within  her  borders.  The  father 
located  on  a  farm  nine  miles  northeast  of  Newton  and  there  G,  H.  spent  his 
boyhood  and  youth,  assisting  in  the  general  work  on  the  place,  attending  the 
country  schools  during  the  winter  months.  When  twenty-three  years  of  age 
he  began  farming  for  himself,  which  he  continued  successfully  up  to  the  fall 
of  1899,  when  he  came  to  Newton  and  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business, 
which  he  is  still  conducting,  having  built  up  a  very  satisfactory  patronage  and 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  65 1 

a  rapidly  growing  business  through  his  judicious  management  and  honest 
deahngs.     He  is  the  owner  of  considerable  desirable  land  outside  the  state. 

Mr.  Warner  was  married  on  April  25,  1888,  to  Anna  L.  Miller,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Miller,  a  highly  respected  citizen  of  this  state,  whither  he  moved 
from  Illinois  when  Mrs.  Warner  was  a  baby,  she  having  been  born  in  the  last 
named  state,  and  she  was  reared  and  educated  in  Iowa.  To  Mr.  Warner  and 
wife  one  child  has  been  born,  Blanche,  whose  birth  occurred  on  March  6,  1889. 

Mr.  Warner  has  always  taken  an  abiding  interest  in  public  affairs  and  in 
1908  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  city  council  of  Xewton  and  in  1909  he 
was  elected  councilman-at-large  on  the  Citizens'  ticket.  He  is  an  enthusiastic 
city  ownership  advocate  and  he  has  done  much  for  the  general  good  of  the 
town  and  vicinity  since  coming  here.  Fraternally,  he  belongs  to  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  ^^lodern  Woodmen.  ]\Irs.  Warner  belongs 
to  the  Presbyterian  church.  Politically,  Mr.  Warner  is  an  unswerving  Demo- 
crat. He  is  well  liked  throughout  the  county  as  a  result  of  his  public  spirit, 
his  known  honestv  and  his  irenial  address. 


JOHN  S.  HOLTZ. 


A  highly  honored  citizen  of  Newton,  wdio  has  long  had  the  interests  of 
Jasper  county  at  heart  and  whose  career  has  been  one  of  usefulness  and  char- 
acterized by  lofty  purpose,  is  John  S.  Holtz,  for  many  years  a  leading  fanner 
but  now  living  retired.  He  was  born  near  Morristown.  Belmont  county, 
Ohio,  October  14,  1838.  He  is  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Eleanor  (Douglas) 
Holtz,  the  father  a  native  of  St.  Clairsville,  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  while  the 
mother  was  a  native  of  ^^laryland.  The  former  spent  his  life  on  a  farm  in 
Ohio,  dying  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-three  years,  his  wife  reaching  the 
age  of  ninety-two;  they  were  a  remarkable  old  couple  and  highly  honored  in 
their  community.  The  Holtz  family  is  of  German  stock,  Grandfather  Holtz 
having  emigrated  from  Germany  to  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  died 
at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  Great-grandmother  Holtz  reached  the  re- 
markable age  of  one  hundred  and  three  years.  Fourteen  children  were  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Holtz,  seven  of  whom  are  living :  Otha  W.  is  a  practic- 
ing physician  in  Alissouri;  John  S.,  of  this  review;  D.  F.,  of  Cambridge,  Ohio, 
is  a  minister  in  the  Methodist  church;  Earl  D.  is  a  Doctor  of  Divinity,  a  great 
lecturer  and  traveler,  making  his  home  at  Johnstown,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  has  a  church:  J.  M.  is  a  practicing  physician  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania; 


652  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Mrs.  Caroline  E.  Bowles  is  a  resident  of  Fairview,  Ohio;  Mrs.  Mary  Hood 
lives  at  Cambridge,  Ohio. 

John  S.  Holtz  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  in  Ohio  and  when  but  a  boy 
he  knew  the  meaning  of  hard  work.  He  received  a  good  common  school  edu- 
cation, and  when  the  tocsin  of  war  sounded,  calling  the  loyal  sons  of  the  old 
flag  to  rally  in  its  defense,  he  unhesitatingly  offered  his  services,  enlisting  in 
Company  K,  Fifth  Ohio  Volunteer  Cavalry,  in  which  he  served  nearly  four 
years  in  a  most  faithful  and  gallant  manner,  participating  in  over  one  hun- 
dred battles  and  skirmishes,  including  Shiloh,  Corinth,  luka.  Chattanooga  and 
the  numerous  ones  in  the  Atlanta  campaign;  he  was  with  Sherman  on  his 
march  to  the  sea  and  was  also  with  him  through  the  Carolinas,  and  he  was 
taken  prisoner  near  Fayetteville,  North  Carolina,  and  sent  to  Libby  prison, 
where  he  remained  only  a  few  weeks,  this  having  been  about  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  received  an  honorable  discharge  at  Qolumbus,  Ohio.  Two  brothers 
were  also  in  the  Union  army.  Their  father  was  an  officer  in  the  Ohio  militia 
in  his  day. 

John  S.  Holtz  was  married  first  on  August  9,  1866,  to  Cora  J.  Richmond, 
who  was  born  in  Kentucky,  but  was  reared  in  Iowa,  and  to  this  union  seven 
children  were  born,  namely:  Ellen  died  when  two  years  of  age;  Albert  C. 
lives  on  a  farm  near  Ira,  Jasper  county ;  William  E.  is  a  carpenter  at  Central 
City,  Nebraska;  ]\Irs.  Florence  Shrider,  of  Zanesville,  Ohio;  James  B.,  of 
Boone,  Iowa,  where  he  is  president  and  manager  of  a  glove  manufacturing 
concern ;  Efifie  died  when  one  year  old ;  Mrs.  Beryl  Gearhart  lives  near  God- 
dard,  Jasper  county. 

Mr.  Holtz  came  to  Jasper  county  at  the  close  of  the  war  in  1865  and 
settled  north  of  Newton,  where  the  village  of  Baxter  is  now  located.  After 
living  there  about  ten  years,  he  moved  to  Adair  county,  Iowa,  where  he  im- 
proved two  farms  and  lived  seven  years,  then  returned  to  near  Baxter,  Jasper 
county,  again  and  there  continued  to  reside  until  the  spring  of  1889,  when  he 
removed  to  northwestern  Nebraska  and  there  became  the  owner  of  four  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres.  After  living  there  se\en  years,  he  again  returned  to 
Jasper  county,  Iowa,  locating  in  Newton,  where  he  has  since  lived,  wath  the 
exception  of  one  trip  made  back  to  Nebraska  for  his  wife's  health.  When  he 
came  back  he  rented  a  farm  which  he  worked  one  year,  then  bought  ten  acres 
near  Newton  and  went  to  gardening  and  raising  small  fruits,  which  he  con- 
tinued for  some  time  there,  and  then,  about  twelve  years  ago,  he  bought  his 
present  valuable  place  in  Newton  and  he  has  continued  in  the  gardening  and 
small  fruit  business,  having  been  very  successful  in  this  line  of  endeavor.  He 
has  a  valuable  and  neatly  kept  place  and  has  been  very  successful  in  whatever 


JASPER   COUNTY,    IOWA.  653 

he  has  turned  his  attention  to,  having  always  been  a  hard  worker  and  a  good 
manager. 

Mr.  Holtz  was  married  in  January,  1904,  to  Mrs.  Ava  Lloyd,  who  was 
born  in  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  of  a  highly  respected  old  family,  and  here  she 
grew  to  maturity  and  was  educated.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holtz  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  church.  He  served  as  trustee  of  the  church  for  ten  years.  He  is  in- 
dependent in  politics,  and  is  a  member  of  the  local  post  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic.     He  is  a  Prohibitionist. 

]\Ir.  Holtz  is  an  interesting  man  to  meet,  genial,  honest  and  kindly  dis- 
posed. He  talks  entertainingly  of  the  pioneer  days  in  Jasper  county  and  of 
the  wonderful  subsequent  growth  of  the  same.  He  has  always  been  a  keen 
observer.  He  had  a  personal  acquaintance  with  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant  and  has 
seen  a  large  number  of  the  great  men  of  a  former  generation. 


LEWIS  D.  REID. 


Prominent  among  the  business  men  of  Jasper  county  is  Lewis  D.  Reid, 
who  was  born  July  18,  i860,  in  Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania,  his  father, 
DeWitt  C.  Reid,  being  a  native  of  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  his  mother, 
Delia  (Lewis)  Reid,  a  native  of  Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania.  The  father 
died  in  Crawford  county,  in  1883,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two  years;  the  mother 
still  lives,  making  her  home  with  the  subject  of  this  review.  Mr.  Reid's 
father  was  a  farmer  and  was  quite  a  local  politician  in  his  day.  being  a  Re- 
publican after  the  birth  of  that  party  in  1856.  After  the  death  of  his  father, 
Mr.  Reid  left  his  home  in  Pennsylvania,,  in  the  spring  of  1884,  coming  at  once 
to-  Newton,  Jasper  county,  where  he  rented  land  and  began  farming,  his 
mother  coming  with  him.  At  the  end  of  three  years,  he  bought  a  farm  of  his 
own  and  continued  thereon  until  1896,  when  he  sold  it  and  came  to  town, 
engaging  in  the  livery  business.  In  this  business  he  continued  for  five  years, 
after  which  he  opened  a  real  estate  and  insurance  business,  which  business  he 
has  continued  in  every  since.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  farms  and  farm  lands 
in  Jasper  county,  and  also  deals  quite  extensively  in  Canadian  land  and  south 
Minnesota  lands,  conducting  excursion  parties  to  these  regions.  Mr.  Reid 
is  one  of  the  best  judges  of  soil  in  the  county  and  enjoys  the  confidence  of  all 
his  neighbors  and  friends.  Aside  from  his  extensive  dealings  in  lands,  he  deals 
considerably  in  city  property  values  and  general  investments  and  conducts  a 
general  fire,  tornado  and  lightning  insurance  business,  his  office  being  located 
at  this  time  at  No.  114  \\'est  McDonald  street  in  the  city  of  Xewton. 


554  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

]^Ir.  Reid  was  united  in  marriage  with  Xettie  R.  Drake,  daughter  of 
Horace  and  Catherine  (Berminghoff)  Drake,  in  September,  1884,  in  Cam- 
bridge, Pennsylvania.  Mrs.  Reid's  parents  were  both  natives  of  Venango 
county,  Pennsylvania.  Her  father  died  in  1906,  and  her  mother  in  1883. 
Mrs.  Reid's  grandfather,  John  Berminghoff,  was  a  well  known  figure  in  the 
early  histon-  of  the  Pennsyh-ania  oil  fields,  and  was  the  victim  of  what  was 
known  at  the  time  as  the  "Berminghoff  Robbery,''  being  robbed  of  over  three 
hundred  and  sixty  thousand  dollars,  which  he  was  keeping  in  his  house,  not 
caring  to  trust  the  unstable  "wild-cat"  banks  of  that  time,  he  having  lost 
heavily  by  them  on  three  occasions.  The  prime  mover  in  this  robbery  was 
never  caught.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reid  have  been  born  six  children,  five  of 
whom  are  living,  one  dying  in  infancy,  named  as  follows :  Lyle  F.,  born  De- 
cember 13,  1885,  is  a  traveling  musician  and  electrician  with  the  Chase  Theat- 
rical Company,  with  which  company  he  has  been  connected  for  four  years ; 
Ida  Pearl,  born  December  3,  1888,  resides  at  home,  and  is  toll  operator  at  the 
Newton  telephone  exchange;  George  M.,  born  January  21,  1894;  Hazel  L.. 
born  January  13,  1896;  Gladys  G.,  born  August  i,  1902. 

Mr.  Reid  is  a  member  of  Central  Lodge  No.  jt^,  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  of  Newton,  being  also  a  member  of  the  encampment  and  Uni- 
form Rank.  Mrs.  Reid  is  a  member  of  the  local  Rel^ekah  lodge  and  also 
member  of  the  First  Christian  church  of  Newton,  and  the  Ladies  Aid  Society. 
In  politics  Mr.  Reid  is  a  Republican. 


L.  T.  HARMON. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  known  to  be  a  man  of  courage,  self-reliance 
and  of  the  utmost  integrity  of  purpose,  as  a  result  of  which  he  has,  during  his 
entire  life,  stood  high  in  the  estimation  of  his  neighbors  and  friends  and  is 
therefore  deserving  of  a  place  in  this  book. 

L.  T.  Harmon  was  born  in  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  July  28,  1866.  He  grew 
to  manhood  and  was  educated  there  and  has  always  been  identified  with  the 
agricultural  interests  of  this  and  Marshall  counties.  He  is  the  son  of  William 
Harmon,  who  married  Mrs.  Julia  A.  Miller-McKeever,  early  settlers  of  Jasper 
county ;  the  father  died  in  Jasper  county  and  the  mother  in  Dallas  county.  A.  L. 
Harmon,  twin  brother  of  L.  T..  of  this  review,  resides  in  Adel,  Iowa;  J.  A., 
another  brother,  died  in  Dallas  county;  M.  J.  lives  in  Adel;  \V.  S.  lives  in 
Dallas  county;  Ola  ^May  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years.     The  mother  of  these 


i 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  '  655 

children  had  the  following  children  hy  her  first  marriage:  B.  A.,  of  Des 
Moines;  D.  A.,  of  Mingo.  Iowa:  W.  L.  resides  at  Oswalt.  Iowa:  Amanda  A. 
is  deceased:  Emma  Beard,  of  Jasper  county:  Samantha  Humphrey,  of  Dallas 
count}- ;  Evaline  died  in  Dallas  county :  J.  H.  is  deceased :  Loretta  died  when 
eighteen  years  of  age ;  S.  H.  lives  in  Kansas. 

L.  T.  Harmon,  of  this  review,  was  married  on  January  22.  1889,  to  Hat- 
tie  Elizabeth  Thompson,  who  was  born  in  Clear  Creek  township.  Jasper 
county.  August  27,  1871,  and  there  she  grew  to  womanhood  and  attended 
school.  Her  father,  Samuel  Thompson,  who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Jasper  county,  was  born  in  \'enango  county,  Pennsylvania.  March  17.  1830. 
\\'hen  ten  years  of  age  he  moved  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  remained  there 
until  185 1,  when  he  moved  to  Jasper  county.  Iowa,  and  he  has  continued  to 
live  in  this  locality  ever  since,  being  now  a  resident  of  State  Center  township. 
Marshall  county.  His  father,  W^illiam  Thompson,  who  was  a  "forty-niner.'' 
was  a  native  of  Westmoreland  county.  Pennsylvania,  and  he  died  in  Iowa :  the 
mother.  [Margaret  ^lorehead,  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  died  in  Iowa. 
Samuel  Thompson  was  third  in  a  family  of  nine  children.  He  was  married  in 
1852  to  Harriet  Deeter,  who  died  the  following  year,  after  which  he  married 
a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  Catherine  H.  Deeter.  who  was  born  in  1833  and  died 
in  Rhodes,  Iowa.  One  child,  Margaret  Ellen  Dodd,  was  born  of  the  first 
union,  her  birth  occurring  on  December  19,  1852;  she  is  living  in  Jasper 
county.  To  the  second  union  eleven  children  were  born,  namely :  Mar)- 
Alulia  [McNorris  lives  at  Valley  Junction.  Iowa ;  Annis  Capron  is  deceased ; 
Samuel  lives  at  Olathe,  Kansas ;  Lillian  Walker  is  deceased ;  Jennie  Signs  lives 
in  Olathe,  Kansas ;  Rose  Hand  lives  in  Colo,  Iowa :  Sadie  Corbett  lives  at 
State  Center,  Iowa:  John  lives  at  Clyde,  Iowa.  The  youngest  son  died  in 
infancy;  Hattie  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Mr.  Harmon,  of  this  review. 

Samuel  Thompson  owns  a  well  improved  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
twehe  acres  in  Clear  Creek  township,  Jasper  county,  Iowa.  He  is  a  veteran 
of  the  Civil  war,  having  enlisted  in  Company  E.  Fortieth  Iowa  \'olunteer 
Infantry,  in  which  he  ser\ed  two  years  and  eight  months  in  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  He  is  one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of  Iowa,  having  come  overland 
from  Hancock  county,  Ohio.  In  i860  he  made  an  overland  trip  to  Pike's 
Peak.  He  is  now  making  his  home  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Corbett.  of  State 
Center. 

Four  sons  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.  T.  Harmon,  of  this  review. 

namely:    Ora  C.  born  July  21,  1890,  lives  in  Marshall  county;  Clare  G..  born 

April  15,  1897,  is  with  his  parents  on  the  farm;  Leonidas  B.,  born  August  6, 

.   1899;  Russell  A.,  born  February  12,   1906.     The  eldest  child  was  born  in 


656  JASPER   COUNTY^   IOWA. 

Jasper  county,  the  others  in  Marshall  county,  Ora  C.  having  been  born  on  the 
same  farm  on  which  his  mother  was  born. 

PoHtically,  Mr.  Harmon  is  a  Democrat  and  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
school  board.  He  belongs  to  the  Modern  Brotherhood  of  America  at  Rhodes. 
The  son,  Ora  C,  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  at  Rhodes. 
Mrs.  Harmon  is  a  member  of  Crystal  Chapter  No.  11,  Order  of  the  Eastern 
Star,  at  Rhodes. 


MISS  HANNAH  NICHOLS. 

The  part  women  played  in  assisting  the  early  settlers  can  not  be  under- 
estimated. By  nature  not  as  robust  physically  as  their  male  companions, 
hardships  and  privations  leaned  more  heavily  upon  them,  but  the  women  of 
that  day  who  came  with  their  husbands  and  families  into  the  loneliness  of 
what  was  then  the  wilderness  or  the  wild  trackless  plains  were  equal  to  the 
occasion.  The  pioneer  woman,  w'hether  married  or  single,  helped  dispel 
the  gloom,  to  disseminate  the  sense  of  hopelessness  w'hich  occasionally  fell 
upon  the  settlers  in  their  relentless  labor.  A  woman  of  such  caliber  is 
Hannah  Nichols,  who  can  claim  a  wide  acquaintance  and 'a  host  of  loyal 
friends  throughout  Jasper  county,  who,  having  passed  her  four  score  and 
sixth  mile-stone,  is  an  interesting  link  between  the  present  and  the  rifle- 
bearing  days  of  the  first  settler  w^hen  hardships  were  the  rule  and  pleasures 
the  exception. 

Miss  Nichols,  w'ho  is  a  member  of  the  Fugard  family  and  who  is  making 
her  home  with  Noble  J.  Fugard,  mentioned  at  length  on  another  page  of  this 
volume,  she  being  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Fugard' s  mother,  was  one  of  the  very 
early  settlers  of  Jasper  county.  She  was  born  August  12,  1825,  in  Ottawa 
county,  Ohio,  and  she  was  the  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (McLoyd) 
Nichols,  the  father  having  been  born  in  Virginia  in  1790,  and  the  mother's 
birth  occurred  in  the  same  state  in  1791.  They  came  to  Ohio  in  early  youth 
and  were  married  there,  continuing  to  reside  there  until  1836,  when  they 
moved  to  Henry  county,  Indiana,  where  Mr.  Nichols  worked  as  a  carpenter. 
In  1854  the  family  moved  to  Iowa  and  settled  in  Henry  county  at  first  and  in 
the  fall  of  that  year  they  came  to  Buena  Vista  township,  Jasper  county,  and 
bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  just  a  mile  north  of  Murphy,  for  which 
they  paid  fifteen  dollars  per  acre  for  the  prairie  land  and  twenty  dollars  per 
acre  for  the  timber  land.  At  that  time  there  were  only  five  families  in  the 
township.     The  death  of  John  Nichols  occurred  on  December  22,  1855,  his 


MISS  HANNAH  NICHOLS  AND  LITTLE  DAISY  FUGARD 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA,  657 

widow  siirvi\ing  until  June  18,  1870,  both  dying  on  the  home  farm  which 
they  had  labored  so  assiduously  to  develop.  There  were  seven  children  in 
their  family,  named  as  follows :  Abigail,  born  July  i,  1816,  died  in  early  life; 
Nancy,  born  October  10,  1818,  died  in  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  in  1863;  she 
was  the  wife  of  Joshua  Delhorn;  Amy,  born  June  26,  182 1,  died  in  child- 
hood; John,  born  October  7,  1822,  died  in  1901 ;  Hannah,  of  this  review; 
Mary,  born  May  i,  1828,  died  the  following  year;  Rebecca,  born  October 
15,  1831,  died  April  23,  1863;  she  was  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Xoble  J.  Fugard, 
mentioned  above. 

For  the  past  eleven  years  Miss  Nichols  has  made  her  home  with  Mr. 
Fugard  and  wife,  the  latter  being  her  niece  and  they  have  been  pleased  to 
minister  to  her  every  want,  but  being  hale  and  in  possession  of  her  faculties  she 
is  far  from  being  a  burden  in  her  declining  age,  and  is  a  woman  of  remarkable 
memory,  consequently  her  reminiscences  of  pioneer  days  are  interesting  and 
instructive;  she  is  quite  active.  She  lived  on  the  same  farm  from  1854  to 
1904,  a  half  century,  when  the  place  was  sold  and  she  moved  to  town  with 
the  Fugard  family.  She  has  never  married.  Her  life  has  been  filled  with 
good  deeds  and  she  has  always  been  known  to  have  a  very  amiable  and  genial 
disposition  which  has  endeared  her  to  all  who  have  come  into  contact  with  her. 


MARTIN  L.  LEWIS. 


There  are  few  people  of  Jasper  county  who  have  not  heard  of  Martin  L. 
Lewis,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  to  know  him  is  to  realize  the  pleasure 
of  knowing  an  honest,  upright  gentleman.  He  was  born  September  i,  1842,  in 
Indiana,  being  the  son  of  George  and  Eleanor  (Ewing)  Lewis,  both  natives  of 
Ohio.  The  father  died  in  Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  June  i,  1853,  at  the  age 
of  forty-four  years,  and  the  mother  at  Stanford,  INIcLain  county,  Illinois. 

The  father  was  a  farmer  and  a  man  whose  word  w'as  his  bond,  being  a 
strict  churcli  member  of  the  Baptist  denomination.  A  few  years  after  his 
marriage  he  moved  from  his  birthplace  in  Indiana  and  engaged  in  farming, 
building  a  log  cabin  in  the  then  wilderness.  It  was  here  that  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  born.  Next  the  father  removed  to  Tazewell  county,  Illinois, 
near  the  town  of  Washington,  where  he  purchased  sixty  acres  of  land,  which 
he  farmed  until  his  death.  After  the  death  of  the  father  the  mother  remained 
on  the  land  nineteen  years,  when  she  removed  with  her  family  to  McLain 
countv,  Illinois,  where  she  remained  until  she  died.     Mr.  Lewis's  mother  was 

(42) 


658  JASPER    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

a  Baptist  and  a  woman  of  rare  courage  and  Christian  virtue,  striving  in  every 
way  to  inculcate  the  principles  of  honesty  and  industry  in  the  minds  of  her 
growing  children. 

Mr.  Lewis  is  one  of  seven  children,  five  of  whom  survive,  whose  names 
are  as  follows:  Mariah  Gibson,  aged  seventy-six,  widow  of  EHsha  Gibson, 
who,  with  her  children,  resides  upon  a  farm  in  Nebraska ;  Robert  Lewis,  aged 
seventy-four,  retired  farmer,  resides  in  Los  Angeles,  California,  having  been 
a  Northern  soldier  during  the  great  civil  conflict;  Mary  Wade,  wife  of  John 
Wade,  died  at  the  age  of  thirty  years;  Martin  L.,  subject  of  this  sketch;  Sarah 
Angenette  Field,  wife  of  Henry  Field,  died  eighteen  years  prior  to  this  writ- 
ing; Eleanor  Small,  wife  of  jMillard  Small,  aged  fifty-eight,  resides  in  Deer 
Creek,  Illinois ;  George  Alvin,  a  retired  fanner,  residing  in  Moscow,  Idaho, 
aged  fifty-six. 

It  was  in  March,  1894,  that  the  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  Jasper  coun- 
ty, settling  upon  a  rented  farm,  where  he  remained  ten  years,  farming  and  stock 
raising.  After  that  he  went  back  to  Illinois,  remaining  one  year,  after  which 
he  returned  to  Xewton  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  and  bottling  of  soft 
or  temperance  drinks,  which  business  he  still  conducts,  selling  his  products 
all  over  the  United  States.  His  son,  Merton  L.,  manager  of  the  plant,  in- 
vented the  now  famous  "Cherry  Blossom,"  a  soft  drink  of  unusual  excellence 
which  is  being  sold  everywhere. 

Mr.  Lewis  was  married  to  Adelia  Field,  a  native  of  Illinois,  who  died 
ten  years  later,  while  Mr.  Lewis  was  living  in  Illinois.  To  this  union  were 
born  three  children :  George  B.,  agent  for  the  Adams  Express  Company  in 
Oskaloosa,  Iowa;  Daisy  Martin,  wife  of  Harry  Martin,  a  farmer,  residing 
near  Monroe,  in  Jasper  county;  Herbert,  whose  wife  was  Laura  Swaub,  is  a 
jeweler  in  Sutton,  Nebraska. 

Subsequently  Mr.  Lewis  was  married  to  Emma  Deal,  daughter  of  John 
and  Melvina  (Eures)  Deal,  natives  of  Virginia.  Mrs.  Lewis  died  in  Newton, 
March  26,  1909.  To  them  were  born  three  children,  namely:  Deal  H., 
who  married  Catherine  Livingston,  resides  in  Jasper  county;  Merton  L.,  un- 
married, resides  in  Newton,  being  a  partner  with  his  father ;  Bessie  Whitaker, 
wife  of  John  Whitaker,  a  mail,  carrier,  resides  in  Newton. 

Mr.  Lewis  has  at  all  times  been  a  public-spirited  citizen,  having  served 
five  years  as  school  director  and  five  years  as  supervisor  of  roads  in  Fairview 
township.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
Pine  Tree  Camp  No.  394,  of  Sutton,  Nebraska,  at  which  place  Mr.  Lewis 
lived  for  six  years  prior  to  coming  to  Jasper  county,  being  engaged  in  the 
livery  Inisiness.     In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  659 

PHILIP  KLING. 

It  is  always  an  inspiring  thing  to  learn  something  of  a  good  man's  his- 
tory. Life  is  so  checkered  and  uncertain  a  thing  that  when  we  find  an  in- 
dividual who  has  at  all  times  been  clean  and  steadfast' of  purpose,  and  loyal 
and  true  to  the  best  that  was  by  nature  his,  it  is  a  pure  delight  to  tell  of  him. 
Such  a  man  is  Philip  Kling,  who  resides  as  a  retired  farmer  in  Xewton. 

Philip  Kling  was  born  in  Hessen-Darmstadt,  Germany,  January  i,  1859, 
and  came  with  his  father  to  America  in  October,  1870,  settling  in  St.  Clair 
county.  Illinois.  Here  the  family  remained  for  three  months,  after  which 
they  removed  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  where  they  have  since  remained.  Two 
hundred  acres  of  land  were  purchased  in  Elk  Creek  township  in  Jasper  county, 
and  w^ith  this  holding  they  began  farming  and  stock  raising.  Mr.  Kling's 
father,  John  Kling,  and  his  mother,  Elizabeth  (Rodth)  Kling,  were  both 
natives  of  Germany  and  were  splendid  examples  of  the  fine,  hardy  stock  of 
that  great  empire.  The  father  died  in  June,  1889,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five,  the 
mother  in  November,  1875,  ^t  the  age  of  fifty-two. 

Ten  children  in  all  came  to  America,  all  of  whom  are  still  living  and  all 
of  whom  own  their  own  homes.  Seven  of  them,  including  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  reside  in  Jasper  county.  They  are:  Adam  J.,  who  resides  in  Sully, 
this  county,  is  a  retired  farmer;  George,  residing  in  Hickman,  Xebraska,  is  a 
shoe  merchant;  Catherine  Reinheimer,  wnfe  of  George  Reinheimer,  a  farmer 
residing  in  New  Athens,  Illinois;  Margaret  Hendricks,  wife  of  Fred  Hen- 
dricks, a  farmer  residing  near  Galesburg,  Jasper  county ;  Henry  resides  in  this 
county,  near  Kellogg,  and  is  a  prosperous  farmer ;  John,  residing  in  Jasper 
county,  is  a  farmer;  Philip,  the  subject  of  this  review,  is  a  retired  farmer  living 
in  Newton;  Mary  Sheen,  wife  of  Daniel  Sheen,  resides  on  a  farm  near  Shem- 
ington,  Wisconsin ;  William  J.  resides  on  a  farm  in  Jasper  county ;  Frederick, 
who  resides  in  St.  Louis,  is  employed  in  a  wholesale  house. 

On  April  4,  1889,  Mr.  Kling  v.as  united  in  marriage  to  Lena  \V.  Castrof. 
a  native  of  Jasper  county.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Frederick  Castrof,  of  Jasper 
county,  who  was  born  in  Pommern,  Germany,  March  i,  1846,  and  who  died 
in  Jasper  county.  December  13,  1902.  Her  mother,  Augusta  (Andress)  Cas- 
trof, was  a  native  of  the  same  place.  She  came  to  America  when  about  seven 
years  of  age  and  is  still  living  near  Killduff.  Jasper  county,  making  her  home 
with  her  two  sons,  Frederick  and  Edward  Castrof. 

Mrs.  Kling  is  one  of  four  living  children,  namely :  William,  the  first 
born,  first  saw  the  light  August  26.  1870:  Margaret  Snell.  wife  of  J.  W. 
Snell,  a  farmer  residing  near  Killduff,  was  born  March  i,   1872:  Frederick 


660  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Castrof.  whose  wife  was  Effie  Snell,  resides  on  a  farm  in  Jasper  county.  He 
was  born  July  14,  1876;  Edward  Castrof,  unmarried,  residing  with  his 
brother,  was  born  July  i8,  1878. 

When  Mrs.  Kling's  parents  came  here  they  could  not  speak  a  word  of 
English,  but  two  days  after  landing  at  New  York  began  work,  and  shortly 
came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  in  the  year  1855.  Here  her  grandfather  entered 
land  from  the  government,  later  purchasing  more  until  he  owned  four  hun- 
dred acres  before  he  died,  this  being  the  farm  upon  which  Mrs.  Kling's  mother 
now  lives. 

Both  Mr.  and  'Sirs.  Kling  are  members  of  the  English  Lutheran  church 
of  Newton.  jVIr.  Kling  is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being  a 
Knight  Templar  and  Shriner.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  lodge  at  Newton.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Lodge  No.  73, 
at  Newton.  Mrs.  Kling  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  Chapter 
No.  100,  of  Newton.  She  is  also  a  member  of  the  Daughters  of  Rebekah 
lodge  at  Newton  and  is  a  woman  of  exceptional  culture  and  refinement. 

]\Ir.  Kling  owns  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  besides  his  elegant  home 
in  the  city  of  Newton  and  other  interests.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  affable, 
kindly  people,  beloved  by  the  great  circle  so  fortunate  as  to  call  them  friends. 
In  politics  ]\Ir.  Kling  is  a  Democrat. 


JOHN  H.  HARVEY,  SR. 

The  history  of  Jasper  county  reveals  the  handiwork  of  many  a  great  and 
noble  soul  who  wrought  heroically  and  unselfishly.  Her  smiling  fields  and 
splendid  homes,  her  high-grade  institutions,  her  happy,  prospering  people 
speak  volumes  of  someone's  steadfastness  of  purpose,  of  someone's  strength  of 
arm,  courage  of  heart,  activity  of  brain — of  someone's  sacrifice.  But  time, 
that  grim  obliterator,  before  whose  destroying  fingers  even  the  stubborn 
granite  must,  in  the  end  succumb,  is  ever  at  his  work  of  disintegration.  Be- 
neath his  blighting  touch  even  memory  fails,  and  too  often  a  life  of  glorious 
achievement  is  forgotten  in  a  day.  "Lest  we  forget,"  then,  this  tribute  to  the 
elder  John  H.  Harvey  is  penned.  Pioneer,  early  freighter,  a  public-spirited, 
brave,  kindly,  generous  man,  it  is  the  desire  of  the  biographer,  as  it  must  be  of 
all  who  know  him,  that  his  deeds  and  his  character  be  recorded  for  the  benefit 
of  those  who  follow  after.  By  no  means  rich,  as  mere  worldly  possessions  are 
estimated,  he  is  rich  in  a  thousand  thronging  memories  of  the  rugged  days, 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  66l 

long  gone,  when  hardy  men  stood  shoulder  to  shoulder  and  fought  to  conquer 
the  western  wilderness.  Hale  and  strong,  although  well  past  eighty,  he  may 
be  seen,  almost  daily,  moving  about  the  streets  of  Newton,  now  a  city,  but, 
when  first  he  saw  it,  a  mere  cluster  of  huts,  set  in  the  midst  of  the  new  prairie. 
A  few  there  were  who  preceded  him  into  this  virgin  country,  but  they  are  very 
few,  Mr.  Harvey  having  been  numbered  among  its  very  first  settlers.  He 
freighted  the  first  printing  press  to  be  seen  in  Newton,  from  Muscatine,  and 
did  many  other  useful  things  in  the  course  of  natural  events,  always  doing 
whatever  he  could  to  encourage  the  growth  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Harvey  was  born  in  Madison  county,  New  York,  January  15,  1828, 
and  he  is  the  son  of  Nathan  and  Oriel  (Lyman)  Harvey,  the  former  a  native 
of  the  state  of  New  York  and  the  latter  of  Connecticut.  The  paternal  grand- 
father was  born  in  Ireland.  Nathan  Harvey  originally  worked  as  a  wool 
dresser,  but,  after  following  this  occupation  some  fixe  years,  he  began  farm- 
ing, then,  when  his  son,  John  H.,  of  this  review,  was  about  four  years  old,  he 
sold  his  farm  and  began  keeping  a  tavern  on  the  famous  old  Cherry  Valley 
turnpike.  This  the  father  conducted  for  over  sixteen  years,  the  place  becoming 
widely  known  to  the  traveling  public.  Thus  the  boyhood  and  young  manhood 
of  the  son  was  full  of  that  romance  which  clung  so  tenaciously  about  those  early 
hostelries.  Day  after  day  he  watched  the  wagons  come  and  go  which  were 
bearing  the  emigrants  from  the  east  westw-ard.  and  night  by  night  he  sat  by 
the  roaring  fire-place  and  listened  to  many  a  fine  old  tale  of  adventure  or  senti- 
ment. But  though  the  ta\ern  had  a  public  bar  in  connection  and  drinking  was 
very  common,  he  never  touched  liquor,  and  this  fact,  when  we  consider  the 
easy  freedom  of  those  early  times,  speaks  much  for  his  sterling  character. 

When  about  twenty-five  years  of  age,  Mr,  Harvey  came  to  Jasper  county 
and  three  years  later  his  father  came.  In  December,  1857,  he  built  the  house 
where  he  now  resides  in  Newton.  For  a  year  his  parents  lived  with  him.  He 
then  moved  to  himself  and  later  to  Harrison  county,  Iowa,  where  his  father 
and  mother  both  died. 

John  H.  Harvey  was  married  when  about  twenty  years  old  while  living 
in  New  York,  to  Percy  Ann  Roberts,  who  died  two  years  later,  lea\-ing  three 
children,  namely:  Charles,  who  is  now  living  in  Plattsmouth.  Nebraska;  Mrs. 
R.  N.  Stewart,  of  Severs,  Iowa;  and  Mrs.  Eva  Bodley,  of  Jasper  county. 
When  Mr.  Harvey  came  west  he  left  the  children  with  his  father  and  mother. 

Mr.  Harvey  was  again  married,  his  second  wife  being  Harriet  Fenton. 
who  died  about  eighteen  years  ago;  to  this  union  five  children  were  born,  all  of 
whom  are  living,  namely:  Edward,  William,  John  H.,  Jr..  and  Carrie  L..  all 
of  Newton ;  and  George,  who  lives  at  Laramie.  Wyoming. 


(362  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

John  H.  IJarvey,  Jr.,  was  born  on  September  7,  1871,  in  Newton,  and 
he  has  spent  his  Hfe  in  Jasper  county.  He  is  a  painter  by  trade  and  since  he 
was  sixteen  years  of  age  he  has  successfully  followed  this  occupation.  During 
the  last  ten  years  he  has  been  employed  in  the  works  of  the  Maytag  Manufac- 
turning  Company,  the  last  nine  years  of  this  period  performing  very  acceptably 
the  duties  of  foreman  of  the  painting  department.  He  has  charge  of  the 
painting  of  all  the  manufactured  output  of  the  factory.  On  April  10,  1895, 
lie  was  united  in  marriage  wath  Louise  Miller,  a  native  of  Wisconsin  and  the 
daughter  of  Conrad  Miller,  both  her  parents  being  natives  of  Germany.  They 
emigrated  to  America  in  an  early  day  and  settled  in  Wisconsin,  later  came  to 
Jasper  county,  Iowa,  and  they  are  now  living  on  a  farm  near  Baxter,  Iowa. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  H.  Harvey,  Jr.,  have  been  born  two  children,  Harlan  J., 
born  April  17,  1898,  and  Edwena,  a  daughter,  born  September  7,  1903,  her 
father's  birthday. 

Mrs.  Harvey  is  a  member  of  the  German  Reform  church,  and  she  and 
^Ir.  Harvey  belong  to  the  Pythian  Sisters.  The  latter  is  very  prominent  in 
lodge  circles.  He  is  a  member  of  Newton  Lodge  No.  59,  Ancient  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  of  Newton,  of  which  he  is  senior  deacon,  also  Delta  Lodge 
No.  53,  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  Newton.  He  has  passed  all  the  chairs  in  this 
lodge  and  is  at  present  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  grand  lodge  of  Iowa.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Yeomen. 

Young  Mr.  Harvey  has  been  active  in  political  affairs  for  some  time,  and 
in  1904  he  was  nominated  as  Democratic  candidate  for  auditor  of  Jasper 
county,  but  was  defeated,  though  he  made  an  exceptionally  strong  race,  run- 
ning ahead  of  his  ticket.  At  the  spring  election,  1909,  he  was  elected  to  the 
city  council  of  Newton,  and,  having  made  a  most  creditable  record,  he  was  re- 
elected in  the  spring  of  191 1.  He  has  served  his  party  organization  in  many 
ways  and  is  a  clean,  energetic  and.  capable  young  business  man,  having  the 
trust  and  respect  of  all  who  know  him.  His  sister,  Carrie,  is  a  popular  news^ 
paper  woman,  of  exceptional  ability  and  intelligence ;  she  is  connected  wnth  the 
Newton  Daily  Journal,  one  of  the  leading  papers  of  this  section  of  the  state. 

Since  coming  to  Jasper  county.  May  21,  1854,  John  H.  Harvey,  Sr.,  has 
spent  nearly  all  of  his  time  in  the  county.  .\s  a  freighter  he  was  once  an  im- 
portant factor  in  the  early  affairs  of  the  county.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
hauled  all  kinds  of  goods  from  Muscatine  to  Newton,  then,  in  1859,  he  began 
freighting  westward  to  Denver.  In  1864  he  turned  his  attention  to  farming, 
wliich  he  continued  successfully  up  to  sixteen  years  ago.  since  which  time  he 
has  led  a  retired  Hfe,  and,  at  peace  with  all  the  world,  he  is  now  enjoying  that 
consideration  and  good  will  which  a  life  well  spent  has  earned  for  him.  While 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  663 

never  considering-  himself  a  politician,  he  has  always  taken  the  keenest  interest 
in  politics  and  in  those  great  movements  which  make  for  the  advancement  and 
betterment  of  his  fellow  men.  He  has  served  the  city  of  Newton  as  supervisor 
of  roads  and  was  for  nine  years  constable,  his  duties  taking  him  all  over  the 
country.  In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Congregationalist.  and  politically,  while  he 
voted  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  he  is  now  a  Democrat. 

The  subject  is  one  of  seven  children,  but  four  of  whom  are  living;  they 
are:  Miles,  the  eldest,  died  in  New  Tacoma,  California;  John  H.,  of  this' 
review,  was  second  in  order  of  birth ;  Addison  died  in  Harrison  county,  Iowa ; 
O.  B.  lives  in  Ashland,  Colorado;  Emmet  lives  in  St.  Charles,  Iowa;  Mrs. 
Theodora  Gee,  widow  of  George  W.  Gee,  lives  in  Oakland,  California;  Mary 
died  in  Harrison  county,  Iowa. 


.     REV.  JOSEPH  ARNOLD. 

Examples  that  impress  force  of  character  on  all  who  study  them  are 
w^orthy  of  record,  and  the  mission  of  a  great  soul  in  this  world  is  one  that  is 
calculated  to  inspire  a  multitude  of  others  to  better  and  grander  things ;  so 
its  subsequent  influence  cannot  be  measured  in  metes  and  bounds,  for  it  affects 
the  lives  of  those  with  whom  it  comes  into  contact,  broadening  and  enriching 
them  for  all  time  to  come.  By  a  few  general  observations  may  be  conveyed 
some  idea  of  the  noble  career  of  the  late  Rev.  Joseph  Arnold,  for  many  years 
one  of  the  best  known  ministers  and  attorneys  of  Jasper  county,  united  in 
whose  composition  were  so  many  elements  of  a  solid,  practical  and  altruistic 
nature  as  to  bring  him  into  prominent  notice,  who.  not  content  to  hide  his 
talents  amid  life's  sequestered  ways,  by  the  force  of  will  and  a  laudable  ambi- 
tion forged  to  the  front.  His  life  was  one  of  hard  study  and  unselfish  indus- 
try, whose  laborious  professional  duties  in  the  various  relations  in  which  he 
was  placed,  led  to  a  high  position  in  the  esteem  of  the  public,  which  gave  evi- 
dence that  the  qualities  which  he  possessed  afforded  the  means  of  distinction 
under  a  system  of  government  in  which  places  of  honor  and  usefulness  are 
open  to  all  who  may  be  found  worthy  of  them.  He  passed  over  the  troubled 
sea  of  life  like  a  galleon  through  the  phosphorescent  Spanish  main,  leaving  in 
its  wake  a  pathway  of  illuminating  radiance. 

Joseph  Arnold,  son  of  Jesse  and  ^lary  (Pucket)  Arnold,  was  born  at 
Arba,  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  April  i,  1832,  and  there  he  spent  his  early  boy- 
hood, removing  to  Henry  county,  Iowa,  where  the  town  of  Salem  now  stands, 


664  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

in  the  vear  1839,  later  moving  to  Jefferson  county,  and  in  1843  located  in 
Mahaska  county  where  his  father  took  a  homestead  on  the  first  day  that  lands 
were  thrown  open  to  settlers,  two  miles  east  of  the  present  city  of  Oskaloosa, 
his  stock  of  farming  utensils  consisting  only  of  an  axe  and  an  old-fashioned 
flint-lock  gun ;  but  he  was  a  brave,  hardy,  persevering  pioneer,  who,  in  due 
course  of  time,  established  a  good  home  in  the  wilds.  In  1851  as  a  carpenter 
Joseph  migrated  to  the  Lynn  Grove  settlement  in  Jasper  county  to  carve  out 
his  fortune.  In  the  year  1853  he  received  from  Franklin  Pierce,  then  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  his  appointment  as  postmaster  of  Lynnville,  and  in 
the  same  year  was  married  to  Tacy  Smith,  of  Palmyra,  Warren  county,  Iowa. 
To  this  union  were  born  six  children,  two  of  whom  are  deceased. 

Up  to  the  year  1861  the  active  business  life  of  Joseph  Arnold  was  one  of 
marked  success,  at  which  time  he  received  an  injury  to  the  spine,  by  being 
thrown  from  a  wagon,  from  which  he  never  wholly  recovered.  Being  thus 
deprived  of  physical  strength,  but  having  a  strong  mind,  he  turned  his  attention 
from  business  matters  to  the  ministry,  and  in  1864.  after  having  prepared  him- 
self for  this  new  work  during  a  time  of  great  physical  distress,  he  was  ordained 
as  a  minister  of  the  gospel  in  the  Society  of  Friends,  of  which  church  he  was 
a  birthright  member.  He  continued  taking  treatment  of  the  best  physicians 
of  the  country,  but  with  little  improvement,  and  he  finally  moved  with  the 
family  to  Oskaloosa  in  1867  for  the  purpose  of  being  continually  under  the 
care  of  a  specialist.  His  wife  died  while  living  there  in  the  year  1869,  and 
he  was  subsequently  married  to  Sarah  E.  Hawkins,  of  Oskaloosa,  to  whom 
three  children  were  born.  In  1852  he  had  purchased  an  interest  with  his 
father  in  the  flour  and  saw  mills  at  Lynnville,  which  interest  he  retained,  and 
in  1872,  having  somewhat  improved  in  health,  the  family  returned  to  Lynnville 
and  Joseph  Arnold  was  the  miller  there  for  some  time  until  he  traded  his 
interest  for  the  property  which  was  known  as  the  Iowa  House.  The  hum- 
drum life  of  a  landlord  in  a  small  town  was  not  to  his  liking,  however,  so, 
while  looking  after  the  wants  of  his  guests,  serving  the  town  as  mayor  and  the 
township  as  justice  of  the  peace,  he  studied  law,  devoting  himself  so  assidu- 
ously to  the  same  that  in  eleven  months  after  he  began  to  read  Blackstone  he 
successfully  passed  the  recjuired  examination  and  was  admitted  to  the  Jasper 
county  bar.  besides  performing  his  duties  as  minister  of  the  gospel.  He  was 
very  successful  from  the  first  and  soon  enjoyed  a  satisfactory  clientage,  being 
known  throughout  the  country  as  "the  Quaker  lawyer-preacher,"  and  in  his 
law  practice  the  policy  of  Mr.  Arnold  was  largely  governed  by  the  principle  of 
arbitration,  even  to  the  frequent  sacrifice  of  justly  earned  regular  attorney 
fees      He  was  an  earnest,  persevering,  cautious  and  unbiased  advocate,  thor- 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  665 

oughly  grounded  in  the  principles  of  jurisprudence  and  as  a  speaker,  whether 
at  the  bar  or  in  the  pulpit,  he  was  forceful,  persuasive  and  not  infrequently 
truly  eloquent.  Something  of  his  popularity  in  his  home  community  and  the 
confidence  in  which  he  was  held  bv  the  pul)lic  may  he  gained  from  the  fact  that 
he  was  for  fourteen  successive  years  chosen  mayor  of  Lynnville  an<l  he  served 
a  subsequent  term  of  two  years.  During  his  long  administration  he  did  much 
for  the  upbuilding  and  permanent  good  of  the  town.  He  was  not  a  politician 
in  the  usual  acceptation  of  the  term,  but  when  an  emergency  arose  he  was 
always  ready  with  his  influence  and  personal  efforts,  indorsing  all  movements 
calculated  to  be  of  general  good  to  the  community  and  county. 

Illustrative  of  Mr.  Arnold's  early  tenacity  for  freedom  and  the  rights  of 
man,  reference  is  made  to  his  active  part  for  the  abolition  of  slavery  for  he 
was  one  of  the  first  ''stockholders,  directors  and  conductors  on  the  underground 
railway."  which  made  it  possible  for  the  transportation  of  many  slaves  toward 
Canada  and  freedom.  Again,  when  the  campaign  was  on  for  the  prohibition 
amendment  he  left  his  business  and  went  out  to  stump  the  southeastern  part 
of  Jasper  county  for  the  cause  of  the  home  and  right.  His  utterances  on  the 
peace  question  were  so  clear  and  well  defined  that  he  was  made  secretary  of 
the  American  Peace  Society  and  frequently  represented  the  state  of  Iowa  in 
the  great  peace  conferences  of  the  several  states  and  thus  he  enjoyed  a  wide 
acquaintance  throughout  a  vast  amount  of  territory.  He  was  regarded  as  one 
of  the  prominent  ministers  of  the  society  in  the  United  States  and  his  services 
were  often  in  demand  in  settling  legal  questions  in  which  the  churches  were 
interested. 

From  the  year  185 1  until  he  was  summoned  to  take  up  his  work  in  a 
higher  sphere  of  action,  on  September  7,  1904,  Mr.  Arnold  w^as  closely  identi- 
fied with  the  public  history  of  the  county.  In  January,  1881.  he  drew  up  the 
organization  papers  for  the  Old  Settlers  Association  of  Central  Iowa,  and  con- 
tinued as  its  secretary  and  most  active  member  until  his  last  illness  in  1902. 
He  was  ven,'-  proud  of  this  organization  for  it  was  the  first  of  its  kind  in  this 
part  of  the  state,  and  by  far  the  largest.  In  all  his  business  career  he  never 
allowed  anvthing  to  interfere  with  his  attendance  at  the  mid-week  service  at 
the  church,  but  would  lock  his  office  and  attend  divine  worship. 

Mrs.  loseph  Arnold,  a  woman  of  beautiful  Christian  character  and  praise- 
worthy attributes,  is  still  living  at  Lynnville,  having  attained  the  age  of  sixty- 
eight  years.  The  children  of  this  family  were  named  as  follows :  Jesse  died 
when  three  vears  old:  Mrs.  Abbie  A.  Ratcliff  died  in  1896  at  the  age  of 
thirtv-seven  years;  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Styles  lives  at  Brentford,  South  Dakota: 
Mrs.  Emma  A.  Drvden  is  a  resident  of  New  Sharon.  Iowa:  Raford  L.,  of 


666  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Newton,  Iowa;  Mrs.  Ardilla  CattcU  lives  in  Pasadena.  California;  Mrs.  Flora 
Gregory  lives  in  Chicago;  Mrs.  Maud  Cause  makes  her  home  at  Lynnville;  and 
J.  W.  Arnold  is  a  resident  of  Hoisington,  Kansas. 

Throughout  his  entire  career  Joseph  Arnold  was  animated  by  lofty  mo- 
tives and  he  made  every  personal  consideration  subordinate  to  the  higher 
claims  of  duty.  Broad  and  liberal  in  his  views,  with  the  greatest  good  of  his 
fellow  men  ever  before  him,  his  conduct  was  that  of  the  lover  of  his  kind  and 
the  true  and  loyal  citizen,  withal  a  man  of  the  people,  who  stood  among  the 
leaders  of  thought  and  molders  of  opinion  and  whose  career  was  fraught  with 
great  good  to  the  people  of  Jasper  county  and  the  world. 


EMMOR  E.  IRWIN. 


Self-assertion  is  believed  by  many  people  to  be  absolutely  necessary  to 
success  in  life,  and  there  are  good  reasons  for  the  entertainment  of  such  be- 
lief. The  modest  man  very  rarely  gets  what  is  due  him.  The  selfish,  aggres- 
sive man  elbows  his  way  to  the  front,  takes  all  that  is  in  sight  and  it  some- 
times seems  that  modesty  is  a  sin  with  self-denial  the  penalty.  There  are, 
however,  exceptions  to  all  rules  and  it  is  a  matter  greatly  to  be  regretted  that 
the  exceptions  to  the  conditions  referred  to  are  not  more  numerous.  One 
notable  exception  is  the  case  of  Emmor  E.  Irwin,  well  known  business  man 
of  Colfax,  Jasper  county,  who  seems  to  possess  just  a  sufficient  amount  of 
modesty  to  be  a  gentleman  at  all  times  and  yet  sufficient  persistency  to  win 
in  the  business  world  and  at  the  same  time  not  appear  over  bold;  and  as  a 
result  of  these  well  and  happily  blended  qualities,  Mr.  Irwin  has  won  a  host 
of  friends  throughout  the  locality  of  which  this  history  deals,  being  well  known 
to  all  classes  as  a  man  of  influence,  integrity  and  business  ability. 

Mr.  Irwin  was  born  in  Des  Moines  county,  Iowa,  January  13,  1859,  and 
he  is  the  son  of  Robert  and  Mary  (Bales)  Irwin,  both  born  in  Belmont  county, 
Ohio,  where  they  were  reared  and  married.  The  father  was  a  clerk  in  Ohio, 
but  upon  coming  to  Des  Moines  county,  Iowa,  in  1855  or  1856,  he  turned  his 
attention  to  farming,  having  located  on  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  twelve 
miles  west  of  Burlington.  He  soon  had  a  good  farm,  and  there  he  continued 
to  reside  until  1S65,  when  he  moved  to  Tama,  and  that  was  his  home  until 
his  death,  about  1901,  his  wife  having  i)receded  him  to  the  grave  two  or  three 
years  previously.  They  were  an  excellent  old  couple  and  could  claim  hosts  of 
friends  wherever  they  were  known.     There  were  six  children  in  their  family. 


JASPER   COUNTY,   IOWA.  667 

Emnior  E.  Irwin,  of  this  sketch,  who  was  named  after  his  maternal 
grandfather,  Emmor  Bales,  a  native  of  Ohio,  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Tama  county,  which  he  attended  during  the  winter  months, 
working  on  the  home  farm  in  the  summer-time,  but  he  seemed  to  have  a 
natural  bent  toward  the  business  world,  so  he  started  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Adel,  Iowa,  and  in  1887  he  moved  to  Oswalt,  Jasper  county,  where  he 
continued  to  run  a  store  for  four  years  with  his  usual  success;  then,  in  1891, 
he  came  to  Colfax  and  established  a  meat  business  which  he  conducted  for 
five  years,  enjoying  an  extensive  patronage.  His  next  \enture  was  in  the 
livery  business,  which  he  carried  on  for  three  years.  Then  in  1907  he  was 
elected  county  recorder,  which  ofifice  he  filled  two  years,  discharging  the  duties 
of  the  same  in  a  manner  that  reflected  much  credit  upon  himself  and  to  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  all  concerned.  Returning  from  the  county  seat  to  Col- 
fax when  his  term  of  office  had  expired,  he  became  manager  of  the  Colfax 
Lumber  Company,  which  position  he  still  holds,  his  business  ability  and 
straightforward  dealings  with  the  company's  numerous  customers  having  done 
much  to  further  the  prestige  of  the  same. 

Mr.  Irwin,  in  his  fraternal  relations,  is  a  member  of  Riverside  Lodge  No. 
389,  blue  lodge  of  Alasons;  Gebal  Chapter  No.  87,  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Mr.  Irwin  was  married  on  July  i,  1887,  to  Anna  Bohlander,  a  native  of 
Illinois  and  the  daughter  of  Peter  Bohlander  and  wife,  old  settlers  here  and  a 
splendid  family.  To  the  subject  and  wife  one  child  has  been  born.  Clarence 
E..  a  graduate  of  the  Colfax  high  school  and  now  a  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  this  city. 


HOTEL  COLFAN. 


To  her  mineral  springs  Colfax  owes  much  of  her  present  prosperity,  and 
to  these  primarily  the  building  of  the  Hotel  Colfax  is  due.  James  P.  Donahue, 
its  proprietor  and  builder,  has  been  actuated  in  the  building  of  the  hotel  by  two 
motives  :  one,  the  care  of  the  sick  in  a  way  to  afford  them  all  the  advantages  of 
modern  science  and  the  benefits  of  the  curative  waters  of  the  mineral  springs; 
the  other,  to  provide  in  the  midst  of  beautiful  natural  surroundings  a  hotel 
with  all  the  most  modern  and  exclusive  features,  where  the  well  may  enjoy 
recreation,  and  by  rest  and  correct  living  build  up  a  stronger  state  of  health. 
For  the  Colfax  is  an  ideal  place  in  which  to  spend  a  month  in  relaxation  from 
business  or  social  cares. 


668  JASPER   COUNTY,   IOWA, 

The  Hotel  Colfax  is  situated  to  the  east  of  the  village  of  Colfax,  one  mile 
from  the  railroad  station,  and  just  twenty-three  miles  from  Des  Moines,  the 
metropolis  of  Iowa.  Access  to  the  hotel  may  be  had  by  the  trains  of  the  Rock 
Island,  the  hourly  interurbans,  and  the  hotel  has  its  own  electric  line  to  convey 
guests  who  come  in  this  way  to  its  doors,  or  by  automobile,  for  the  hotel  is 
only  an  easy  hour's  run  over  good  roads  from  Des  Moines.  The  visitor  who 
reaches  the  hotel  finds  upon  alighting  from  the  trolley  or  automobile  that  he 
is  at  the  summit  of  the  highest  hill  in  Iowa.  Surrounded  by  natural  forests, 
the  wide  lawns,  traversed  by  shaded  drives,  slope  gently  away  from  the  hotel, 
and  the  vast  extent  and  heroic  dimensions  of  the  buildings  create  a  feeling  of 
restfulness  and  cjuiet.  One  in  the  mood  of  solitude  may  find  it  here,  even 
though  there  are  a  thousand  guests  about  the  parks  and  piazzas. 

The  air,  the  scenery,  the  wonderful  surroundings  alone,  w-ithout  the  min- 
eral springs,  make  the  Colfax  one  of  the  most  satisfactorily  situated  hotels  of 
which  man  can  conceive.  From  the  Italian  terrace  you  can  see,  on  a  clear 
day,  eighteen  miles  over  the  shimmering  river,  the  luxuriant  forest,  and  the 
verdant  fields.  Walks  passing  through  the  hotel  grounds  in  every  direction 
enter  and  wind  away  through  the  forest  which  encloses  the  buildings.  Among 
the  many  pleasant  spots  in  the  vicinity  is  Lover  s  Leap,  overlooking  a  great 
precipice.  On  returning  from  a  stroll  in  the  woods  the  hotel  greets  the  eye 
of  the  wanderer  like  a  fairy  castle  of  the  olden  days  of  enchantment. 

The  hotel  is  so  complete  in  itself,  with  its  garage  and  ice  and  cold  storage 
plants,  its  electric  power  house,  pumping  system  and  laundry,  so  independent 
of  the  outside  world,  as  aptly  to  be  called  a  miniature  city.  The  building  is  of 
Moorish  design,  a  style  of  architecture  so  perfectly  adapted  to  the  beautiful 
surroundings  as  to  seem  to  have  been  originated  for  them  alone,  and  is  abso- 
lutely fireproof  in  construction,  and  inside  and  out  a  color  scheme  is  worked 
into  every  detail  of  wall,  furniture,  hangings  and  shades,  as  well  as  of  towers 
and  minarets,  and  the  whole  gives  an  impression  of  unity  and  completeness  of 
decoration.  The  appointments  of  the  hotel  are  equal  to  those  of  the  most  ex- 
clusive of  this  country  or  Europe,  and  the  perfect  service  guarantees  freedom 
from  all  petty  annoyances  of  hotel  life.  In  fact,  the  hotel  is  built  on  the  plan 
of  the  most  exclusive  CaHfornia  hostelries,  and  run  on  the  plan  of  an  English 
country  mansion. 

To  all  the  comfort  of  the  hotel  and  the  charm  of  its  natural  surroundings 
is  added  the  curative  and  preventive  properties  of  the  waters  of  the  Colfax 
mineral  springs,  which  are  the  full  equal  of  those  sold  from  the  famous  Old 
World  springs.  The  bath  rooms  of  the  hotel  are  unexcelled  in  equipment,  the 
services  of  a  medical  adviser  are  provided  for  the  use  of  the  patrons,  and  every 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  669 

bath  known  to  modern  science,  including  the  famous  Manheim  bath,  may  be 
here  secured. 

Truly  nature,  with  her  scenery  of  magnificence  and  beauty  and  her  waters 
of  wonderful  curing  power,  and  man,  with  his  hotel  offering  the  acme  of 
luxury,  have  combined  to  make  Colfax  one  of  the  most  attractive  spots  in  the 
world  for  the  healing  and  the  delectation  of  man. 


H.  A.  THOMAS. 


Among  the  many  German  citizens  who  have  come  to  Jasper  county  to 
make  their  homes  and  their  fortunes,  and  there  have  been  quite  a  goodly  num- 
ber, we  find  none  who  seems  to  have  led  a  more  consistent  life  or  been  truer 
to  the  trusts  reposed  in  him  than  H.  A.  Thomas,  well  known  hotel  proprietor 
of  Colfax,  for  his  motto  has  been  to  live  and  let  live,  and  he  has,  while  advanc- 
ing his  own  interests,  not  been  neglectful  of  the  interests  of  those  about  him. 
For  these  happy  qualities  he  has  won  the  esteem  of  all  who  know  him  and  is 
today  highly  regarded  by  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances  among  the  tra\eling 
public  and  local  citizens, 

Mr.  Thomas  was  born  in  Silesia,  Germany,  on  July  20,  1857.  He  is  the 
son  of  Henry  and  Augusta  (Skobel)  Thomas,  both  natives  of  Germany,  where 
they  grew  up,  were  educated  and  married  and  there  they  spent  their  lives  on  a 
farm,  both  being  now  deceased.  Their  family  consisted  of  thirteen  children, 
only  two  of  whom  ever  came  to  America,  the  one  besides  the  subject  being 
Robert  Thomas,  who  lived  in  Davenport,  Iowa,  for  ten  years,  but  who  now 
makes  his  home  with  the  subject  in  Colfax. 

H.  A.  Thomas  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  fatherland,  taking  a  course 
in  the  gymnasium,  consequently  he  has  always  been  robust  and  enjoyed  ex- 
cellent health.  In  his  youth  he  took  up  farming  there  for  himself  which  he 
continued  until  1882,  when  he  came  to  America,  believing  that  here  were  to 
be  found  greater  opportunities.  After  remaining  in  New  York  City  five  days, 
he  came  on  to  the  Middle  West  and  located  in  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  and  here 
he  engaged  in  farm  work  for  some  time,  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  hotel 
business  which  he  has  followed  for  a  period  of  twenty-eight  years,  having 
taken  a  position  as  night  clerk  at  the  Mason  House  in  Colfax  in  1883.  He 
remained  in  that  capacity,  at  intervals,  for  about  four  years,  then  in  July, 
1890,  he  became  day  clerk.  Upon  the  death  of  the  proprietor.  Mr.  Croft,  in 
1900  he  assisted  Mrs.  Croft  in  the  management  of  the  hotel  until  her  death, 


670  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

in  February.  1907.  when  he  became  proprietor.  ^Irs.  Croft  having  willed  the 
hotel  to  Mr.  Thomas  in  appreciation  of  his  faithful  services.  He  is  managing 
the  ]\Iason  House  in  a  most  satisfactor}^  manner  and  is  extending  its  prestige 
among  the  traveling  public,  which  has  long  since  shown  its  appreciation  of  the 
eood  manasrement  and  courteous  and  considerate  treatment  alwavs  to  be  found 
here. 

Politically,  ]Mr.  Thomas  is  a  Republican,  and  in  his  fraternal  relations 
he  belongs  to  the  ]\Iasonic  blue  lodge,  the  chapter  and  the  commandery,  also 
the  Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks, 
and  he  stands  high  in  lodge  circles. 

I\Ir.  Thomas  was  married  in  May,  1891,  to  Mary  E.  Wharton,  a  native 
of  Iowa,  and  to  this  union  four  children  were  born,  three  of  whom  died  in 
infancy;  Henry  Thomas.  Jr.,  is  living  at  home. 


RAFORD  LINDLEY  ARNOLD. 

Holding  distinctive  prestige  among  the  enterprising  citizens  of  Jasper 
county  is  Raford  Lindley  Arnold,  popular  and  efficient  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank  and  the  Newton  Savings  Bank,  at  Newton.  Iowa,  whose  record 
here  briefly  outlined  is  that  of  a  self-made  man.  distinctively  the  architect  of 
his  own  fortunes,  who,  by  the  judicious  exercise  of  the  talents  with  which 
nature  endowed  him,  successfully  surmounted  an  unfavorable  environment 
and  rose  to  the  position  he  now  occupies  as  one  of  the  substantial  and  in- 
fluential men  of  the  locality  honored  by  his  residence,  having  been  true  and 
loyal  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  standing  as  a  type  of  that  sterling  manhood 
which  ever  commands  respect  and  honor.  He  is  a  man  who  would  win  his 
way  in  anv  locality  in  which  fate  might  place  him,  for  he  has  sound  judgment, 
coupled  with  great  energy  and  business  tact,  together  with  upright  principles, 
all  of  which  make  for  success  wherever  and  whenever  they  are  rightly  and  per- 
sistently applied.  Mr.  Arnold  is  a  creditable  representative  of  one  of  the 
old  and  highly  esteemed  families  of  Iowa,  and  possesses  many  of  the  sturdy 
traits  of  his  forebears. 

!Mr.  Arnold  was  born  in  Lynnville.  Iowa,  on  August  12,  1861.  The 
family  -noved  to  Oskaloosa.  Iowa,  in  1867  in  order  that  the  father,  Joseph 
Arnold,  might  receive  medical  treatment  for  an  injury  to  his  spine,  which 
accident  O'curred  in  1861.     Moving  back  to  Lynnville  in  1872,  Mr.  Arnold 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  67 1 

assisted  his  father  in  the  flour-mill  and  later  in  the  hotel  known  as  the  Iowa 
House.  Owing  to  a  lack  of  means  young  Arnold  was  compelled  to  shift  for 
himself  early  in  life  and,  although  he  met  with  many  adverse  conditions,  the 
training  thus  received  fostered  in  him  a  spirit  of  perseverance  and  fortitude 
which  has  contributed  in  no  small  measure  to  his  subsequent  success.  He  com- 
menced clerking  in  the  store  of  Gause,  Macy  &  Company  when  only  fourteen 
years  of  age,  thus  his  early  education  was  neglected,  but  he  has  overcome 
this  deficiency  by  wide  miscellaneous  home  study  and  reading  and  actual  con- 
tact with  the  business  world.  Later  he  was  employed  in  the  stores  of  John 
Gray  and  J.  ]\I.  Rayburn  at  Lynnville.  Afterwards  a  co-partnership  was 
formed  under  the  name  of  Rayburn  &  Arnold,  the  firm  handling  a  line  of  gen- 
eral merchandise.  This  partnership  continued  successfully  until  1894.  the 
firm  having  enjoyed  a  liberal  patronage  with  the  city  and  surrounding  country. 
In  that  year  ]\Ir.  Arnold  turned  his  attention  to  banking,  in  which  he  has  since 
been  engaged,  having  accepted  a  position  in  Baxter,  Iowa,  as  cashier  of  the 
City  Bank  of  Baxter;  however,  he  had  previously  had  experience  in  this  field, 
having  filled  a  similar  position  in  1892  and  1893  ^^ith  H.  D.  Lane  &  Company, 
bankers  at  Lynnville. 

In  1 891  the  City  Bank  of  Baxter  was  incorporated  into  the  State  Savings 
Bank  with  Mr.  Arnold  as  the  principal  manager.  In  1906  he  accepted  the  posi- 
tion as  cashier  of  the  two  banks  in  Newton  and  here  he  has  continued  to  give 
the  utmost  satisfaction  to  the  stockholders  and  patrons,  performing  his  duties 
in  an  able  and  conscientious  manner  that  has  elicited  the  commendation  and 
confidence  of  all  concerned.  During  his  nineteen  years'  experience  in  the 
banking  business  the  deposits  entrusted  to  his  management  have  ranged  from 
five  thousand  to  the  present  figures,  five  hundred  thousand. 

Mr.  Arnold  was  a  birthright  member  of  the  Friends  church,  of  which 
denomination  his  father  was  an  ordained  minister.  L'pon  his  removal  to  Bax- 
ter Raford  L.  Arnold  identified  himself  with  the  Congregational  church  and 
was  an  active  member  of  the  same.  After  taking  up  their  residence  in  New- 
ton the  family  found  a  church  home  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  congregation, 
of  which  'Sir.  Arnold  is  treasurer.  He  has  always  been  active  in  Sunday 
school  work,  having  twice  been  elected  president  of  the  Jasper  County  Sun- 
day School  Association,  and  at  the  present  time  he  is  a  director  of  the  Iowa 
State  Epworth  League  Assembly.  He  is  a  member  of  the  executive  board  of 
the  Business  ]\Ien's  Association.  Fraternally,  he  is  also  active  and  influential, 
being  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  is  banker  of  the 
local  camp:  he  also  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
Yeoman  Homestead. 


672  JASPER    COUNTY^    IOWA. 

The  domestic  life  of  ^Ir.  Arnold  began  on  May  10,  1887,  when  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mae  Irene  Raybnrn.  the  accomplished  daughter  of  the 
late  Dr.  C.  E.  Rayburn.  of  Brooklyn,  Iowa,  a  well  known  and  highly  esteemed 
family  there. 

The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arnold  has  been  graced  by  the  birth  of  four 
children,  namely:  Aleta  F..  born  in  1889;  Mildred  T.,  born  in  1894;  Lowell 
J.,  born  in  1899;  and  Gerald  E..  born  in  1903. 

Personally,  Mr.  Arnold  is  a  genial,  hospitable,  public-spirited,  unassuming 
gentleman  whom  it  is  a  pleasure  to  meet  and  who  has  justly  earned  the  uni- 
versal esteem  in  which  he  is  held. 


HERBERT  E.  NEWELL. 

Among  the  men  of  influence  in  Jasper  county,  who  have  the  interest  of 
their  locality  at  heart  and  who  have  led  consistent  lives,  thereby  gaining  defi- 
nite success  along  their  chosen  lines,  is  Herbert  E.  Newell,  who,  although  han- 
dicapped by  nature,  has  not  been  subdued  by  untoward  circumstances,  but  has 
been  active  and  successful  as  an  agriculturist,  managing  his  fine  landed  estates 
in  Richland  township  with  that  care  and  discretion  which  stamps  him  as  a 
twentieth-century  farmer  of  the  highest  order. 

Mr.  Newell  was  born  in  Scott  county,  Iowa,  December  5,  1870.  He  is 
the  son  of  S.  S.  and  F.  A.  (Powell)  Newell,  the  father  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  the  mother  of  New  York.  They  grew  to  maturity  and  were  edu- 
cated in  the  East.  The  father  came  to  Iowa  about  1853  and  the  mother  about 
1856.  The  former  located  in  Davenport,  and  was  a  contractor.  His  wife 
taught  school  for  some  time  after  coming  here.  They  were  married  in  Scott 
county  and  they  resided  in  Davenport  until  1877,  in  which  year  they  came 
to  Jasper  county  and  located  on  a  farm  southeast  of  Kellogg  where  they  es- 
tablished a  comfortable  home  and  lived  until  alx)ut  eight  years  ago  when  they 
removed  to  Newton,  the  father's  death  occurring  soon  afterwards,  in  1892; 
the  mother  is  making  her  home  with  her  son,  Herbert  E.,  of  this  review.  Ten 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  S.  Newell,  four  of  whom  are  living, 
namely :  W.  E.  lives  near  Altoona,  Iowa ;  S.  H.  resides  near  Kellogg,  this 
county;  Mrs.  Agnes  Lorimer  lives  in  Iowa  City;  and  Herbert  E.,  of  this  re- 
view. 

S.  S.  Newell,  the  father,  was  a  business  man  of  splendid  attainments  and 
he  became  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  his  community.  He  was  a  director 
in  the  Mutual  Insurance  Company  of  Newton,  also  a  director  in  the  Jasper 


HERBERT  E.  NEWELL 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  6/3 

County  Fair  Association.  Fraternally,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  in  religious  matters  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  He  was  a  good  and  useful  man  and  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew 
him. 

Herbert  E.  Xewell  was  seven  years  of  age  when  his  parents  brought 
him  to  Jasper  county.  He  grew  to  maturity  here  and  received  a  good  educa- 
ton  in  the  country  schools,  which  has  since  been  supplemented  by  e.xtensive 
home  reading  and  study.  He  also  attended  school  at  Kellogg.  When  nine- 
teen years  of  age  he  became  afflicted  with  rheumatism  and  has  since  been  a 
cripple,  but  he  has  borne  his  lot  with  rare  fortitude  and  is  a  pleasant,  enter- 
taining man  to  meet,  and  although  he  has  not  been  able  to  work  he  gives  his 
farms  his  personal  management  and  has  been  very  successful  as  a  general 
farmer  and  stock  raiser,  his  splendidly-improved  and  highly-productive  farms 
lying  in  Richland  township.  He  has  accumulated  a  very  comfortable  com- 
petence and  is  deserving  of  a  great  deal  of  credit  for  what  he  has  accomplished. 
Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat  and  is  a  well-informed  man  on  political  and 
current  topics  of  the  day.    Mr.  Newell  has  remained  single. 


GEORGE  D.  PARMEXTER. 

Holding  prestige  among  the  successful  agriculturists  and  stock  raisers  of 
Jasper  county,  George  D.  Parmenter,  now  of  Grinnell.  Iowa,  is  entitled  to 
more  than  passing  notice  in  the  biographical  history  of  this  locality,  for  here 
he  labored  long  and  arduously  until  he  became  one  of  the  substantial  men  of 
his  township  and  one  of  its  largest  land  owners,  improving  his  home  place  until 
he  brought  it  up  to  a  high  and  successful  state  of  cultivation,  in  fact,  rendered 
it  one  of  the  choicest  farms  of  this  section  of  the  state.  He  is  a  man  of  essen- 
tial worth,  very  energetic  and  industrious  and  by  diligent  devotion  to  his  voca- 
tion he  has  succeeded  in  accumulating  a  liberal  competence,  besides  much  valu- 
able land  in  other  localities  than  this.  His  life  has  been  led  along  such  con- 
servative lines  as  to  insure  the  winning  and  retaining  of  the  confidence  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  had  dealings  in  any  way  and  he  has  ever  stood  ready  to 
lend  what  aid  he  could  in  furthering  the  general  interests  of  his  vicinity. 

Mr.  Parmenter  was  born  in  Rock  Island  county.  Illinois,  Januarv  2^, 
1849,  the  son  of  Lorenzo  and  Kezia  (Robbins)  Parmenter.  the  father  born 
in  Massachusetts  and  the  mother  in  Pennsylvania.  They  came  to  Illinois  in 
their  vouth.  single,  he  with  his  sister  and  three  brothers,  and  she  with  her 

(43) 


674  JASPER    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

parents  and  family,  being  one  of  a  large  family.  One  .sister  located  in  Ohio, 
but  later  in  life  came  to  Iowa,  where  her  death  occurred.  ]Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lorenzo  Parmenter  married  in  Illinois.  He  had  learned  the  tailor's  trade 
when  a  boy,  but  he  turned  his  attention  to  farming  in  Illinois  and  \vas  very 
successful,  becoming  an  extensive  farmer,  owning  about  three  hundred  acres 
and  there  he  and  his  wife  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives.  Their  family  consisted 
of  four  children.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican  and  was  very  active  in 
party  affairs,  having  held  several  local  offices,  including  county  supervisor. 
His  death  occurred  in  September,  1896,  his  widow  sur\iving  until  November. 
1899.  They  were  good  and  useful  people  and  were  highly  honored  in  their 
community.  Mr.  Parmenter's  great-grandfather  was  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  Oliver  Robins,  a  brother  of  Mr.  Parmenter's  mother,  was  in  the  Mexi- 
can war. 

George  D.  Parmenter  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  a  liberal  education,  hav- 
ing passed  through  the  common  schools  and  spent  two  vears  in  the  Iowa  State 
University.  He  came  to  Jasper  county,  this  state,  and  located  on  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  wild  land  which  his  father  had  previously  purchased. 
Here  he  went  to  work  earnestly,  broke  the  land  and  improved  it,  soon  having 
one  of  the  choice  farms  of  his  township.  He  prospered  by  reason  of  close 
application  to  his  individual  affairs  and  by  good  management  he  is  now  the 
owner  of  four  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  this  county  besides  eighty  acres  in 
Poweshiek  county,  Iowa,  and  three  hundred  and  'twenty  acres  in  North 
Dakota.  His  Jasper  county  farm  is  a  model  in  every  respect  and  he  here  car- 
ried on  general  farming  and  stock  raising  on  an  extensive  scale.  In  1893 
he  moved  to  an  eighty-acre  farm  a  mile  west  of  Grinnell  in  Poweshiek  county, 
but  sold  this  in  1902,  retiring  from  active  life  and  moving  to  a  beautiful  home 
which  he  purchased  at  No.  1228  Main  street,  Grinnell,  where  he  still  resides. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  held  a  number  of  local  offices,  including 
that  of  township  trustee.     He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church. 

Mr.  Parmenter  was  married  on  December  31,  1874,  to  Lydia  Roberts, 
who  was  born  in  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois,  the  daughter  of  Arthur  P.  and 
Maribee  (Freeman)  Roberts.  The  father  was  a  member  of  the  famous  band 
of  "forty-niners"  who  sought  gold  in  California.  He  returned  to  Illinois 
where  he  lived  until  his  death,  in  Novembei;,  1887,  at  an  advanced  age,  having 
been  born  on  November  30,  1809.  His  wife  was  born  on  September  13,  1810, 
and  her  death  occurred  on  March  30.  1867.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  five  of  whom  are  living,  three  daughters  and  two  sons.  One  of  the 
sons.  Isaac  N.,  was  a  soldier  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Second  Illinois  \'olunteer 
Infantry,  and  his  death  occurred  in  the  hospital,  of  measles. contracted  while 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  (^'J■^ 

in  the  service.  Two  of  his  cousins  also  went  to  the  front,  one  of  them  being 
killed.  Mrs.  Parmenter's  grandfather,  Ebenezer  Roberts,  was  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812,  having  enlisted  from  the  state  of  Maine.  After  the  war  he 
settled  in  Indiana.  Arthur  P.  Roberts,  father  of  the  subject's  wife,  de\-oted 
his  life  to  farming.  He  was  successful  as  a  gold  miner  in  the  west  and  re- 
turned to  Illinois  with  enough  money  to  buy  a  fine  two  hundred  acre  farm. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  married  Mrs.  Maiy  E.  Woods  and  she  is 
still  living,  making  her  home  at  Cedar  Falls,  Iowa. 

Four  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parmenter.  namely: 
Marcus  ser\-ed  in  Company  K,  Fiftieth  Iowa  Infantry,  in  the  Spanish-Ameri- 
can war.  and  he  now  li\es  on  a  farm  in  Poweshiek  county ;  Rosella  is  the  wife 
of  O.  J.  Worcester,  connected  with  the  Grinnell  Herald;  Josephine  and  Flor- 
ence are  both  at  home. 


JOHN  SMITH. 


Many  families  throughout  the  United  States  during  the  past  few  dec- 
ades have  gone  to  much  trouble  and  expense  to  collect  their  records  back 
to  the  first  settlement  of  their  ancestor  emigrant,  thus  laying  the  foundation 
of  a  permanent  family  tree  in  this  country-  for  the  benefit  and  pleasure  of 
all  descendants.  There  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  importance  of  this  step.  One 
of  these  days,  in  the  entailment  of  estates,  such  a  record  will  be  invaluable 
to  descendants.  It  will  be  found  that  those  who  do  not  have  such  a  record 
will  not  be  able  to  prove  their  right  to  inherit  valuable  property.  The  saving 
of  such  a  record  is  simply  a  matter  of  self-preservation  for  the  descendants. 
The  Smith  family,  represented  by  John  of  this  review,  has  preserved  a 
fair  record,  good  enough,  perhaps,  to  make  the  claim  certain  in  case  of  a 
suit  over  an  estate,  and  this  sketch  will,  to  some  extent,  improve  this  claim. 

John  Smith,  an  honored  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  long  known  as  one 
of  Jasper  county's  leading  contractors  and  builders,  who  died  at  his  home 
in  Xewton,  October  11,  191 1,  was  born  in  Schuyler  county,  Illinois,  Febru- 
ary 2,  1843.  He  was  the  son  of  David  and  Henrietta  (DeLap)  Smith,  the 
father  a  native  of  Tennessee  and  the  mother  of  Kentucky.  David  Smith 
first  moved  to  Illinois  in  the  pioneer  days,  then  to  Iowa  in  1854,  locating  near 
Burlington  where  he  farmed  for  six  years,  later  moving  on  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  :McDonough  county,  where  he  lived  until  his 
death,  in  1867,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  His  wife  died  at  the  age 
of  seventv-two,  in  Xewton,  Iowa.     They  were  the  parents  of  eighteen  chil- 


676  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

dren,  a  large  family  even  in  those  early  days;  twelve  of  these  grew  to  ma- 
turit}'.  namely:  Da\id ;  Mary  Ripptoe,  a  widow;  Mrs.  Harrison  Scott;  Mrs. 
Rhoda  Gaul,  and  John,  of  this  review,  all  reside  in  Newton. 

John  Smith  received  what  education  he  could  in  Schuyler  county,  Illi- 
nois, then  a  wilderness,  in  which  lived  Indians,  wolves,  deer,  snakes,  etc. 
Later  he  went  to  school  in  McDonough  county.  During  the  summer  months 
he  worked  on  various  farms  at  fifteen  and  twenty  cents  per  day.  When 
but  a  boy  he  proved  his  courage  and  patriotism  by  enlisting  in  Company  D, 
Twenty-eighth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  as  a  brave  and 
efficient  soldier  for  three  years,  one  month  and  five  days,  being  honorably 
discharged  at  the  close  of  hostilities,  having  seen  much  hard  service,  par- 
ticipating in  some  of  the  bloodiest  battles  of  the  war,  such  as  Fort  Donelson, 
Fort  Henry,  Shiloh,  Corinth,  Bolivar,  Vicksburg,  Jackson,  Natchez  and 
many  skirmishes. 

Returning  to  jMcDonough  county,  Air.  Smith  purchased  a  ditching  ma- 
chine which  he  operated  for  two  years,  then  farmed  for  four  years,  and  on 
August  19,  1870,  he  come  to  Newton,  Iowa,  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
and  teaming.  He  also  learned  the  brick  and  stone  mason's  trade,  which  he 
followed  for  many  years,  building  and  assisting  to  build  possibly  as  many 
buildings  and  structures  in  Newton  and  Jasper  county  as  any  other  man 
in  this  locality.  He  helped  build  every  church  in  Newton  except  one.  He 
was  known  all  over  the  county  as  a  very  skilled  and  conscientious  workman. 

On  March  26,  1866,  Mr.  Smith  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs,  Ur- 
sula Dern,  widow  of  James  M.  Dern,  who  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Bull 
Run  during  the  Civil  war.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  F. 
(Gore)  Rayburn,  natives  of  Kentucky,  and  Mrs.  Smith  was  born  in  that 
state.  Her  father  was  in  the  war  of  181 2  and  her  brother  served  in  the 
Mexican  war.  She  is  the  sole  and  only  survivor  of  the  family  of  which  there 
were  twelve  children,  ten  of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  The  others  were, 
Nancy  married  Alex  Bradshaw;  McNeal;  Amanda  married  James  Kenni- 
son;  Henry  W. ;  Mary  A.  married  Benjamin  Lamb;  John  H. ;  Belinda  mar- 
ried James  Pilsher;  Henrietta;  Merritt  C,  who  was  in  the  Mexican  war, 
and  William  Newton.  Mrs.  Smith  was  the  eleventh  child  in  order  of  birth. 
The  parents  of  these  children  died  in  Ohio. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  six  children  were  born  as  follows :  Samuel, 
who  lives  in  Plattsmouth,  Nebraska,  is  a  farmer  and  traveling  salesman; 
Delia  is  the  wife  of  William  Fisher,  a  jeweler  of  Des  Moines;  Audrey  is 
the  wife  of  A.  C.  Mowry,  who  is  superintendent  of  the  Colfax  Telephone 
Company;  Alta  is  the  wife  of  Walter  Nitche,  a  stock  man  of  Omaha; 
Guy  H.  is  a  salesman  in  Omaha;  Frank  B.  is  deceased. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  ^-jy 

By  her  first  marriage  two  children  were  born  to  Mrs.  Smith,  both  still 
living,  Louisa,  wife  of  John  Woodruff,  and  Alice,  wife  of  Frank  Manly, 
of  Grand  Island,  Nebraska. 

Mr.  Smith  was  a  member  of  the  Woodmen  of  the  World  and  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic.  Politically,  he  was  a  Republican.  He  "and  his  wife 
have  a  host  of  friends  throughout  this  locality. 


FREDERICK  A.  RECKLER. 

There  have  come  to  the  United  States  from  the  German  empire  and 
other  alien  lands  men  of  limited  financial  resources,  but  imbued  with  a  sturdy 
independence  and  a  laudable  ambition  to  succeed,  and  who  have  taken  ad- 
vantage of  the  wonderful  possibilities  afforded  here.  Gradually,  step  by 
step,  they  have  risen  to  places  of  prominence  in  various  lines  of  activity. 
Of  these  there  can  be  none  mentioned  who  deserves  more  favorable  attention 
than  Frederick  A.  Reckler,  for  many  years  one  of  Jasper  county's  successful 
farmers,  and  who,  having  by  his  thrift  gained  a  competency,  is  now  living 
retired  in  his  cozy  home  in  the  city  of  Xewton.  He  is  one  of  the  honored 
veterans  of  the  great  war  between  the  states,  having  proved  his  patriotism 
to  his  adopted  country  by  gallantly  fighting  in  defense  of  the  Stars  and 
Stripes  on  many  a  sanguinary  field,  and  even  after  being  desperately 
wounded  and  languishing  for  months  in  the  terrible  prisons  of  the  South, 
gladly  returned  to  the  front  and  continued  to  do  what  he  could  to  save  the 
national  Union. 

Mr.  Reckler  was  born  in  Saxony,  Germany,  November  28,  1831.  He 
is  the  son  of  Simon  Gottlieb  Reckler,  who  spent  his  life  in  Germany,  a  tailor 
by  trade,  his  death  occurring  when  his  son  Frederick  A.  was  nine  years  of 
age.  The  father  was  in  the  German  army  against  Napoleon.  His  wife,  also 
a  native  of  Germany,  lived  and  died  there,  the  subject  being  the  only  mem- 
ber of  the  family  to  come  to  America.  He  grew  to  maturity  in  his  native 
land  and  was  educated  there.  Believing  that  the  new  w'orld  held  greater 
opportunities  for  him,  he  set  sail  across  the  Atlantic  in  1857,  going  by  way 
of  Liverpool  to  New  York.  From  there  he  traveled  by  rail  to  Davenport, 
Iowa,  and  secured  employment  on  a  farm  near  there.  \\'ith  characteristic 
German  thrift  he  worked  there  steadily  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war, 
when  he  went  to  Wisconsin,  and  on  April  22,  1861,  only  a  few  days  after 
Fort  Sumter  had  been  fired  upon,  he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Second  Wis- 
consin Volunteer   Infantrv,   under   Captain   McGee.      At   first   he   was   sent 


678  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

to  Washington,  D.  C,  and  he  was  at  ArHngton  Heights  for  some  time  drill- 
ing; he  was  then  plunged  into  real  war  by  taking  part  in  the  first  great  battle 
of  the  war.  Bull  Run.  During  this  fierce  engagement  he  received  a  very 
severe  wound  that  would  have  meant  death  to  many  another  of  less  hardy 
constitution,  A  bullet  struck  him  in  the  left  breast,  passing  through  a 
small  German  Testament  and  on  through  his  body  just  below  the  heart,  com- 
ing out  at  the  back.  He  still  has  this  Testament,  the  hole  through  it  bearing 
grim  evidence  of  the  long  and  dangerous  conflict.  Air,  Reckler  was  captured 
in  this  battle  and  for  six  weeks  he  lay  exposed  in  a  field  hospital  with  scant 
attention ;  he  was  then  taken  to  Libby  prison,  later  to  the  prison  at  Salisbury, 
North  Carolina,  and  still  later  to  New  Orleans.  Shortly  before  General  But- 
ler captured  the  Crescent  city,  the  prisoners  there  were  returned  to  Salisbury 
and  paroled.  Mr.  Reckler  was  suffering  with  scurvy  and  was  very  sick  of 
numerous  ailments,  so  he  was  sent  to  the  military  hospital  at  New  York  City, 
where  he  remained  eight  weeks,  after  which  he  returned  to  Wisconsin  and 
began  farming.  But  he  could  not  be  content  to  stay  away  from  the  front 
and  in  October,  1863,  he  returned  to  his  regiment  and,  as  a  private  in  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  he  took  part  in  many  of  the  greatest  battles  of  the 
war.  including  Mine  Run,  Spottsylvania  and  the  Wilderness.  After  a  re- 
markable army  record,  in  which  he  proved  himself  to  be  a  fearless  and  splen- 
did soldier,  Air.  Reckler  was  honorably  discharged  on  June  28,  1864,  and 
he  soon  afterwards  returned  to  Wisconsin.  A  year  later  he  came  to  Iowa, 
locating  near  Davenport  and  there  farmed  on  rented  land  for  five  years, 
then  came  to  Jasper  county  and  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  New- 
ton township,  in  1869  and  here  he  continued  to  reside  until  1905,  when  he 
turned  the  care  of  the  farm  over  to  his  sons  and  moved  to  Newton,  where 
he  is  spending  his  declining  years  in  the  midst  of  plenty  as  a  result  of  his 
able  management  of  the  farm. 

In  1867  Mr.  Reckler  was  married  to  Henrietta  Junck,  who  was  born 
in  St.  Louis,  of  German  parentage.  To  this  union  eight  children  has  been 
born,  namely :  Mary,  Christian  and  one  infant  are  deceased ;  the  five  living 
are,  Fred  H.,  who  resides  on  a  farm  in  Sherman  township;  Emil  is  on  the 
farm  in  Newton  township;  Harriet  married  William  Hildebrandt  and  they 
live  in  Arkansas;  Lena  married  Harmon  Jensen  and  they  live  on  a  farm 
in  Sherman  township;  Laura  married  August  Snelle  and  is  living  at  home 
with  her  parents. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reckler  are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran 
church.  Politically,  he  is  a  Republican,  and  he  belongs  to  Garrett  Post,  No, 
16,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  679 

BELDING  R.  MtLELLAN. 

One  may  live  a  lite  of  busy  and  successful  years,  niav  fashion  and 
construct  physical  things  and  yet,  if  lacking  true  manhood  and  human  sym- 
pathy, his  works  are  as  nothing.  Time,  the  grim  destroyer,  is  ever  at  his 
work  of  devastation;  but  there  are  some  things  which  endure.  Long  after 
we  forget  the  material  things  a  man  may  have  possessed,  we  remember  the 
sacrifices  he  made,  his  cheerful  Godspeeds  and  his  inspiring  example.  Prin- 
ciple is  eternal,  and  courage  and  steadfastness  of  purpose  have  ever  moved 
the  world,  such  as  that  possessed  by  the  stout-hearted  pioneer  and  soldier, 
"Bell"  McLellan,  one  of  the  best  known  and  highly  esteemed  business  men 
of  Jasper  county,  who  died  July  21,  191 1. 

Belding  R.  :McLellan  was  born  in  Laporte  county,  Indiana,  May  12,  1842, 
and  was  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Fidelia  (Read)  McLellan,  the  father  a  native 
of  Grafton  county,  New' Hampshire,  and  the  mother  of  Bedford  county, 
Pennsylvania.  The  father  devoted  his  life  to  farming,  owning  land  in 
Laporte  county,  Indiana,  where  he  spent  most  of  his  life  and  where  his 
death  occurred.  He  is  remembered  as  a  strong  character,  a  man  of  pro- 
nounced convictions,  sterling  honesty  and  persistent  industry,  a  type  of  that 
class  of  citizens  from  the  bone  and  sinew  of  which  all  new  countries  spring. 
His  family  consisted  of  seven  children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living;  the 
eldest,  Andrew,  died  in  Laporte  county.  Indiana,  about  the  spring  of  1910; 
Sarah  Jane  died  in  childhood ;  Belding  R.  of  this  review  was  next  in  order  of 
birth;  George  W.  lives  on  a  farm  near  Laporte,  Indiana:  ]\Iartha  married 
George  Reed  and  died  in  Michigan  City  in  1910;  her  twin  sister,  Mary, 
married  Charles  McClure  and  they  live  in  Gallatin,  Missouri. 

Mr.  McLellan  of  this  review  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  home  farm  which 
he  worked  during  the  summer  months  and  in  the  winter  time  attended  the 
district  schools.  He  received  a  good  schooling  at  St.  Mary's  Academy  at 
South  Bend,  Indiana,  and  Valparaiso  University  at  X^alparaiso,  Indiana.  He 
proved  his  patriotism  when  a  mere  boy  by  enlisting,  in  September,  1861,  in  the 
Fourth  Indiana  Battery,  and  he  was  sent  into  Kentucky,  hrst  to  Louisville,  then 
to  Green  River.  He  was  assigned  to  Buell's  command  and  saw  his  first  hard 
service  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh;  then  he  was  at  the  siege  of  Corinth, 'and 
later  he  was  at  Nashville,  after  which  his  division  went  to  the  vicinity  of 
Louisville,  thence  to  Perryville  and  was  in  the  battle  there,  in  which  Mr. 
]^IcLellan  was  severely  wounded  October  8,  1862,  just  below  the  knee,  the 
bullet  or  fragment  of  shell  passing  entirely  through  his  leg.     For  a  time  he 


68o  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

remained  in  the  temporary  field  hospital,  No.  8,  at  Louisville,  in  fact  re- 
mained there  three  months,  then  was  sent  home.  The  injury  incapacitated 
him  from  work  for  some  time,  but  as  soon  as  he  was  able  he  began  assisting 
with  the  farming  duties.  He  had  been  a  very  faithful  soldier  and,  although 
thus  sorely  wounded,  never  regretted  his  services  to  his  country.  In  the 
spring  of  1865  he  started  over  the  plains  of  the  great  west  with  an  ox  team, 
this  incident  in  his  career  proving,  perhaps  more  than  anything  else,  that  he 
was  a  man  of  courage  and  energy;  the  many  dangers,  such  as  unfriendly 
Indians,  wild  beasts,  etc.,  did  not  deter  him.  It  was  interesting  to  hear  him 
recall  reminiscences  of  this  trip.  He  recalled  the  fact  that  Indians  killed 
white  men  ahead  and  behind  his  wagon  train.  Upon  reaching  Central  City, 
Colorado,  he  engaged  in  various  lines  of  business.  After  an  absence  of 
about  two  years  he  returned  to  Laporte,  Indiana.  On  February  2^],  1867,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Rebecca  A.  Reed,  daughter  of  Bazelleel  and 
Catherine  (Flood)  Reed,  the  father  a  native  of  Ohio  and  the  mother  of 
Franklin  county,  Indiana.  They  were  married  in  the  county  just  named  and 
owned  a  farm  there,  later  removing  to  Laporte  county,  Indiana,  and  buying 
land  there,  where  Mrs.  McLellan  was  born.  Mr.  Reed  came  to  Jasper 
county,  Iowa,  in  1855  and  entered  a  half  section  of  land  in  Mound  Prairie 
township,  which  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  family.  He  entered  this 
land  from  the  government  and  it  remained  undeveloped  until  1872  when 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McLellan  came  out  and  located  on  it,  and,  resolutely  taking 
up  their  labors,  they  had  a  good  home  in  due  course  of  time.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Reed  are  both  deceased,  Mr.  Reed  dying  October  29,  1878.  and  Mrs.  Reed 
on  September  4,  1861.  All  their  children  are  also  dead  except  tw^o;  four 
of  them  died  in  infancy;  Joseph  M'.  died  in  Kansas  just  as  he  was  starting 
for  the  army,  !May  15,  1864;  Caroline  died  in  Laporte  county,  Indiana, 
December  13,  1878;  Rebecca  A.,  wife  of  Mr.  McLellan,  was  next  in  order  of 
birth;  Franklin  died  August  28,  1907,  in  Laporte  county,  Indiana;  W.  S. 
lives  on  a  farm  in  Jackson  county,  Kansas;  George  W.,  who  died  October  26, 
1901,  in  Michigan  City,  Indiana,  as  at  one  time  sheriff  of  Laporte  county, 
Indiana,  being  the  youngest  man  ever  elected  to  that  office. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McLellan,  two  daughters,  both  living,  have  been  born, 
namely :  Minnie  B.  married  George  \V.  Dickinson,  lives  in  Newton  part  of 
the  time,  but  has  property  interests  in  Buchanan  county,  Iowa ;  Effie  married 
C.  A.  Chapman  and  they  live  in  Hood  River,  Oregon.  Both  these  children 
enjoyed  the  advantages  of  good  educations,  having  passed  through  the 
common  schools,  later  attending  the  State  University,  and  they  are  both 
cultured  and  intelligent.     Both  were  graduated  from  the  business  course. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  68 1 

Mr.  McLellan  was  very  successful  in  a  business  way  and  he  established 
a  pleasant  home.  He  was  a  member  of  Garrett  Post  No.  i6,  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  of  Newton.  He  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  post  at  Prairie 
City  and  was  quartermaster  of  the  same.  He  belonged  to  Preston  Lodge 
No.  218,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of  Prairie  City.  Politically, 
he  was  a  Republican.  :Mrs.  McLellan,  a  woman  of  refined  tastes  and  pleas- 
ing address,  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  is  prominent  in 
the  Woman's  Relief  Corps  at  Xewton. 


VICTORL\  SANATORIUM. 

The  mineral  springs  of  Colfax  have  greatly  influenced  the  character  of 
the  life  and  growth  of  the  city  in  recent  years.  Of  the  several  establishments 
of  dififerent  varieties  which  have  grown  up  in  order  to  bring  to  the  people 
the  wonderful  advantages  of  the  curative  waters  of  these  springs,  special 
mention  must  be  made  of  the  Victoria  Sanatorium,  which  has  been  in  ex- 
istence since  1904,  when  Florence  Brown  Sherbon,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  her  hus- 
band, John  Bayard  Sherbon,  M.  D.,  and  her  father  James  Brown,  incor- 
porated the  Victoria  Sanatorium  and  Mineral  Spring.  The  Doctors  Sherbon 
are  in  charge  of  the  sanatorium.  Doctor  Florence  B.  Sherbon  is  a  native 
of  Washington  count}%  Iowa,  graduated  from  the  Keokuk  high  school,  the 
Independence  Training  School  for  Nurses  at  the  Iowa  State  Hospital,  and 
in  1902  received  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Philosophy  from  Iowa  State 
University.  In.  1904  she  completed  her  medical  education  at  the  same  in- 
stitution, receiving  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  and  the  same  year  the 
degree  of  Master  of  Arts.  Doctor  John  Bayard  Sherbon  is  a  native  of  Iowa, 
and  graduated  in  medicine  from  Iowa  State  University  in  1904.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  American,  State  and  County  Medical 
societies.  Since  1904,  when  both  Doctors  Sherbon  located  at  Colfax,  their 
history  has  been  that  of  the  Victoria  Sanatorium. 

The  present  home  of  the  Victoria  Sanatorium  is  a  picturesque,  red  brick 
colonial  building,  with  spacious  white  porches,  situated  on  one  of  the  beautiful 
wooded  hillsides  of  Colfax.  The  corporation  of  physicians  who  own  and 
control  it  have  spared  neither  trouble  nor  expense  to  make  it  not  only  a 
credit  to  themselves  and  a  boon  to  suffering  humanity,  but  a  credit  to  the 
state  and  to  the  Middle  West.  It  began  its  career  modestly  in  a  little  thirty- 
room  brick  hotel  building;  but  was  crowded  out  the  first  year.     The  building 


6S2  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

was  then  complete!}"  remodeled  and  enlarged,  doubling  its  capacity  and  mak- 
ing it  up  to  date  and  entirely  modern  in  every  respect.  The  new  building 
proved  as  inadequate  to  meet  the  demand  as  the  old,  and  the  following  year 
a  thirty-room  brick  building  was  erected  as  an  annex,  and  has  been  in  daily 
use  since  the  completion. 

The  sanatorium  building  is  brick,  with  its  long  exposure  north  and  south, 
making  it  warm  in  winter  and  cool  in  summer.  It  is  steam  heated,  with  electric 
lights,  call  bells  and  telephones,  has  an  elevator  and  is  well  protected  against 
fire,  and  is  artistically  finished  and  furnished,  with  all  outside  rooms  and  a 
pleasant  outlook  from  every  side.  Although  but  five  blocks  from  Main 
street  and  depots,  the  sanatorium  building  is  located  at  the  end  of  its  street 
in  a  park  of  native  trees,  and  as  no  traffic  passes  its  doors  there  is  an  absence 
of  noise  and  dirt. 

The  water  from  the  Victoria  spring  is  classified  as  a  carbonated  cal- 
cicsaline  chalybeate,  holds  an  unusual  amount  of  sodium  and  magnesium 
sulphate  in  solution,  and  has  strong  aperient  properties.  Its  use  is  greatly 
beneficial  in  many  diseases  of  the  stomach  and  bowels,  in  cases  of  diseased 
kidneys  and  bladder,  and  various  blood  diseases,  and  especially  in  cases  of 
rheumatism. 

The  sanatorium  is  fitted  for  the  care  of  many  different  classes  of  pa- 
tients, such  as  those  who  are  overworked  and  are  in  search  of  rest  and  re- 
laxation; those  suffering  from  nervous  derangement,  who  are  benefited  by 
the  rest  cure  and  the  baths  and  exercises;  cases  of  chronic  disorder  of  the 
organs  of  assimilation  and  elimination;  rheumatic  patients,  in  the  curing  of 
whom  the  sanatorium  has  had  wonderful  results;  cases  of  valvular  heart 
trouble,  which  are  benefited  by  Nauheim  baths,  and  appropriate  exercises  for 
certain  cases,  for  the  care  of  which  the  sanatorium  is  especially  equipped ; 
and  many  cases  of  acute,  non-contagious  diseases,  which  are  given  careful 
nursing  and  medical  care.  Tuberculosis  and  contagious  diseases,  as  well  as 
troublesome  mental  cases,  are  not  admitted. 

The  institution  has  a  staff  of  competent  resident  physicians  who  take 
all  proper  care  of  the  patients,  and  who  are  not  extremists,  but  use  all 
legitimate  therapeutic  measures.  The  equipment  consists  of  the  newest  and 
most  approved  apparatus,  static  machine.  X-ray,  high  frequency  coil,  vibra- 
tor, hot  air  machine,  galvanic  and  faradic  batteries,  leucodescent  lamp,  etc. 
A  well  equipped  clinical  laboratory  is  in  constant  use  for  diagnostic  purposes, 
and  there  is  a  well  arranged  operating  room  and  a  small  perfectly  appointed 
hospital  for  the  care  of  the  more  ill  or  helpless  patients.  The  bath  rooms 
are  well  equipped  for  giving  all  kinds  of  hydriatric  treatment,  and  are  in 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  683 

charge  of  a  corps  of  skillful  operators,  who  are  thoroughly  trained  in  both 
American  and  Swedish  methods  in  massage,  orthopedic  exercises,  medical 
gymnastics,  etc. 

It  is  not  the  purpose  of  the  sanatorium  to  compete  with  local  practi- 
tioners, but  rather  to  co-operate  with  them  in  caring  for  such  cases  as  need 
the  advantage  of  sanatorium  treatment  in  addition  to  regular  medical  aid. 

The  doctors  in  charge  of  this  sanatorium  are  engaged  in  a  much  needed 
work  for  the  benefit  of  suffering  humanity,  in  pro\iding  for  them  the  best  of 
treatment  which  modern  medical  science  can  provide,  and  ideally  sanitary 
surroundings,  and  their  success  has  greatly  encouraged  their  labors.  And 
there  can  be  no  nobler  and  no  higher  work  than  to  minister  to  the  ills  and 
sickness  of  mankind,  to  relieve  them  from  pain  and  misery,  and  to  prolong 
their  days  on  this  earth.  The  physician  who  follows  his  profession  in  its 
true  spirit  is  the  best  friend  of  mankind,  and  the  proprietors  of  the  Victoria 
Sanatorium  have  during  its  existence  been  responsible  for  the  return  of  hope 
to  many  lives  from  which  it  had  been  long  shut  out. 


CHARLES  E.  GREENLIEF. 

Clearly  defined  purpose  and  consecutive  effort  in  the  affairs  of  life  will 
inevitably  result  in  the  attainment  of  a  large  measure  of  success;  but  in 
following  out  the  career  of  one  who  has  gained  success  by  his  own  efforts 
there  comes  into  view  the  intrinsic  individuality  which  made  such  accom- 
plishment possible,  and  thus  there  is  granted  an  objective  incentive  and  in- 
spiration, while  at  the  same  time  there  is  enkindled  a  feeling  of  respect 
and  admiration.  In  carving  out  his  career  Charles  E.  Greenlief,  one  of  the 
leading  business  men  and  enterprising  citizens  of  Newton,  lived  a  use- 
ful life  and  it  seems  that  he  tried  to  be  of  benefit  to  those  who  came  into  con- 
tact with  him,  while  laboring  to  advance  his  own  interests,  thus  he  is  em- 
inently entitled  to  the  universal  esteem  in  which  he  is  held. 

Mr.  Greenlief  is  one  of  the  honored  native  sons  of  Jasper  county,  and 
he  has  been  content  to  spend  his  life  here,  taking  part  in  the  development 
of  the  same  through  all  its  stages.  His  birth  occurred  on  January  19,  1868. 
He  is  the  son  of  William  C.  and  Eunice  (Brown)  Greenlief,  the  father  a 
native  of  Montreal,  Canada,  and  the  mother  of  Steuben  county.  New  York. 
They  came  west  when  young  and  were  married  in  Davenport,  Iowa,  the 
father  having  come  to  Illinois  from  Canada  in  1854,  and  after  living  in  that 


684  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

state  four  or  five  years,  went  to  Davenport  in  1861.  Near  that  city  he 
worked  for  a  year  breaking  prairie,  then,  in  1862,  came  to  Jasper  county, 
settling  in  Mound  Prairie  township  on  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  raw 
prairie  land.  To  this  he  subsequently  added  eighty  acres  more  and  developed 
it  all  into  a  fine  farm  and  here  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  the 
father  reaching  the  remarkable  age  of  ninety-three  years,  the  mother  having 
died  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years.  For  additional  facts  relating  to  their  lives 
the  reader  is  directed  to  the  sketch  of  Leonard  A.  Greenlief  in  this  work. 

Charles  E.  Greenlief  is  one  of  a  family  of  four  children,  two  boys  and 
two  girls;  Hattie  died  when  a  baby;  Emma  J.  died  when  seventeen  years 
of  age;  Charles  E.  of  this  review;  and  Homer  B.,  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

After  the  death  of  his  mother  the  subject  left  home  to  make  his  own 
way  in  the  world,  and,  although  but  thirteen  years  old,  he  successfully  ran 
a  feed  mill  for  Will  Arten  of  Prairie  City  for  eight  months.  He  then 
worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  two  years,  after  which  he  began  working  in  a 
machine  shop  at  Des  Moines,  continuing  there  for  several  years,  becoming  a 
very  adroit  workman.  He  then  opened  a  saw  mill  in  Marion  county  which 
he  operated  two  years,  also  ran  one  two  years  in  Jasper  county.  He  then 
secured  employment  with  the  Parsons  Band  Cutter  and  Self -Feeder  Com- 
pany, being  foreman  of  the  machine  shop  for  eight  years.  He  then  purchased 
the  home  place  and  lived  on  it  for  two  years,  then  went  to  Canada  and 
operated  a  steam  plow  for  six  months,  having  previously  purchased  a  section 
of  land  in  that  country.  Returning  to  Newton,  he  bought  an  interest  in  the 
One  Minute  Manufacturing  Company  and  for  six  years  has  been  superin- 
tendent of  the  factory,  no  small  amount  of  its  success  being  due  to  his  able 
management  and  extensive  knowledge  of  this  line  of  work. 

On  December  25,  1892,  Mr.  Greenlief  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs. 
Jomattie  Cure,  daughter  of  J.  B.  and  Marian  (Hibbits)  Rumbaugh,  of  Ohio, 
Mrs.  Greenlief  being  born  in  Jasper  county.  Her  parents  were  farmers  and 
are  now  living  a  retired  life  in  Oskaloosa,  Iowa.  Their  family  consisted  of 
ten  children,  four  of  whom  died  in  childhood;  Mrs.  Armittie  Cunningham 
died  at  the  age  of  thirty-two  years;  Newton  M.  is  in  Des  Moines;  Mrs. 
Mariah  Swanegan  and  N.  G.  also  live  in  Des  Moines;  Jomattie,  wife  of 
Mr.  Greenlief;  Oliver  B.  lives  in  Seversville,  Iowa. 

Five  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Greenlief,  namely :  Nellie, 
born  April  6,  1895;  Harry  L.,  born  May  29,  1897;  Delta  Grace,  born  Oc- 
tober 3,  1899;  Pearl  May,  born  March  21,  1902,  died  when  five  months  old; 
Jesse  William,  born  March  9,  19 10. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  685 

By  a  former  marriage  Mrs.  Greenlie^  became  the  mother  of  these 
children:  John  Edward,  born  February  2,  1886,  died  when  five  months  old; 
Thomas  J.,  born  March  5,  1888;  Hazel  I.,  born  April  19,  1890. 

Mrs.  Greenlief's  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war  and  he  is  now  an 
invalid  as  a  result  of  the  hardships  of  army  life.  In  an  early  day  he  was  a 
freighter,  having  hauled  goods  by  wagon  from  Keokuk  to  DesMoines.  The 
first  school  ever  taught  in  Mound  Prairie  township  was  taught  in  the  house 
of  Mr.  Greenlief's  father.  He  was  a  pioneer  here  and  has  long  been  well 
known  in  this  part  of  the  county. 

Mrs.  Greenlief  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church.  Fraternally  Mr. 
Greenlief  belongs  to  the  Yeomen  lodge,  also  the  Newton  Business  Alen's 
Association.  He  is  one  of  the  well-to-do  and  prominent  men  of  this  city, 
is  well  known  and  has  the  respect  and  good  will  of  all  classes. 


I 


HENRY  PETER  SCHNUG. 

The  farmers  who  constitute  the  bone  and  sinew  of  Jasper  county, 
or,  indeed,  any  section  of  this  or  any  other  state,  are  not  those  who  are 
unstable  and  unsettled,  who  change  from  one  occupation  to  another,  who  do 
not  seem  to  know  how  to  discharge  the  duties  of  citizenship  until  they  are 
told  and  who  take  no  active  and  intelligent  interest  in  public  affairs,  or  who 
hesitate  in  the  support  of  schools,  churches  and  property.  The  backbone  of 
this  country  is  made  up  of  the  families  which  have  made  their  homes,  who 
are  alive  to  the  best  interests  of  the  community  in  which  they  reside,  who  are 
so  honorable  in  their  every-day  affairs  of  life  that  it  is  no  trouble  for  their 
neighbors  and  associates  to  know  it,  and  who,  attending  strictly  to  their  own 
business,  are  thus  too  busy  to  attend  to  that  of  others,  who  work  on  steadily 
from  day  to  day,  taking  the  sunshine  and  the  storm,  and  who  rear  a  self- 
respecting,  honest  family  to  a  comfortable  home  and  useful  life.  Such  people 
are  always  welcome  in  any  community.  They  are  wealth  producers  and  this 
country  is  blessed  with  many  of  them,  among  whom  is  the  Schnug  family, 
of  which  Henry  Peter  Schnug,  farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  Elk  Creek  town- 
ship, is  a  worthy  representative. 

Mr.  Schnug  was  born  in  Elk  Creek  township,  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  on 
September  16,  1866.  He  is  the  son  of  John  and  Anna  Elizabeth  (Strater) 
Schnug,  both  born  in  Germany,  the  father  in  the  town  of  Weidselters  in 
the   duchy   of   Nassau   on  January   6,    1827,    and   the   mother   in   Filbach, 


686  JASPER    COUXTY,    IOWA. 

Herzogthuni,  in  the  duchy  of  Nassau,  August  6,  1833.  They  grew  up  in  the 
fatherland,  received  such  educational  training  as  was  possible  and  there  the 
father  learned  the  miller's  trade,  running  mills  for  various  employers,  and 
when  a  young  man,  in  1850,  he  decided  to  cast  his  lot  with  the  North 
Americans  and  accordingly  boarded  a  slow  sailing  vessel  for  our  shores. 
He  located  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  and  there  worked  in  a  flouring  mill, 
and  there  he  was  married  to  Anna  E.  Strater,  who  had  emigrated  to  that 
county  in  1842,  when  a  young  girl,  with  her  parents.  After  the  marriage 
of  the  subject's  parents,  which  occurred  on  September  21,  1851,  they  es- 
tablished a  home  in  Richland  county  and  remained  there  until  in  1856,  when 
they  emigrated  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  and  here  Mr.  Schnug  found  em- 
ployment in  a  flouring  mill  at  Galesburg;  later  he  ran  Warren's  mill,  Marion 
county,  on  the  Skunk  river,  and  across  that  stream  he  assisted  in  building 
one  of  the  first  bridges  that  spanned  it.  He  worked  a  great  deal  at  the  car- 
penter's trade  and  he  finally  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
buying  eighty  acres  of  prairie  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  bottom 
land  on  the  Skunk  river,  and  he  became  very  well  established,  developing 
one  of  the  best  farms  on  that  historic  stream  and  there  he  continued  to 
reside,  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising  until  1905,  when  he 
moved  to  Manson  in  Calhoun  county,  Iowa.  He  has  been  blind  for  the  past 
twenty-one  years.  He  has  long  been  a  consistent  member  of  the  German 
Lutheran  church,  and,  politically,  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  has  always  borne 
an  exemplary  reputation  and  his  life  work  has  been  characterized  by  industry 
and  fairness  to  his  fellow  men.  He  came  to  this  country  when  it  was  wild 
and  sparsely  settled  and  he  lived  to  see  it  grow  into  one  of  the  first  farming 
sections  of  the  great  commonwealth  of  Iowa. 

Three  sons  and  three  daughters  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
Schnug,  named  in  order  of  birth  as  follows:  Mtrs.  Catherine  Pahre  is  de- 
ceased ;  Mrs.  Mary  Strater  is  also  deceased ;  John  Edward  lives  at  Ralph, 
Iowa;  George  is  making  his  home  in  Pocahontas  county,  this  state;  Mrs. 
Esther  Walker  lives  in  Council  Bluffs ;  Henry  Peter,  of  this  sketch,  was 
the  youngest  in  order  of  birth. 

Henry  P.  Schnug  assisted  his  father  in  his  general  work  when  a  boy, 
spending  his  boyhood  days  in  Elk  Creek  township,  this  county,  attending 
the  common  schools  in  the  winter  time.  When  twenty-three  years  of  age 
he -bought  eighty  acres  of  land,  part  of  the  home  place,  and  set  to  work  with 
a  will;  he  has  accordingly  prospered  and  he  is  now  the  owner  of  one  of  the 
choice  farms  of  the  community,  which  consists  of  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
three  and  one-half  acres,  in  Elk  Creek  township.     He  has  here  carried  on 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  687 

general  farming  and  stock  raising  in  a  manner  that  has  stamped  him  as 
being  fully  abreast  of  the  times  in  these  matters.  He  has  placed  his  farm 
under  a  fine  system  of  improvements  and  keeps  his  soil  well  tilled,  so  that 
it  has  retained  its  old-time  fertility.  In  the  year  1902  he  built  a  modern, 
convenient  and  tastily  arranged  dwelling  and  he  has  other  substantial  build- 
ings. He  keeps  a  fine  grade  of  live  stock,  making  a  specialty  of  Percheron 
horses,  Hereford  cattle  and  he  feeds  large  numbers  of  cattle  and  hogs,  no 
small  part  of  his  annual  income  being  derived  from  this  source. 

Mr.  Schnug  is  a  Democrat  politically  and  he  has  served  his  community 
as  township  trustee. 

On  April  i,  1889,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Henry  P.  Schnug  and 
Margaret  Kling.  The  latter  was  born  in  Elk  Creek  township  on  March  5, 
1867,  and  here  she  grew  to  womanhood  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Henry  Kling  and  wife,  one  of  our  honored 
pioneer  families. 

To  ^Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schnug  have  been  born  the  following  children  :  Mur- 
lin,  born  February  12,  1892;  Pearl,  born  November  21.  1893;  Ruby,  born 
June  19,  1895;  Clifford,  born  February  4,  1897;  Florence,  born  January-  15, 
1901 ;  Harold,  born  May  19,  1904;  Helen,  born  September  25,  1906;  Eldred, 
born  April  7,  1909. 


WILLIAM  DALES. 


One  of  the  owners  of  .extensive  farming  interests  in  Mound  Prairie 
township  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  initiates  this  sketch,  one  of  Jasper 
county's  highly  respected  citizens.  His  valuable  property  has  been  acquired 
through  his  own  efforts,  his  persistency  of  purpose  and  his  determination, 
and  the  prosperity  which  is  the  legitimate  reward  of  all  earnest  effort  is 
today  his. 

William  Dales  was  born  in  Guernsey  county.  Ohio.  July  21,  1854.  He 
is  the  son  of  Andrew  and  ]Mary  (Gauley)  Dales,  both  born  near  Belfast,  Ire- 
land, the  father  in  1826  and  the  mother  in  1827.  Andrew  Dales  emigrated 
to  America  when  he  was  twenty-one  years  old,  having  been  married  just 
before  he  started.  He  came  to  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  later  becoming  the 
owner  of  eightv  acres.  In  1886  he  moved  to  Shelby  county,  Iowa,  and  there 
bought  eightv  acres  and  there  he  and  his  wife  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.     Politicallv,  he  was  a  Republican  and  after  the  Civil  war  he  l->ecame  a 


688  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church.  His  family  consisted  of  nine 
children,  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  the  oldest. 

William  Dales  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and  assisted  with  the  general 
work  about  the  place  when  a  boy  and  he  received  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  in  Ohio.  Two  years  after  his  marriage  he  came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa, 
and  bought  eighty  acres  in  Mound  Prairie  township.  Selling  that  eighty,  he 
bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  on  which  he  erected  all  the  buildings 
and  made  all  other  necessary  improvements,  setting  out  many  trees,  including 
walnut  and  willow  groves.  He  has  been  ver)^  successful  as  a  general  farmer 
and  stock  raiser.  He  keeps  large  numbers  of  shorthorn  cattle. 

Politically,  Mr.  Dales  is  a  Republican  and  he  has  been  township  trustee 
and  school  director.    He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church. 

Mr.  Dales  was  married  December  31,  1875,  to  Jennie  E.  Worthing, 
who  was  born  in  Ohio,  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Worthing,  a  farmer  who 
joined  the  Union  army  and  was  taken  prisoner,  confined  at  Andersonville 
and  starved  to  death  in  prison. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dales  the  following  children  have  been  born :  Mrs. 
Mary  M.  Watt,  Mrs.  Agnes  Maud  Bond,  Mrs.  Minnie  Pearl  Leonard,  Mrs. 
Belva  Lockwood  Scow,  Mrs.  Ethel  Newland,  Bessie  Zoe  and  William 
Vincent. 


JOSIAH  B.  EYERLY. 


But  recently  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch  was  a  familiar 
and  prominent  figure  in  Xewton,  where  his  business  relations  for  many 
years  had  been  such  as  to  make  him  known  to  many  people  and  to  gain  for 
him  a  standing  as  one  of  the  foremost  business  men  of  the  county.  He  had 
reached  an  honorable  age  and  lived  a  life  full  of  usefulness  and  activity,  never 
giving  up  to  the  messenger  of  disease  as  long  as  it  was  in  human  power  to 
resist,  and  his  taking  away  left  a  void  in  the  hearts  of  friends  and  members 
of  his  family  which  can  not  be  filled,  for  there  can  never  be  another  Josiah  B. 
Eyerly. 

Josiah  B.  Eyerly  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  was  born  at  Lexington,  in 
Richland  county,  October  28,  1834,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  on  March  11, 
1907,  had  reached  the  age  of  seventy-two  years,  four  months  and  fifteen  days. 
Eight  of  his  brothers  and  sisters  survived  him:  Rev.  E.  S.  Eyerly,  of  Nor- 
tonville,  Kansas;  D.  H.,  of  Hershey,  Nebraska;  Harlan,  of  North  Loup,  Ne- 


JOSIAH  B.  EYERLY 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  689 

braska;  George  W.,  of  Winterset,  Iowa;  Mrs.  J.  H.  LaPella,  of  Earlham, 
Iowa:  Mrs.  Alice  Ferrin.  of  W'elmore,  Kansas;  Mrs.  Hattie  Gamble,  of 
Oklahoma,  and  :\Irs.  Mollie  Low,  of  Stuart,  Iowa. 

The  parents  of  Josiah  Eyerly  came  to  Keokuk  county.  Iowa,  in  1845, 
where  they  resided  on  a  farm  until  1855.  when  they  moved  to  Monroe.  Jasper 
county,  and  their  son.  not  then  twenty-one.  came  with  them.  For  a  time  he 
served  as  postmaster  at  Monroe,  during  the  first  year  of  the  war.  In  1861, 
when  the  third  company  was  organized  in  Jasper  county,  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  under  Capt.  Thomas  H.  Miller,  in  Company  B.  Thirteenth  Iowa  \'ol- 
unteer  Infantry.  He  was  soon  promoted  to  sergeant,  and  in  April.  1862.  was 
made  sergeant-major  of  his  regiment,  on  May  28th  of  the  same  year  being 
commissioned  as  first  lieutenant  of  his  company.  For  more  than  three  vears  he 
served  gallantly  in  the  army,  always  doing  his  duty  as  a  soldier  and  an  ofiicer. 
and  taking  part  in  many  of  the  hardest  engagements  of  the  war.  On  Novem- 
ber I,  1864,  he  was  mustered  out.  and  he  then  spent  nearly  a  year  in  the  service 
of  the  government  in  reconstruction  work.     He  then  returned  to  his  home. 

In  1865  Mr.  Eyerly  was  elected  treasurer  of  Jasper  county,  on  the  Re- 
publican ticket,  and  served  for  two  terms,  with  a  high  record  for  efficiency. 
He  moved  to  Xewton  when  his  term  commenced.  On  October  i,  1867,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Charlotte  Piper,  who  died  on  Februarv  26.  1878. 
leaving  one  son.  William  Eyerly.  now  living  in  Xewton.  On  the  27th  of 
August.  1879,  he  was  married  to  Zerua  Townsend.  who  died  on  April  24. 
1886.  On  September  24.  1889.  he  was  married  to  Celia  Grandrath.  who  bore 
to  him  four  sons.  Joe  G.,  Fred  S..  Frank  R.  and  John  B..  all  living. 

After  retiring  from  the  county  treasurer's  office  in  1889.  Mr.  Eyerly 
remained  in  Xewton.  and  for  a  time  was  engaged  in  banking,  then  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  served  as  city  clerk.  After  retiring  from  this  latter  office  he 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  business.  In  all  his  operations  he  was  successful, 
and  was  in  all  his  dealings  actuated  by  the  highest  honesty  and  uprightness, 
which  gained  for  him  the  full  confidence  of  the  people.  To  him  the  word 
friend  had  a  sacred  meaning,  and  to  any  one  whom  he  called  by  that  name  he 
gave  the  highest  devotion  and  was  loyal  to  him  at  whatever  cost.  But  admir- 
able as  were  the  characteristics  which  this  man  showed  in  his  more  public 
life,  in  his  home  the  best  qualities  of  his  heart  and  soul  were  most  manifest, 
in  the  tender  love  and  care  which  he  gave  to  his  wife  and  children,  whom  he 
almost  idolized  and  who  returned  his  affection  in  like  degree.  Tmly  they 
suffered  a  great  loss  when  this  best  of  husbands  and  fathers  was  taken  from 
them,  but  thev  hope  to  meet  him  hereafter  and  to  renew  their  old  association 
where  parting  shall  be  no  more. 
(44) 


690  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Mr.  Eyerly  was  a  lo}al  ^[ason,  being  a  meml)er  of  all  the  degrees  from 
the  blue  lodge  to  the  commandery,  and  in  his  life  he  exemplified  the  noble 
principles  of  that  order.  He  was  one  of  Newton's  men  of  influence,  and  that 
influence  was  always  exerted  on  the  side  of  right  and  justice.  Generous  to  a 
fault,  he  always  responded  freely  and  bounteously  to  the  appeals  of  the  needy. 
In  his  life  he  left  a  high  example  and  manly  fortitude  and  virtue  to  his  sons, 
and  even  better  than  the  heritage  of  wealth  which  he  left  them  is  the  heritage 
of  the  memorv  of  his  noble  character. 


FRED  C  ANDREAS,  JR. 

The  eveiyday  life,  with  its  cares,  necessities  and  duties,  aft"ords  ample 
opportunities  for  acquiring  experience  of  the  best  kind  and  its  most  beaten 
paths  provide  a  true  worker  with  abundant  scope  for  effort  and  improve- 
ment. This  fact  was  recognized  early  in  life  by  Fred  C.  Andreas,  Jr.,  one  of 
the  enterprising  and  esteemed  citizens  of  Sully,  Jasper  county,  who  seized 
the  small  opportunities  which  he  encountered  on  the  rugged  hill  that  leads  to 
life's  lofty  summit  where  lies  the  ultimate  goal  of  success,  never  attained 
by  the  weak,  inactive  and  ambitionless.  Mr.  Andreas  is  carrying  on  the 
Bank  of  Sully  with  that  discretion  and  energ}^  which  are  sure  to  find  their 
natural  sequence  in  definite  success,  and  in  such  a  man  there  is  particular 
satisfaction  in  offering  in  his  life  history  justification  for  the  compilation  ot 
works  of  this  character. 

Mr.  Andreas  was  born  in  Elk  Creek  township,  Jasper  county,  on  De- 
cember 20.  1875.  He  is  the  son  of  Fred  C,  Sr.,  and  Mina  (Castorf)  An- 
dreas, both  natives  of  Germany,  the  father  born  on  April  i,  1843,  ^^^^  the 
mother  on  June  23,  1848.  The  maternal  grandparents  of  the  subject  were 
Charles  and  Anna  (Wass)  Castorf,  natives  of  Germany,  where  they  grew 
up  and  married  and  from  which  country  they  emigrated  to  America  in 
1858,  locating  in  Jasper  county.  Frederick  and  Sophia  (Rohrdanz)  Andreas 
were  the  paternal  grandparents  of  our  subject. 

Fred  C.  Andreas,  Sr.,  grew  up  in  Germany  and  there  learned  the  black- 
smith's trade.  In  1857  the  family  emigrated  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  the 
grandfather  buying  a  farm  in  Elk  Creek  township,  where  he  lived  until  his 
death.  He  gave  his  son,  Fred  C,  the  father  of  the  immediate  subject  of 
this  sketch,  eighty  acres  of  land  here,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  he,  being  the 
eldest  son,  had  helped  his  father  since  a  small  boy.  Fred  C,  senior,  kept 
adding  to  his  farm  until  he  had  five  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  valuable  land 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  69 1 

at  the  time  of  his  death,  on  March  i8,  191 1,  and  he  was  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  of  the  township  and  one  of  its  most  highly  respected  citizens.  He 
took  an  active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  served 
his  township  very  ably  as  trustee  and  he  was  treasurer  of  the  independent 
school  district.  He  was  reared  in  the  German  Lutheran  church,  from  which 
faith  he  never  departed.  His  widow  is  still  living  on  the  home  place.  The 
parents  of  the  subject  were  married  on  January  11,  1868.  This  union  re- 
sulted in  the  birth  of  three  sons  and  seven  daughters,  namely :  Mrs.  Emma 
Rohrdanz,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Kling,  :\Irs.  Ella  Sherman,  ]Mrs.  Martha  Schnell,  Fred 
C,  William  J.,  Mrs.  Cora  Talbot,  Frank,  Mrs.  Mar}-  Watts  and  Stella. 

Fred  C.  Andreas,  Jr.,  grew  up  in  his  native  community  and  he  attended 
the  district  schools  in  Elk  Creek  township.  When  only  about  twelve  years 
of  age  he  began  driving  a  team  on  the  home  farm  and  assisting  with  the 
general  work  on  the  same.  \\'hen  twenty-two  years  old  his  father  gave  him 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  just  west  of  the  home  place  and  here  the 
subject  resided  until  March  i,  19 12,  when  he  moved  to  his  commodious 
home  in  Sully  and  took  active  management  of  the  Bank  of  Sully,  of  which 
he  has  been  president  since  March  i,  191 1.  He  had  the  farm  under  ex- 
cellent improvements  and  in  1905  built  a  commodious  and  pleasant  dwelling. 
In  connection  with  general  farming  he  fed  large  numbers  of  hogs  and  bred 
and  raised  Xorman  horses  of  such  a  fine  quality  that  they  always  found  a 
very  ready  market. 

Mr.  Andreas  is  a  Democrat  politically  and  he  has  served  as  township 
clerk  for  four  years  and  as  assessor  for  two  years,  giving  eminent  satis- 
faction in  each.     He  belongs  to  the  German  Lutheran  church. 

Mr.  Andreas  was  married  on  January  10,  1900,  to  Amelia  Marie 
Schnell,  who  was  born  in  Buena  Vista  township,  this  county,  on  April  5,  1877. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  August  Schnell  and  wife,  a  highly  respected  family. 
One  child  has  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andreas,  Percy  Lee,  who  died  when 
six  months  old. 

Mr.  Andreas  is  a  man  of  excellent  business  qualifications  and  he  has 
succeeded  in  whatever  he  has  turned  his  attention  to,  being  a  man  of  sound 
judgment  and  wise  foresight,  and  he  is  one  of  the  well  known  financiers  of 
Jiis  township,  being  president  of  the  Bank  of  Sully,  to  which  position  he 
succeeded  in  191 1.  upon  the  death  of  his  father  (who  had  been  president  of 
the  bank  for  four  vears  preceding  his  death),  and  the  duties  of  which 
he  has  discharged  with  a  fidelity  and  ability  which  reflects  much  credit 
upon  himself  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  stockholders  and  patrons  of 
the  bank.  Personally,  he  is  a  very  pleasing  gentleman  to  know,  cultured, 
well  informed,  genial  and  honorable  in  all  the  relations  of  life. 


692  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

HARRY  D.  TERPSTRA. 

To  a  great  extent  the  prosperity  of  the  agricultural  sections  of  our 
great  country  is  due  to  the  honest  industr)',  the  sturdy  perseverance  and  the 
wise  economy  which  so  prominently  characterizes  the  foreign  element,  both 
those  who  have  come  direct  from  the  European  nations  and  their  American- 
born  children.  All  will  agree,  after  so  much  as  a  mere  cursory  glance  over 
our  forty-eight  states,  that  they  have  entered  very  largely  into  our  popu- 
lation. By  comparison  with  their  "old  country"  surroundings  these  people 
have  readily  recognized  the  fact  that  in  the  United  States  lie  the  greatest  op- 
portunities for  the  man  of  ambition  and  energy.  And  because  of  this  many 
have  broken  the  ties  of  home  and  native  land  and  have  entered  earnestly 
upon  the  task  of  gaining  in  the  new  world  a  home  and  a  competence.  Among 
this  class  may  be  mentioned  the  Terpstra  family,  of  whom  Harry  D.,  a 
farmer  of  Elk  Creek  township,  is  a  worthy  representative;  but  he,  being  of 
the  first  generation  in  America,  had  the  good  fortune  of  being  born  here, 
thus  avoiding  many  of  the  trials  of  his  father,  who  had  to  master  our 
language,  get  acquainted  with  our  strange  customs  and  be  assimilated,  as  it 
were,   into  our  civilization. 

Harry  D.  Terpstra  was  born  in  Elk  Creek  township,  Jasper  county, 
September  11,  1873,  near  Kellogg,  and  there  he  spent  his  boyhood  and  at- 
tended the  McKinney  district  school.  He  is  the  son  of  Dow  W.  and  Rosa 
(Napjus)  Terpstra.  both  born  in  Friesland,  Holland,  the  father  on  June 
II,  1842,  and  the  mother  on  September  23,  1848.  The  latter  came  to 
America  with  her  parents,  John  and  Rosa  (Plantenga)  Napjus.  and  they 
established  their  home  near  Red  Rock,  Marion  county,  Iowa,  in  1856  and 
there  became  well  known.  Dow  W.  Terpstra  \vas  the  son  of  Watson  and 
Sietska  (Zuidma)  Terpstra,  both  born  in  Holland.  The  paternal  grand- 
parents of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in 
1850,  and  located  in  Lancaster,  New  York,  and  there  they  remained  five 
years  engaged  in  farm  work,  then  the  family  emigrated  west,  settling  in 
Marion  county,  Iowa,  when  that  country  was  receiving  its  horde  of  settlers 
from  the  Empire  and  other  Eastern  states.  Watson  Terpstra  became  the 
owner  of  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Marion  county  which  he  developed  into 
a  good  farm.  His  eldest  son,  Dow  W.,  began  to  work  on  the  place  when  but 
a  mere  lad  and  there  he  grew  up  and  married,  later,  in  i86g,  uKn-ing  to 
Jasper  county,  this. state,  and  here  bought  eighty  acres  near  the  hamlet  of 
Killduff.     Later  he  traded  this   for  one  hundred  and  twentv  acres  in   Elk 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  693 

Creek  township.  Here  he  prospered  and  finally  became  the  owner  of  four 
hundred  and  fifty  acres.  He  farmed  on  a  large  scale  and  was  an  extensive 
cattle  feeder  and  stock  dealer.  Accumulating  a  competency,  he  and  his 
faithful  life  companion  moved  to  the  town  of  Sully  in  1905  and  retired  from 
active  life,  living  there  until  his  death,  on  July ..11,.  1906,  after  a  successful 
and  well  spent  life,  during  which  he  gained  the  respect  of  all  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact  by  reason  of  his  model  characteristics.  Mrs.  Terpstra 
now  lives  on  part  of  the  home  place.  The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  prominent  in  the  public  affairs  of  his  community.  He  was  a  Democrat 
and  in  religious  matters  supported  the  Reform  Dutch  church. 

Dow  W.  Terpstra  and  Rosa  Xapjus  were  married  on  February  14,  1867, 
and  to  this  union  eight  children  were  born,  named  as  follows :  Watson 
\'alentine,  John  X.,  Mrs.  Sietsk  George,  of  Xorth  Dakota;  Harry  D.,  of 
this  sketch;  Albert  L.,  Mrs.  Rosa  Dick,  Mrs.  Yetta  Romans  and  Martin. 

Dow  W.  Terpstra  was  a  true  pioneer,  locating  here  in  the  days  of  the 
wild  prairie  which  he  saw  transformed  into  a  rich  agricultural  region,  taking 
a  conspicuous  part  in  the  same. 

Harry  D.  Terpstra,  of  this  sketch,  early  in  life  knew  the  meaning  of 
hard  work,  starting  to  drive  a  team  when  only  fourteen  years  of  age.  When 
twenty-one  he  began  life  for  himself,  and  he  remained  under  his  parental 
roof-tree,  working  for  his  father  until  1898,  then  moved  to  Sully  and  con- 
ducted a  livery  barn  there  for  two  years. 

On  November  22,  1900,  he  was  married,  and  at  that  time  he  moved  to 
Colfax  where  he  opened  a  restaurant  which  he  ran  for  six  months,  then 
moved  on  one  of  the  farms  owned  by  his  father-in-law  in  Palo  Alto  town- 
ship, w^hich  he  rented  for  two  years.  In  1903  he  moved  on  one  of  his 
father's  farms  in  Elk  Creek  township,  where  he  rented  for  five  years.  In 
1908  he  moved  on  part  of  the  old  farm  which  he  had  previously  bought. 
This  excellent  farm,  which  consists  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  has  been 
kept  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  improvement  by  him  and  here  he 
has  met  with  encouraging  success  as  a  general  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  He 
feeds  four  or  five  car  loads  of  cattle  annually,  no  small  part  of  his  income 
being  derived  from  this  source. 

Politically.  Mr.  Terpstra  is  a  Republican,  and  while  he  takes  an  abiding 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  communty,  he  is  not  a  seeker  after  public  favors, 
preferring  to  devote  his  attention  to  his  farm  and  stock. 

On  November  22,  1900.  Mr.  Terpstra  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Augusta  L.  Brodersen,  who  was  born  on  February  26,  1874,  m  Palo  Alto 
township,  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  and  here  she  grew  to  womanhood  and  was 


i 


094  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

educated  in  the  common  schools.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Peter  and  Caroline 
(Wulf)  Brodersen,  the  father  born  on  February  20,  1842,  in  Schleswig- 
Holstein,  Germany,  which  province  was  formerly  a  part  of  Denmark.  The 
mother  was  born  on  March  11,  1848,  at  Ratzwig,  Germany.  Mr.  Brodersen 
spent  his  boyhood  in  his  native  land  and  in  1865  he  emigrated  to  Da\enport, 
Iowa,  and  three  years  later  he  came  to  Jasper  county,  locating  in  Palo  Alto 
township.  Mrs.  Brodersen  came  to  Newton,  Iowa,  in  1868  and  she  and  Mr. 
Broderson  were  married  on  December  17,  1869.  They  are  now  living  in  sec- 
tion 34,  Palo  Alto  township,  where  they  have  a  pleasant  home.  The  following 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harr)-  D.  Terpstra :  Leslie  Dow, 
born  December  27,  1901 ;  Leah  Irene,  born  November  11,  1903. 

Mr.  Terpstra  is  one  of  the  best  informed  men  and  one  of  the  most  pro- 
gressive citizens  of  his  locality,  keeping  well  abreast  of  the  times  and  keep- 
ing his  home  well  supplied  with  good  current  literature.  He  believes  in 
adopting  the  most  modern  methods  of  agriculture,  farms  on  the  "intensive" 
plan  and  therefore  gets  the  largest  returns  for  the  least  outlay  of  labor.  He 
is  an  excellent  example  of  the  thrifty  second  generation  of  Hollanders  in 
the  United  States,  and  he  has  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  who  know 
him,  being  a  man  who  believes  in  following  as  far  as  possible,  in  his  daily 
life,  the  Golden  Rule. 


BERT  A.  ROMANS. 


One  of  the  most  active,  enterprising  and  thoroughgoing  young  farmers 
of  Elk  Creek  township,  Jasper  county,  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch.  Bert  A.  Romans  comes  of  a  family  that  settled  on  the 
wild  Iowa  plains  when  the  Indians  still  roamed  at  will  and  the  howl  or  the 
wolf  and  scream  of  the  wild  fowl  were  still  heard.  Members  of  both  sides 
of  the  house  were  adventurous  and  enterprising  and  cared  little  for  hardships, 
at  least  they  did  not  permit  obstacles  to  thwart  them  in  their  efforts  at 
establishing  new  homes  in  new  countries.  Thus  persevering,  they  succeeded 
where  the  less  courageous  failed  and  became  well  established  and  useful 
citizens.  Many  of  their  praiseworthy  traits  seem  to  have  been  inherited  by 
the  subject,  for  he  has  met  with  success  in  material  things  and  has  at  the 
same  time  won  a  reputation  for  fair  dealing  and  straightforward,  honest 
relations  with  all  the  world. 

Mr.  Romans  was  born  in  Elk  Creek  township,  this  county,  on  January 
16,  1878.     He  is  the  son  of  Asbury  D.  and  Mary  A.  (Wood)   Romans,  the 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  695 

father  born  in  Illinois  on  Deceml^er  30,  1839,  and  the  mother  in  Kosciusko 
county,  Indiana,  on  February  2,  1841.  The  maternal  grandparents  of  the 
subject  were  Eli  and  Elizabeth  (Carr)  Wood,  both  natives  of  Ohio,  where 
they  grew  up  and  were  married,  and  from  that  state  they  moved  to  Indiana, 
soon  after  their  marriage,  locating  in  Kosciusko  county,  where  Mr.  Wood 
became  owner  of  a  farm.  It  was  in  1856  that  the  mother  of  the  subject  and 
her  parents  drove  overland  from  Indiana  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  with  horses 
and  wagons,  arriving  here  in  June  of  that  year,  their  trip  having  been  much 
pleasanter  than  those  of  other  eastern  pioneers  to  this  country.  There  were 
several  families  in  the  party  and  a  number  of  young  people.  The  weather 
was  most  propitious  and  they  all  enjoyed  the  camping  out.  Grandfather 
Wood  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Fairview  township,  this  county, 
and  there  he  lived  until  his  death,  having  developed  a  good  farm.  He  and 
his  wife  were  devoted  members  of  the  :Methodist  Episcopal  church.  They 
were  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  five  sons  and  seven  daughters,  the 
mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  having  been  the  tenth  in  order  of  birth. 
She  attended  school  in  Indiana  and  grew  to  girlhood  there.  Her  mother 
being  in  poor  health,  ^Mar}-  A.  took  charge  of  the  household  work  when  but 
a  child,  her  older  sisters  having  left  home  upon  their  marriage. 

Mr.  and  Airs.  Asbur}-  D.  Romans  were  married  on  February  5,  1865, 
and  they  moved  on  the  farm  where  the  mother  of  the  subject  now  lives  in 
Elk  Creek  township,  in  1869.  Eight  children  were  born  to  them.  Bert  A., 
of  this  sketch,  being  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth,  the  others  being  named  as 
follows :  Mrs.  Mehala  Carney ;  Wallace  lives  in  Mitchellville,  Iowa ;  Frank, 
who  was  next  in  order ;  ]^Irs.  Jessie  Butin,  living  in  South  Dakota ;  Mrs.  Laura 
Efnor  lives  in  Newton,  Iowa;  Mrs.  Edna  Whiteman  lives  in  South  Dakota; 
Ora  is  deceased. 

Bert  A.  Romans  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and  when  but  a  small  lad 
assisted  with  the  work  during  the  crop  seasons,  attending  school  in  the 
Pleasant  View  district.  When  twenty-one  years  old  he  began  renting  farms 
in  Elk  Creek  township,  thereby  getting  a  start.  In  1907  he  rented  land  of 
Morris  Gating  in  this  township,  and  this  he  still  operates,  in  connection  with 
eighty  acres  which  he  owns  near  by,  just  north  of  Galesburg.  He  is  an 
extensive  hog  feeder.  Politically,  he  is  a  Republican  and  he  belongs  to  the 
blue  lodge  of  Masons. 

Mr.  Romans  was  married  on  September  21.  1906.  to  Yetta  Terpstra, 
who  was  bora  and  reared  in  this  county.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Dow  W. 
and  Rosa  (Napjus)  Terpstra,  both  natives  of  Friesland,  Holland,  the  father 
born  on  June  11,   1842,  and  the  latter  on  September  23,   1848,  and  when 


696  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

eight  years  of  age  the  latter  emigrated  to  the  United  States  with  her  parents, 
John  and  Rosa  (Plantenga)  Napjus,  who  located  in  Marion  county,  Iowa, 
where  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Romans  grew  up  and  went  to  school,  and  in  1869 
she  and  Mr.  Terpstra  were  married.  Dow  W.  Terpstra  was  the  son  of 
Watson  and  Sietska  (Zuidma)  Terpstra,  natives  of  Holland,  from  which 
country  they  emigrated  to  the  state  of  New  York  in  1850,  where  they  lived 
five  years,  then  came  to  Marion  county,  Iowa,  obtained  raw  land  and  on  this 
Dow  W.  grew  up  and  worked  hard.  After  his  marriage  he  came  to  Jasper 
county  and  bought  eighty  acres,  which  he  later  traded  for  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  in  Elk  Creek  township  and  here  became  a  substantial,  well 
known  citizen,  owning  four  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  and  for  years  he  was  one 
of  the  largest  cattle  feeders  on  the  county.  Retiring  from  active  life  in 
1905,  he  moved  to  Sully,  this  county,  and  there  his  death  occurred  on  July 
II,   1906.     His  widow  is  now  living  on  a  part  of  the  old  homestead. 

Mrs.  Romans  is  one  of  a  family  of  eight  children,  the  others  being,  Wat- 
son Valentine;  Mrs.  Sietska  George,  of  North  Dakota;  Harry  D.,  of  Elk 
Creek  township;  Albert  L.,  Mrs.  Rose  Dick  and  Martin. 


GEORGE  HENDRICKS. 

It  makes  a  wonderful  difference  in  a  man's  life  whether  he  earns  his 
property  by  severe  toil  or  by  easy  methods,  or  has  it  bequeathed  to  him  by 
some  industrious  kinsman,  for  our  personal  habits  are  determined  in  no  small 
measure  by  the  manner  in  which  we  become  the  possessor  of  material  things. 
People  of  all  occupations  should  be  thrifty  enough  to  take  care  of  what 
they  have,  no  matter  how  they  obtained  it,  for  they  have  others  to  consider 
— children  who  have  the  right  to  demand  of  their  parents  that  they  save 
the  property  left  to  them  by  ancestors.  Such  is  a  family  inheritance,  which 
no  member  has  the  right  to  dissipate.  One  of  the  thrifty  families  of  Jasper 
county  who  have  been  careful  both  as  to  how  they  secured  their  property  and 
its  retention  is  the  Hendrickses,  of  whom  George,  of  Elk  Creek  township, 
is  a  worthy  representative. 

Mr.  Hendricks  is  a  native  of  the  community  in  which  he  still  resides, 
having  been  born  here  on  November  25,  1874.  Here  he  grew  to  manhood 
and  obtained  his  education  in  the  Brown  district  schools,  and  he  spent  his 
summers  engaged  in  farm  work  for  his  father,  making  a  regular  hand  in  the 
fields  when  only  twelve  years  of  age,  and  the  early  discipline  he  received  has 


JASPER   COUNTY,    IOWA.  697 

been  of  great  benefit  to  him  in  his  subsequent  career.  He  remained  at  home 
until  his  marriage,  on  October  2^,  1901,  then  the  father  deeded  to  the  subject 
eighty-seven  acres  of  the  homestead  and  there  young  Hendricks  established 
himself,  improving  the  place  generally  and  remodeled  the  house.  He  has 
prospered  through  close  application  to  his  work  and  has  since  added  eighty 
acres  in  section  23,  Elk  Creek  township.  In  connection  with  general  farming 
he  pays  special  attention  to  raising  live  stock  and  breeds  Hereford  cattle.  He 
has  a  good  farm  which  he  takes  a  deep  interest  in  and  which  yields  abundant 
han'ests  under  his  management. 

Politically,  Mr.  Hendricks  is  a  Democrat  in  principle.  He  has  been 
justice  of  the  peace  and  treasurer  of  Independence  school  district.  Re- 
ligiously he  belongs  to  the  Lutheran  church. 

Mr.  Hendricks  w^as  married  to  Hattie  Castorf  on  the  date  mentioned 
above.  She  was  born  in  Lynn  Grove  township,  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  May 
8,  1 88 1,  and  here  she  grew  to  womanhood  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  This  union,  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  the  following  children : 
Clifford,  who  died  September  17,  1904,  was  born  on  November  9.  1903; 
Willie  Frederick,  born  January  14,  1906;  Freeman  Charles,  lx)rn  February 
2,  1908;  Bernice,  born  November  22,  191 1. 

For  a  complete  record  of  the  subject's  parents,  Fred  and  Margaret 
(Kling)  Hendricks,  the  reader  is  directed  to  their  sketch  appearing  elsewhere 
in  this  volume. 


FRED  HENDRICKS. 


From  forty  to  sixty  years  ago  it  must  have  been  the  rule  and  not  the 
exception  to  see  farms  in  Jasper  county  in  all  directions  in  various  stages  of 
improvement,  some  in  which  the  log  cabin  stood  on  the  bare  prairie  or  in 
the  little  clearing  of  half  an  acre,  some  with  a  tract  of  from  five  to  twenty 
acres,  newly  broken  and  with  a  hewed  or  rough  bark  house,  perhaps  a  double 
one;  some  with  still  more  acres  upturned  to  the  genial  skies  and  basking  in 
the  life-giving  sunshine.  On  nearly  all  farms  were  to  be  seen  for  years  after 
the  first  work  had  ^been  done  spots  which  the  farmer  thought  it  necessary  to 
avoid  on  account  of  thick,  heavy  stumps,  and  low  wet  places,  needing  drain- 
ao-e  ditches.  Today  a  great  difference  is  noted.  On  all  these  old  fields 
something  is  growing,  the  soil  having  long  ago  been  reclaimed  from  the 
wild.  Fred  Hendricks,  one  of  our  prosperous  and  most  progressive  farmers, 
passed  through  just  such  hardships  and  trying  experiences,  lived  through  the 


698  JASPER    COUNTY^    IOWA. 

early  and  later  periods  of  development  of  Jasper  county  and  he  has  played 
well  his  part  in  the  work  of  transformation,  as  has  many  another  whose 
name  honors  these  pages,  for  no  one  will  deny  that  to  these  hardy,  self- 
sacrificing  pioneers  all  honor  is  due. 

Fred  Hendricks  was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany,  October  i,  1843.  -^^ 
is  the  son  of  John  and  Sophia  (Gamer)  Hendricks,  both  natives  of  Germany, 
the  father  born  in  1805  and  the  mother  in  1800.  The  parents  of  the  subject 
grew  up  and  were  married  in  the  fatherland,  and  there  engaged  in  farming. 
In  1857  these  parents  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  locating  in  Jasper 
county,  Iowa,  where  John  Hendricks  purchased  forty  acres  of  land  and 
here  they  established  the  family  home,  and  here  the  mother  died  in  1864 
while  her  son  Fred,  of  this  sketch,  was  away  in  the  Federal  army.  Fred 
was  the  only  child  by  the  first  marriage  of  John  and  Sophia  Hendricks.  The 
mother  had  been  formerly  married  to  a  Mr.  Price  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  three  children,  namely:  Mrs.  Mary  (Price)  Brandt,  ]\Irs.  Sophia  (Price) 
Brandt,  and  Carl,  who  is  deceased. 

Fred  Hendricks  attended  school  in  Germany  and  for  a  short  time  the 
Jasper  count}^  (Iowa)  schools  and  he  grew  up  on  the  farm,  assisting  his 
father  with  the  general  work  about  the  place.  He  proved  his  loyalty  to  our 
flag  and  the  national  union  by  enlisting  in  our  armies  in  1862,  and  he  served 
faithfully  as  a  private  in  Company  E,  Fortieth  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry, 
for  a  period  of  three  years,  receiving  an  honorable  discharge.  He  returned 
home  from  the  army  and  worked  on  his  father's  place,  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  which  was  later  deeded  to  him  by  his  father,  and  on  this 
the  subject  went  to  work  with  a  will  and  subsequently  added  to  his  original 
holdings  until  he  is  now  the  owner  of  one  of  the  choice  farms  of  the  town- 
ship, consisting  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  which  he  has  kept  well  cul- 
tivated and  placed  under  a  high  state  of  improvements.  This  splendid  place 
is  known  as  "Elk  Valley  Stock  Farm."  Some  time  ago  he  deeded  forty  acres 
to  his  son  George.  He  has  made  a  success  as  a  general  farmer  and  is  now 
well  established. 

Fred  Hendricks  was  married  on  January  i,  1874,  to  Margaret  Kling, 
who  was  born  in  Germany  on  September  12,  1847,  ^"^  there  she  spent  her 
girlhood,  emigrating  to  America  with  her  parents  in  1871.  To  the  subject 
and  wife  two  children  have  been  born,  namely :  George,  born  in  Elk  Creek 
township,  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  November  25,  1874,  is  married  and  engaged 
in  farming  in  this  township;  John,  the  younger  son,  is  living  at  home.  Po- 
litically, Mr.  Hendricks  is  a  Democrat  and  he  belongs  to  the  Lutheran  church. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  699 

WILLIAM  SCHULTZK. 

There  is  a  great  difference  in  this  world  of  ours  as  to  how  we  get  our 
property,  whether  by  small  degrees  and  hard  toil  or  by  suddenly  making  it  in 
one  or  a  few  lucky  ventures  or  even  by  inheriting  it  from  successful  and 
thrifty  ancestors.  It  makes  a  wonderful  difference  in  a  man's  life  also,  whether 
he  earns  his  home  by  severe  toil  or  by  easy  methods  or  secures  it  from  his 
parents.  One  important  fact  will  not  be  disputed,  that  if  a  man  earns  it  by 
hard  knocks  he  is  much  more  likely  to  retain  it  than  if  it  had  been  handed 
down  to  him  by  some  hard-working,  economical  progenitor.  "Come  easy,  go 
easy"  is  literally  true,  and  it  is  not  to  the  credit  of  anyone  that  it  is  so.  One 
of  the  up-to-date  farmers  of  Elk  Creek  township  who  has  made  his  property 
solely  by  hard  licks,  who  was  taught  to  depend  upon  himself  early  in  life  and 
has  therefore  been  independent  and  self-reliant  all  his  life,  is  William  Schultze, 
who  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  August  17,  1858.  He  is  the  son  of 
Henry  and  Tobina  (Lutman)  Schultze,  both  natives  of  Germany,  the  father 
born  in  1829  and  the  mother  in  1828.  There  they  grew  up  and  were  mar- 
ried, in  fact,  spent  their  lives  in  the  fatherland,  never  having  come  to  America. 
The  father  was  a  ship  carpenter  by  trade  and  was  regarded  as  a  very  skilled 
workman.     His  death  occurred  in  1904. 

William  Schultze,  of  this  review,  was  the  oldest  of  a  family  of  five  sons. 
After  attending  school  in  the  community  where  he  spent  his  boyhood,  he 
learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  at  which  he  worked,  hiring  to  various  persons, 
until  1888,  when,  believing  that  greater  opportunities  existed  for  him  in  the 
United  States,  he  set  sail  for  our  shores  and  has  since  been  content  to  make  his 
home  among  us,  much  to  our  mutual  advantage.  He  at  once  took  up  his  resi- 
dence at  Orange  City,  Polk  county,  Iowa,  establishing  a  shop  there,  which  he 
conducted  for  one  year.  Then  he  went  to  ^Missouri,  where  he  spent  nine 
months,  later  worked  in  Chicago  five  months,  then  ran  a  shop  of  his  own  in 
Polk,  Iowa,  coming  to  Sully,  this  state,  a  year  later,  where  he  maintained  a 
blacksmith  shop  until  the  spring  of  1908,  then  turned  his  attention  to  farming, 
having  saved  considerable  money  from  his  earnings  at  the  forge.  He  was 
regarded  wherever  he  worked  as  a  very  skilled  blacksmith  and  always  had 
plenty  of  work.  The  place  he  purchased  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Elk  Creek  township,  Jasper  county,  and  he  moved  thereto  at  once 
and  soon  had  a  good  home  and  the  place  under  good  improvements  and  in  a 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  here  he  still  lives,  being  now  very  comfortably 
established  as  the  result  of  his  long  years  of  hard  and  constant  toil. 


7(X)  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

]\lr.  Schultze  has  never  been  much  of  a  pubhc  man  and  he  adheres  to  no 
poHtical  party,  preferring  to  vote  for  the  best  man  seeking  the  office  within 
the  gift  of  the  people,  irrespective  of  party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Reform  church. 

yii:  Schultze  was  married  on  April  29,  1890,  to  Anna  Van  \'orkum,  who 
was  born  in  Holland,  from  which  country  she  emigrated  to  America  when 
young  and  they  were  married  in  Pella,  Iowa.  To  the  subject  and  wife  have 
been  born  seven  children,  named  as  follows :  Artie,  Henry,  Gilbert,  William. 
Lena,  Adolf  and  Jennetta. 


HENRY  F.  PAHRE. 


The  agricultural  interests  of  Elk  Creek  township,  Jasper  county,  is  well 
represented  by  Henry  F.  Pahre,  one  of  our  most  typical  twentieth-century 
farmers,  enterprising  and  progressive.  His  thorough  system  of  tillage,  the  well- 
cared-for  condition  of  his  fields,  the  excellent  order  of  his  dealings  and  fences, 
demonstrate  his  successful  management  and  substantial  thrift.  In  the  commun- 
ity where  he  has  spent  his  life  he  has  maintained  a  very  high  place  in  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  his  many  neighbors  and  friends,  being  regarded  as  a 
representative  citizen  in  every  relation  of  life,  discharging  every  duty  de- 
volving upon  him  with  commendable  fidelity  and  proving  himself  worthy  the 
large  respect  with  which  he  is  treated  by  all  who  know  him.  He  has  alwayj 
been  interested  in  whatever  tends  to  promote  the  prosperity  of  his  township 
and  county  and  to  him  as  much  as  to  any  one  man  is  the  community  indebted 
for  the  material  development  for  which  it  has  long  been  noted.  He  has  also 
used  his  influence  in  behalf  of  all  moral  and  benevolent  enterprises,  being  a 
friend  and  liberal  patron  of  the  church  and  the  school,  believing  these  to  be 
the  most  potential  factors  for  substantial  good  that  the  world  has  ever  known 
or  can  know. 

Mr.  Pahre  was  born  in  Elk  Creek  township,  this  county,  on  July  19, 
1859.  He  is  the  son  of  Ernest  and  Fredrika  (Sanders)  Pahre,  both  natives 
of  Hanover,  Germany,  the  father's  birth  occurring  on  November  i,  1822,  and 
the  mother's  on  February  11,  1823.  They  grew  up  in  their  native  land  and 
there  the  father  received  excellent  educational  advantages,  his  parents  desiring 
that  he  follow  the  ministry,  but  it  seems  that  he  did  not  take  any  too  kindly  to 
this  idea>  and  left  college  and  joined  a  colony  of  his  fellow  countrymen  who 
emigrated  to  Quincy,  Illinois,  about  185 1.  Among  this  number  was  Fredrika 
Sanders  and  she  and  Ernest  Pahre  were  married  in  1851,  the  first  year  of 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  7OI 

their  stay  in  Illinois,  and  in  1854  they  came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  locating 
in  Elk  Creek  township.  Here  Henry  Frederick  Pahre,  brother  of  the  sub- 
ject's father,  had  located  about  1850,  having  taken  up  government  land,  after 
he  had  served  in  the  Mexican  war.  Then  he  went  back  to  Germany  and 
returned  to  this  country  with  his  father,  the  latter  Iniying  one  hundred  and 
forty-three  acres  upon  his  arrival  in  Jasper  county,  and  here  the  parents  of 
the  subject  established  a  comfortable  home,  became  influential  in  the  commun- 
ity and  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives.  The  father  died  on  September  13,  1897, 
and  the  mother  passed  away  on  March  11,  1906. 

Henry  Pahre,  brother  of  the  subject,  who  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Jasper  county,  became  well  fixed  in  a  material  way  here,  later  adding  eighty 
acres  to  his  original  holdings.  He  broke  the  wild  prairie  and  endured  the 
privations  and  hardships  incident  to  pioneer  life.  When  he  first  came  here 
there  were  deer  in  plenty  and  much  wild  game  of  various  kinds.  Politically, 
he  was  a  Democrat  and  he  served  his  district  as  secretary  of  the  school  board. 
Religiously,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

The  following  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  i\Irs.  Ernest  Pahre:  Louisa, 
Sophia  and  Louis  all  died  in  early  childhood  of  diphtheria,  all  within  two 
weeks;  Henry  F.,  of  this  sketch,  is  the  oldest  living  child;  ]\Irs.  Martha  Rohr- 
danz,  Mrs.  Emma  O'Brien  and  Christina. 

Henry  F.  Pahre,  of  this  sketch,  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and  there 
learned  valuable  lessons  relating  to  the  various  phases  of  agricultural  work  and 
stock  raising.  He  attended  the  Andreas  district  school,  and  when  only  nine 
years  of  age  he  began  driving  a  team  and  assisting  in  the  farm  work  in  a 
general  way.  He  remained  at  home  until  he  was  twenty-five  years  of  age,  then 
bought  sixty  acres.  He  then  worked  his  father's  place  on  the  shares  until 
the  death  of  the  father,  when  the  subject  bought  out  the  other  heirs  and  is 
now  the  owner  of  one  of  the  choice  farms  of  the  township,  consisting  of  two 
hundred  and  eight-three  acres ;  he  has  kept  the  old  place  so  well  tilled,  rotating 
his  crops  and  keeping  the  fields  well  fertilized  so  that  the  soil  has  been  strength- 
ened rather  than  thinned,  and  abundant  harvests  reward  his  annual  toil.  In 
1905  he  built  a  commodious,  attractive  and  substantial  dwelling  and  he  has 
good  outbuildings.  In  connection  with  general  farming  he  raises  and  feeds 
live  stock  in  large  numbers,  especially  hogs. 

As  a  good  and  intelligent  citizen,  Mr.  Pahre  takes  much  interest  in 
political  affairs,  voting  with  the  Democratic  party,  the  principles  of  which  he 
believes  to  be  more  conducive  to  the  country's  good  than  those  of  any  other 
political  organization.  He  has  ably  and  acceptably  served  his  locality  as 
township  assessor   for  a  period  of  eight  years  and  he   was  also   township 


■J02  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

trustee  for  three  terms.    He  is  a  member  and  liberal  supporter  of  the  German 
Lutheran  church. 

On  January  15,  1885,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Henry  F.  Pahre 
and  Catherine  O'Brien,  who  was  born  in  Fulton  county.  Illinois,  on  September 
2,  1864.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Pat  and  Ann  (Cunningham)  O'Brien.  The 
father  was  born  in  Ireland  and  from  that  country  he  emigrated  to  Illinois 
when  a  young  man.  Four  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pahre, 
namely:  Elmer,  born  July  13.  1888;  Lawrence,  born  July  9,  1890;  Edna,  born 
September  21,  1892 ;  Roscoe,  born  September  24,  1895. 


NICHOLAS  LANDMESSER. 

Fame  may  look  to  the  clash  of  resounding  arms  for  its  heroes;  history's 
pages  may  be  filled  with  the  record  of  the  deeds  of  the  so-called  great  who 
have  deluged  the  world  with  blood,  destroyed  kingdoms,  created  dynasties 
and  left  their  names  as  plague  spots  upon  civilization's  escutcheon;  the  poet 
may  embalm  in  deathless  song  the  short  and  simple  annals  of  the  poor;  but 
there  have  been  few  to  sound  the  praise  of  the  brave  and  sturdy  pioneer  who 
among  the  truly  great  and  noble  is  certainly  deserving  of  at  least  a  little  space 
in  the  category  of  the  immortals.  To  him  more  than  to  any  other  is  civiliza- 
tion indebted  for  the  brightest  jewel  in  its  diadem,  for  it  was  he  who  blazed  the 
way  and  acted  as  a  vanguard  for  the  mighty  army  of  progress  that  within  the 
last  seventy-five  years  has  conquered  the  wilderness,  upturned  the  wild  sods 
of  the  plains,  and  transformed  them  into  one  of  the  fairest  and  most  enlight- 
ened of  the  American  commonwealth's  fair  domains.  They  seem  to  have  had 
the  sagacity  to  foresee  the  present  opulent  state  of  Iowa,  having  had,  in  some 
occult  manner,  been  able  to  discern  the  future  of  this  singularly  favored  sec- 
tion of  the  great  Middle  West. 

One  of  these  honored  early  settlers  is  Nicholas  Landmesser,  a  venerable 
agriculturist  of  Elk  Creek  township,  Jasper  county.  He  was  born  in  Luzerne 
county,  Pennsylvania,  December  27,  1835,  and  he  is  the  son  of  Nicholas,  Sr., 
and  Catherine  (Kriedler)  Landmesser,  the  father  born  near  Saarburg,  on  the 
Rhine,  in  Alsace-Lorraine,  Germany,  formerly  a  part  of  France,  on  Decem- 
ber 5,  181 1.  The  mother  was  born  in  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania,  August 
20,  181 1.  The  father  was  of  a  Huguenot  family  and  they  were  persecuted  by 
the  Catholics  in  their  native  land.  The  father  was  a  teamster  and  worked  all 
over  western  Germany.  In  the  year  1833  he  emigrated  to  America,  the  tedious 
voyage  requiring  seven  weeks  on  an  old-time  sailing  vessel.     He  was  accom- 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA,  703 

panied  by  a  married  sister  and  brother-in-law  and  an  unmarried  sister — 
Nicholas  and  Louise  Bisch  and  Alary  Landmesser.  The  father  of  the  im- 
mediate subject  of  this  sketch  located  in  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania,  when 
that  country  was  practically  new.  He  found  employment  first  in  digging 
canals,  later  worked  in  coal  mines.  He  remained  in  the  old  Keystone  state 
many  years,  but  not  getting  the  start  he  had  anticipated  he  emigrated  with  his 
family  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  in  1854.  They  came  to  Chicago  by  train  and 
made  the  rest  of  the  journey  in  a  wagon,  buying  a  team  in  the  city  by  the  lake. 
Here  the  elder  Landmesser  purchased  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Elk 
Creek  township,  to  which  he  later  added  seventy  acres.  He  prospered  in  the 
new  country  through  hard,  persistent  labor  and  good  management  and  become 
one  of  the  substantial  and  well  known  men  of  his  community.  He  was  school 
director  and  active  in  Democratic  politics.  He  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the 
German  Lutheran  church  and  he  remained  a  supporter  of  the  same  to  the  end, 
his  death  occurring  on  March  4,  1879,  his  widow  surviving  only  a  few  months, 
she  having  joined  him  in  the  Silent  Land  on  November  ist  of  the  same  year. 

There  were  eight  children  in  the  Landmesser  family,  named  as  follows : 
George,  Daniel,  Louis,  Henry,  Peter  and  Nicholas,  of  this  sketch;  Louise  is 
deceased  and  two  children  died  in  infancy,  the  subject  having  been  the  oldest 
of  the  family. 

Nicholas  Landmesser,  Jr.,  had  to  work  hard  when  a  boy,  assisting  his 
father  care  for  the  younger  members  of  the  family  and  clear  and  develop  the 
home  place,  in  fact,  he  did  a  man's  work  from  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  and  he 
then  began  working  in  tunnels  and  mines.  He  had  little  chance  to  obtain  an 
education,  but  in  later  life  he  made  up  for  this  as  best  he  could  by  home  reading 
and  contact  with  his  fellows.  Thus  he  grew  to  manhood  in  Pennsylvania, 
being  nineteen  years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Jasper  county, 
Iowa,  in  1854,  and  he  continued  to  live  with  them  until  he  was  twenty-six 
years  old,  then  began  renting  land  of  his  father.  He  spent  the  entire  year  of 
1865  breaking  wild  prairie  land,  and  that  fall  he  ran  a  horse-power  threshing 
machine.  In  1865  he  purchased  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres  and  his  father 
bequeathed  forty  acres  to  him,  so  that  he  is  now  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  con- 
sisting of  three  huijdred  and  thirty  acres  in  Elk  Creek  and  Buena  Vista  town- 
ships, which  he  has  kept  well  improved  and  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation 
and  has  met  with  encouraging  success  as  a  general  farmer  and  stock  raiser 
all  along  the  line.  For  some  time  he  kept  between  thirty  and  forty  cows, 
running  a  dairy  for  butter,  of  which  he  made  a  success,  later  sold  the  cream 
and  shipped  it  to  Chicago.  He  is  one  of  the  most  widely  known  threshers  in 
this  section,  having  owned  and  operated  a  threshing  machine  for  the  past  forty 


-04  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

years.  He  keeps  full-blooded  Polled-Angus  cattle,  and,  being  a  good  judge 
of  live  stock,  he  has  met  with  more  than  ordinary  success  in  this  field  of  en- 
deavor. 

Mr.  Landmesser  is  a  stanch  Democrat  and  has  long  been  active  in  the 
affairs  of  his  community,  his  support  always  going  to  such  measures  as  make 
for  the  general  development  of  the  same.  He  has  been  township  supervisor  for 
one  term. 

Mr.  Landmesser  was  married  on  January  13,  1858,  to  Louise  Keller, 
who  was  born  in  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  August  18,  1836,  and  there 
she  spent  her  girlhood  days.  She  proved  to  be  a  woman  of  praiseworthy  char- 
acteristics and  a  fit  helpmeet  for  an  enterprising  man  of  affairs.  She  was 
called  to  her  rest  on  January  16,  1910.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Conrad 
Keller  and  wife,  this  family  having  emigrated  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  in 
1856,  thus  being  among  the  pioneers,  like  the  Landmessers. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Landmesser  were  born  eight  children,  named  as  follows  : 
Fred,  deceased;  Charles  Henry  lives  in  Canada;  Richard  lives  on  his  father's 
place  and  assists  in  operating  the  same;  Isadore  lives  in  Galesburg.  this  state; 
Mrs.  Henrietta  Hieman ;  Luther,  Efifie  and  Wright  live  at  home. 

Mr.  Landmesser  is  a  well  preserved  man  for  his  years,  hale  and  active. 
Personally,  he  is  a  man  of  positive  ideas  and  has  the  courage  of  his  convic- 
tions. By  a  judicious  daily  life  he  has  won  the  confidence  and  good  will  of 
all  who  know  him. 


GEORGE  HEWS. 


Standing  for  upright  manhood  and  progressive  citizenship,  George  Hews, 
of  Xewton,  one  of  our  honored  defenders  of  the  national  union  during  the 
great  Rebellion,  occupies  a  conspicuous  place,  being  widely  known  in  the  lo- 
cality of  which  this  history  deals,  and  his  influence  in  e\ery  relation  of  life 
has  made  for  the  material  advancement  of  the  community  which  he  has  so  long 
honored  by  his  citizenship  and  the  moral  welfare  of  those  with  whom  he  has 
been  brought  into  contact.  He  is  descended  from  a  sterling  pioneer  family 
of  the  Prairie  state,  and  he  himself  was  born  in  Illinois  when  that  great  com- 
monwealth was  yet  in  its  infancy  compared  with  its  present  day  glory  indus- 
trially, his  birth  having  occurred  in  Fulton  county  on  December  8,  1842.  He 
is  the  son  of  James  and  Sally  Maria  (Efnor)  Hews,  both  natives  of  the  state 
of  New  York,  in  which  the  father  of  the  former  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits when  that  countrv  was  little  more  than  a  wilderness.     His  familv  con- 


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JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  705 

sisted  of  these  children:  James,  father  of  George  Hews,  of  this  sketch;  Will- 
iam, Henry,  John,  Benjamin,  Abraham,  Anson,  Harriet.  Katherine  and  Caro- 
line, all  of  whom  moved  with  the  family  to  Illinois  and  died  in  that  state,  ex- 
cept the  subject  and  Herrick.  who  was  accidentally  drowned  in  the  state  of 
New  York,  also  Henry  and  John,  who  went  south,  being  at  New  Orleans 
at  the  time  of  the  great  yellow  fever  epidemic  and  they  have  never  since  been 
heard  of,  so  it  is  believed  that  they  died  there  of  that  dread  scourge. 

The  parents  of  these  children  were  married  on  September  30,  1832, 
and  for  a  time  farmed  in  New  York  state,  driving  through  to  Illinois  in  the 
fall  of  1838,  the  journey  requiring  seven  weeks;  they  located  in  Fulton  county 
where  they  bought  land  which  they  farmed  until  1833  ^vhen  they  again  loaded 
up  their  household  effects  and  sought  a  new  country,  moving  to  Jasper  county. 
Iowa,  being  among  the  early  settlers  here,  bringing  two  wagons,  one  driven 
by  a  team  of  horses  and  the  other  by  six  yoke  of  oxen.  There  were  four  chil- 
dren in  the  family ;  the  sons.  George  and  John,  walked  behind  the  wagons  most 
of  the  way  from  Illinois,  driving  their  cows.  The  elder  Hews  bought  eighty 
acres  of  prairie  and  forty  acres  of  timber  in  Elk  Creek  township.  For  this 
and  a  team,  harness  and  a  wagon  he  paid  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars. 
The  family  also  entered  over  two  hundred  acres  of  land  in  different  tracts  in 
that  and  Fairview  township,  the  land  they  thus  entered  having  been  fractional 
tracts  lying  along  the  dividing  lines  of  townships  and  by  the  correction  lines 
were  made  fractional.  Newton  was  a  very  small  place  at  that  time,  in  fact, 
was  little  more  than  a  cluster  of  a  few  log  houses  in  a  brush  patch.  There 
were  no  houses  between  the  Hews  home  and  Pella,  except  along  the  divide. 
Their  friends  warned  against  their  settling  so  far  west  of  them,  saying,  among 
other  things,  that  the  wolves  would  lie  in  their  chimney  corner.  But  the  land 
was  rich  and,  through  hard  work,  a  good  farm  was  de\eloped  and  a  comfort- 
able home  established. 

George  Hews  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and  when  but  a  boy  he  knew 
the  meaning  of  hard  work,  and  he  attended  school  in  a  log  school  house  dur- 
ing the  brief  winter  months,  in  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  There  was  no  school 
in  his  neighborhood  in  Jasper  county  for  some  time  after  the  Hews  family 
came  here ;  finally  the  scattering  neighbors  banded  together  and  erected  a  log 
house  in  which  thev  proposed  to  educate  their  children,  .\lthough  this  was 
located  about  three  and  one-half  miles  from  the  Hews  home,  the  subject  at- 
tended school  there,  walking  to  and  fro  through  all  kinds  of  weather. 

George  Hews  was  the  fifth  child  in  order  of  birth,  but  two  died  in  in- 
fancv  in  New  York;  the  others  are:  John,  who  is  mentioned  elsewhere  in 
this  work :  Theadata  Rosina  married  M.  V.  Saunders,  a  farmer,  but  they  are 

(45) 


7o6  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

ni>\\  ifiired  and  li\e  in  Xewtoii ;  Sarah  Ann  married  Alex.  Snodgrass.  who  is 
now  deceased,  and  she  makes  her  home  in  Xewton. 

lames  Hews,  father  of  the  above  named  chi'dren,  spent  the  rest  of  his 
h'fe  in  tlrs  county,  living  on  his  farm  in  Elk  Creek  township  until  his  death,  on 
February  ih,  1875,  at  the  age  of  sixty-tive,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  1810. 
His  wife,  who  was  born  in  1806,  reached  an  advanced  age,  her  death  occurring 
on  Fel)ruary  2,  1895,  being  eighty-nine  years  old. 

George  Hews  without  reluctance  offered  his  services  to  the  Union  during 
the  great  conflict  l3€tween  the  states,  having  enlisted  on  August  21,  1861,  in 
Company  I,  Tenth  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Captain  Garrett,  Willliam 
H.  Silsby,  first  lieutenant,  and  Steven  Pogue,  second  lieutenant,  the  latter 
later  becoming  captain  and  being  killed  in  the  service.  Mr.  Hews  made  a  most 
faithful  so'dier.  according  to  his  comrades,  and  he  saw  some  hard  service; 
hs  was  present  at  the  boml)ardment  of  Island  No.  10.  and  while  at  that  place 
he  was  wounded  in  the  wrist  l)y  the  accidental  discharge  of  a  gun  just  as  he 
was  going  off  picket  dut}- ;  the  bone  was  shattered  and  the  wrist  has  been  stiff 
ever  since.  Having  been  honorably  discharged  for  disability,  he  returned 
home  and  after  he  had  sutficientl}'  recovered  he  again  took  up  farming.  On 
November  21.  1865.  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Purthenia  L.  Ramsdale, 
who  was  born  near  Saratoga  Springs,  Saratoga  county,  New  York,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Zachariah  and  Elizabeth  (Crawford)  Ramsdale,  the  father  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  the  mother  of  Ireland.  Her  death  occurred  at  the  birth  of 
the  suljject's  wife  November  21,  1845,  leaving  five  children,  the  other  four 
being  John,  who  died  in  the  state  of  New  York;  Mary,  who  married  Edwin 
Face ;  Van  Buren  and  Ziba,  the  latter  three  all  still  living  in  New  York.  By 
a  second  marriage  of  the  father  of  these  children,  one  son,  Frank,  was  born, 
w  ho  is  now  engaged  in  farming. 

Soon  after  the  marriage  of  George  Hews  he  bought  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  in  Palo  Alto  township,  this  county,  and  this  he  still  owns, 
having  brought  it  up  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  improvement.  He 
worked  the  ])lace  continuously  from  1875  till  in  November,  1902,  when,  hav- 
ing accumulated  a  competency,  he  retired  from  active  farming  and  moved  to 
his  pleasant  home  in  Newton,  having  bought  a  good  residence  property  here. 
Fie  is  a  member  of  Garret  Post.  Grand  Ann\-  of  the  Republic,  while  his 
wife  belongs  to  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps,  and  they  are  both  memljers  of  the 
Christian  church.  They  are  the  parents  of  four  children,  Nellie  and  Nettie, 
twins,  the  former  living  at  home,  the  latter  having  died  when  six  years  of 
age :  Albert  is  living  in  Day  county.  South  Dakota,  is  married  and  has  two 
children.  Herald  and  Iva;  William  H.  died  when  nine  years  of  age. 


JASPER    COUNTY.    IOWA. 


WATSOX   \'.\L1l\T1\E  TERPSTRA. 


707 


One  of  the  worthy  citizens  of  Elk  Creek  township,  Jasper  county,  who 
has  long  followed  agricultural  pursuits  is  Watson  \'alentine  Terpstra,  who, 
by  close  application  when  a  boy.  established  those  habits  of  industry  and  fru- 
gality which  insured  his  success  in  later  years.  Only  a  cursory  glance  at  his 
well-tilled  fields,  well-cared-for  buildings  and  fences  and  the  comfortable  build- 
ings on  his  place  is  necessary  to  demonstrate  his  successful  management  and 
the  characteristic  thrift  of  his  family,  for  since  the  pioneer  days  of  this  section 
of  the  Kawkc;  e  state  the  Terpstras  have  been  admired  for  their  enterprise  and 
honesty  In  every  relation  of  life  they  have  been  regarded  as  representative 
citizens,  discharging  every  duty  dexolving  upon  them  with  commendable 
fidelity  and  proving  themselves  worthy  in  e\ery  way  of  the  large  measure  of 
res])ect  with  which  they  have  been  treated  by  all  who  know  them.  Their 
lives  have  been  as  an  open  book,  the  pages  of  which  are  singularly  free  from 
blot  or  blemish,  and  citizens  in  whom  all  classes  have  been  pleased  to  repose 
the  most  implicit  confidence  and  trust,  so  that  we  are  glad  to  give  the  readers 
of  this  work  a  review  of  their  careers,  although  somewhat  brief  and  imperfect. 

Watson  V.  Terpstra  was  born  in  ]\larion  county  Iowa,  on  Eebruary  14. 
1868.  He  is  the  son  of  Dow  \V.  and  Rosa  (  Xapjus)  Terpstra,  both  natives  of 
Friesland,  Holland,  the  father  born  on  June  11,  1842,  and  the  mother  (jn 
September  23.  1848,  and  from  there  they  emigrated  to  .America,  the  mother 
when  she  was  eight  years  of  age.  with  her  parents,  John  and  Rosa  (Plantengaj 
X'apjus:  they  settled  ne;ar  Red  Rock.  ^Marion  county.  Iowa,  in  1856,  where 
they  lived  one  year  and  then  mo\ed  to  Pella.  There  the  mother  of  the 
subject  grew  to  womanhood  and  attended  school,  marrying  Mr.  Terpstra  on 
February  14,  1867.  Dow  W.  Terpstra  was  the  son  of  Watson  and  Sietska 
(Zuidma)  Terpstra.  natives  of  Holland,  who  emigrated  to  .\merica  in  1850 
and  located  in  the  state  of  New  York,  engaging  in  farm  work  there  for  a  peri- 
fi\  e  vears.  then  moved  to  Iowa,  locating  in  Marion  county,  and  there  bought 
eightv  acres  of  land  and  there  the  father  of  the  subject  grew  to  manhood  and 
helped  develop  the  farm  from  the  raw  prairie.  After  his  marriage  he  moved 
to  Jasper  county  in  1869  and  bought  about  eight  acres  of  land  near  Kill- 
duff,  which  he  later  traded  for  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Elk  Creek 
township.  Here  he  worked  hard  and  forged  ahead  and  became  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial and  influential  men  in  his  community,  finally  becoming  the  owner  of 
four  hundred  and  fifty  acres  on  which  he  carried  on  general  farming  and  stock 
raising  on  an  extensive  scale,  being  known  as  one  of  the  largest  cattle  feeders 
in  the  county.     Laying  by  a  competency,  he  retired  from  active  life  in  1905 


708  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

and  he  and  his  good  wife  retired  to  their  pleasant  home  in  Sully,  Iowa,  and 
there  they  continued  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  earlier  years  of  industry  until 
Mr.  Terpstra's  death,  on  July  ii,  1906,  Mrs.  Terpstra  subsequently  returning 
to  the  farm  and  she  is  at  present  li\ing  on  a  portion  of  the  old  homestead. 

Politically,  Dow  \V.  Terpstra  was  a  Democrat  and  he  took  a  great  deal 
of  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  community,  holding  se\eral  local  offices  with 
credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  all  concerned.  He  was  a  man  of  fine 
personal  characteristics,  a  typical  pioneer,  having  found  in  Iowa  a  wild,  new 
country,  and  here  he  bore  the  hardships  and  worked  hard  to  develop  himself- 
and  eventually  wrenched  success  from  a  resisting  nature  and,  passing  from  the 
arena  on  to  his  reward,  left  behind  a  clear  record. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dow  \V.  Terpstra  eight  children  were  born,  named  as 
follows:  Watson  Valentine,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch;  Mrs.  Sietsk 
George,  of  North  Dakota ;  Harry  D.  is  farming  in  Elk  Creek  township,  this 
county;  Albert  L.,  Mrs.  Rose  Dick,  Mrs.  Yetta  Romans,  Martin  and  John. 

When  Watson  V.  Terpstra  was  about  a  year  old  his  parents  moved  to 
Jasper  county  and  here  he  grew  to  manhood  and  received  his  education  in  the 
McKinney  district  school.  W^hen  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age  he  went  to 
Pella,  Iowa,  and,  having  had  a  desire  to  enter  the  mercantile  field,  found  em- 
ployment there  and  learned  the  business,  clerking  in  a  general  merchandise 
store  for  two  years.  But  not  taking  to  this  line  as  kindly  as  he  had  anticipatea, 
he  returned  to  his  father's  farm  and  there  assisted  with  the  general  work  on 
the  same  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  old.  Then  for  two  years  he  clerked  in 
the  store  of  August  Wendt  at  Newton,  Iowa.  Shortly  after  this  he  took  charge 
of  the  clothing  department  in  the  large  department  store  at  Boyden,  Iowa, 
remaining  there  two  years,  giving  his  usual  high  grade  service  and  general 
satisfaction.  Then,  in  1899,  after  having  spent  several  years  in  the  mercantile 
business,  he  traded  his  property  in  Newton  for  a  restaurant  in  Prairie  City, 
in  southwest  Jasper  county,  and  he  lived  there  one  year,  then  traded  his  res- 
taurant for  a  farm  in  Decatur  county,  Iowa.  In  1900  he  began  renting  a 
farm  of  his  father,  a  part  of  the  old  Jonathan  Black  place  and  also  a  part  of 
the  old  Nels  Alloway  place,  Mr.  Alio  way  haxing  been  the  picturesque  charac- 
ter well  known  in  this  part  of  the  state  as  the  mail  carrier  between  Marshall- 
town  and  Newton  before  the  days  of  railroads.  The  subject  still  lives  on  this 
place,  now  owning  eighty  acres  there  on  which  he  is  making  a  very  comfortable 
living,  and  he  also  rents  other  land.  Pie  built  a  new.  commodious  and  con- 
venient dwelling  in  1904  and  he  has  improved  the  place  generally.  He  keeps 
good  live  stock,  making  a  specialty  of  Poland  China  hogs. 

Politically,  Mr.  Terpstra  is  a  Republican  and  an  active  worker  for  his 
party  in  a  Democratic  township,  and  his  influence  always  helps  to  lower  the 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  709 

majorities  of  the  opposing  party,    Fraternally,  he  belongs  to  the  Woodmen  of 
the  World  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Mr.  Terpstra  was  united  in  marriage  in  1892  with  Anna  Luella  Holmes, 
who  was  born  in  Cass  county,  Xebraska,  on  March  5,  1870.  She  is  the 
daughter  of  Frank  T.  and  Hannah  (Dove)  Holmes,  the  father  Ixjrn  in  Cape 
May  county,  New  Jersey,  on  July  7,  1837,  and  he  was  the  son  of  Theophelus 
and  Mary  Holmes,  both  natives  of  New  Jersey,  in  which  state  this  familv 
has  long  been  more  or  less  prominent.  Theophelus  Holmes  was  a  wheel- 
wright by  trade  and  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  was  quartermaster  and 
ship  carpenter  in  the  navy  and  was  regarded  as  a  very  skilled  mechanic  by  the 
department.  Frank  T.  Holmes,  father  of  Mrs.  Terpstra,  grew  up  in  his  native 
state  and  was  educated  there,  and  in  1855  he  came  west  to  Sangamon  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  remained  until  1858.  when  he  went  overland  to  Colorado 
and  worked  in  the  Pike's  Peak  gold  mines  The  Civil  war  coming  on  while 
he  was  in  the  West,  he  enlisted,  in  1861,  in  Company  F,  First  Colorado  Cav- 
alry, and  he  served  very  faithfully  until  October,  1864.  In  1866  he  came  to 
Marion  county,  Iowa,  and  farmed  on  different  rented  lands  until  1876,  when 
he  moved  to  Galesburg,  Elk  Creek  township.  Jasper  county,  and  there  worked 
at  the  carpenter's  trade.  He  is  now  living  in  the  town  of  Galesburg  retired, 
an  aged,  well  kno\\  n  and  highly  respected  pioneer. 

The  following  children  have  been  born  to  Mr  and  ^Irs.  Watson  V. 
Terpstra  :  Ina,  born  September  14.  1893  ;  Blanche,  born  May  15.  1895  ;  Forest, 
born  November  14,  1900;  Harold,  born  January  7,  1903. 

Mr.  Terpstra  is  a  well  informed  man,  having  been  a  student  all  his  life, 
and  his  home  is  well  supplied  with  good  literature.  He  is  a  very  versatile 
man,  speaking  four  languages  fluently.  English,  Dutch.  German  and  I'ries- 
land.  This  accomplishment  has  been  a  big  asset  to  him  in  a  business  way. 
Personallv.  he  is  a  pleasant  gentleman  to  meet,  straightforward  and  genial, 
enjoying  a  reputation  for  fairness  in  all  the  relations  of  life. 


FRED  ROHRD ANZ. 


The  agricultural  interests  of  Elk  Creek  township,  Jasper  county,  are 
ably  represented  by  Fred  Rohrdanz,  who.  during  the  entire  period  since  his 
birth,  Februarv  17,  1859,  has  been  a  resident  and  honored  citizen  of  the 
locality  of  which  this  history  deals.  He  is  a  connecting  link  with  the  pioneer 
period  of  the  history  of  this  section,  this  family  having  been  active  in  the 
affairs  of  the  same  since  the  countv  was  attacked  by  the  seekers  of  new  homes 


J 10  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

from  the  Eastern  states,  something  more  than  a  half  century  ago.  Going  still 
further  back  in  the  family  history,  it  is  learned  that  his  parents  in  an  early 
day  left  the  vine-clad  hills  of  Prussia  and  joined  the  tide  of  emigration  to  the 
free  republic  in  the  western  hemisphere,  for  ihey  realized  that  here  was  to  be 
found  a  land  which  the  poet  Mackay  sang  of  in  the  old  colonial  days  as  a 
"realm  where  the  humblest  may  gather  the  fruits  of  the  soil."  This,  of  course, 
implied  some  outlay  of  physical  labor  on  the  part  of  those  who  would  be 
beneficiaries  of  this  great  storehouse  of  mother  Nature's.  But  this  family 
having  been  used  to  the  hardest  kind  of  labor  in  the  old  country, — labor  which 
had  inadequate  returns, — did  not  shrink  from  the  task  of  clearing  the  wild 
land  here  and  impro\-ing  it,  so  they  have  succeeded. 

Fred  Rohrdanz  grew  to  manhood  on  the  home  farm  and  here  he  at- 
tended the  district  schools  until  he  was  fairly  well  educated.  He  is  the  son 
of  John  J.  and  Mary  (Price)  Rohrdanz,  both  born  in  Prussia,  now^  a  part  of 
Germany,  the  father  on  February  ii,  1825,  and  the  mother  in  the  town  of 
Deemen,  on  January  23,  1829.  There  they  grew  up  and  were  educated  and 
there  the  father  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade.  When  thirty-six  years  of 
age  he  emigrated  to  America,  locating  in  New  York  City,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  for  a  year.  He  then  went  to  Niagara  Falls,  where  he  assisted  in 
building  the  first  suspension  bridge  over  that  noted  cataract.  The  mother 
emigrated  to  New  York  in  her  girlhood  days  and  there  the  parents  of  the 
subject  were  married.  In  1844,  seeking  newer  fields  in  which  to  establish 
their  permanent  home,  they  emigrated  westw^ard  until  they  came  to  Jasper 
county,  Iowa,  where  the  father  purchased  forty  acres  of  land  of  the  govern- 
ment, for  which  he  paid  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  per  acre,  in  Elk 
Creek  township.  The  country  was  new  and  they  had  to  undergo  many  priva- 
tions for  a  time,  but  they  worked  hard,  developed  a  good  farm  and  became 
very  comfortably  established,  the  father  owning  at  the  time  of  his  death  about 
two  hundred  and  thirty-six  acres.  He  was  highly  respected  among  the  pio- 
neers. Politically,  he  was  a  Democrat  and  in  religious  matters  he  belonged  to 
the  German  Lutheran  church.  He  was  a  true  pioneer,  having  come  here  only 
one  year  after  the  first  settler  in  the  county.  There  was  but  one  house  be- 
tween his  and  Newton,  eleven  miles  away,  and  neighbors  were  indeed  very 
few.  He  was  a  splendid  soldier.  ha\ing  served  in  the  (iernian  army  for  a 
period  of  eight  years  and  he  served  gallantly  in  the  Franco-Prussian  war.  His 
death  occurred  on  his  farm  here  on  No\ember  10,  1906.  His  family  con- 
sisted of  two  daughters  and  one  son,  Fred,  of  this  review,  being  the  youngest 
of  the  family;  his  elder  sisters  were,  Mrs.  Christina  Schultz  and  Mrs.  Mary 
Berkenholz. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  7II 

Fred  Rohrdanz  was  a  mere  lad  when  he  began  making  a  hand  in  the 
fields  of  his  father,  plowing  corn  when  twelve  years  of  age.  He  has  devoted 
his  life  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  has  met  with  encouraging  success  ail  along 
the  line,  being  now  the  owner  of  three  hundred  and  nine  acres  of  choice  land 
in  Elk  Creek  township,  which  he  has  placed  under  excellent  improvements 
•and  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  has  a  pleasant  home  and  such  other 
farm  buildings  as  his  needs  require,  and  everything  about  the  place  indicates 
that  a  gentleman  of  good  taste  has  its  management  in  hand.  In  connection 
with  general  farming  he  raises  and  feeds  considerable  live  stock  of  various 
kinds. 

Politically,  Air.  Rohrdanz  is  a  Democrat  and  he  belongs  to  the  Lutheran 
church. 

On  March  19,  1890.  occurred  the  marriage  of  Fred  Rohrdanz  and  Emma 
Andrews.  The  latter  was  born  in  Elk  Creek  township,  Jasper  countv,  on 
November  19,  1868.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Fred  C.  Andrews,  who  came  to 
Jasper  county  in  1857  from  Gennany,  where  he  was  born  on  April  i,  1843. 

The  following  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rohrdanz : 
Letta,  born  February  2,  1893;  Ella,  born  August  4,  1901 ;  Otis,  born  Septem- 
ber 22,  1906;  Wilma,  born  March  27,  1908;  Pearl.  Lulu,  Lily  and  Vera  are 
all  deceased. 


ANDREW  JACKSON  HAYES. 

A  large  number  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Jasper  county  have  passed  to 
their  reward  and  now  rest  from  their  labors,  but  here  and  there  a  scattered 
few  remain,  honorable  heroes  of  a  former  day  and  generation,  l)ent  under 
time's  autograph  indelibl)'  stamped  upon  their  brows,  but  still  sturdy  and  in- 
dependent of  spirit  as  when  in  the  long  ago  they  cut  loose  from  the  moorings 
of  civilization  and  penetrated  the  woods  and  traversed  the  trackless  prairies 
in  search  of  new  homes  and  new  destinies.  Among  those  who  have  borne  an 
active  part  in  the  pioneer  period  of  this  county  is  the  well  known  farmer  of 
Elk  Creek  township  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch,  whom  to  know  is  to 
honor  and  respect.  Andrew  Jackson  Hayes,  a  Buckeye  by  birth,  has  long 
been  one  of  the  highlv  esteemed  citizens  of  the  township  of  his  residence  and 
it  is  with  pleasure  that  the  following  brief  outline  of  his  life  and  achievements 
is  accorded  a  place  in  this  volume  which  is  devoted  to  a  review  of  Jasper's 
representative  men.  That  he  is  one  of  such,  no  one  who  has  known  him  -^ince 
his  residence  began  in  our  midst  nearly  a  half  century  ago.  will  deny. 


y\2  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Mr.  Hayes  was  born  in  Perry  county,  Ohio,  March  30,  1844.  He  is  the 
son  of  Bazel  Cooper  Hayes  and  Mary  Pickeral  Hayes,  the  father  born  in 
Maryland  on  December  25,  1800,  and  the  mother  in  Perry  county,  Ohio.  The 
father  was  young  when  he  came  to  Perry  county^  Ohio,  and  there  they  grew 
up  and  were  married  He  had  hved  in  Baltimore  prior  to  his  leaving  the 
Oriole  state.  He  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade,  which  he  followed  in  con- 
nection with  farming,  but  devoted  the  principal  part  of  his  life  to  the  latter 
pursuit.  It  was  about  1846  or  1847  that  the  Hayes  family  moved  to  Licking 
county.  Ohio,  where  the  father  of  the  subject  purchased  a  farm.  The  mother 
dying  when  the  subject  was  two  and  one-half  years  of  age,  the  father  later 
remarried,  his  second  wife  being  Hannah  Matthews.  The  death  of  Bazel  C. 
Hayes  occurred  in  Ohio  in  1863.  He  was  a  very  radical  Democrat,  but  a 
loyal  supporter  of  the  Union.  Although  he  was  an  admirer  of  Stephen  A. 
Douglas,  he  was  an  abolitionist.  He  and  his  wife  belonged  to  the  Christian 
church.' 

Andrew  J.  Hayes,  of  this  review,  had  two  sisters,  and  two  half-sisters 
and  a  half-brother.  The  subject  is  the  second  child  and,  being  the  oldest  son, 
he  began  assisting  his  father  with  the  general  work  on  the  home  farm  when 
quite  yaung.  and  although  he  was  kept  busy  in  the  fields  the  major  part  of  the 
year,  he  found  time  to  attend  school  in  the  brief  winter  months  in  Licking 
county,  Ohio.  The  schools  being  excellent  for  those  days,  he  became  fairly 
well  educated.  When  twenty  years  of  age  he  hired  to  A.  V.  Cooper  to  drive 
five  hundred  sheep  from  Licking  county,  Ohio,  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa.  That 
was  in  1864.  He  and  his  assistants  were  fifty-two  days  on  the  trip,  which  re- 
Cjuired  considerable  hardship  and  labor.  Mr.  Cooper  owned  considerable  land 
in  Jasper  county.  Being  pleased  with  the  prospect  here,  the  subject  decided 
to  remain,  so  he  continued  to  reside  here  for  two  years,  working  by  the  month. 
He  then  married  and  lived  on  his  father-in-law's  place,  that  of  John  Wheeler. 
In  1 88 1  he  bought  forty  acres  in  Elk  Creek  township  and  has  since  made  it  his 
home.  He  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  a  period  of  sixteen  years, 
filling  this  post  of  duty  in  a  manner  that  stamps  him  as  a  faithful  and  able 
public  servant  and  he  has  given  the  utmost  satisfaction  to  all  concerned.  His 
decisions  have  been  characterized  by  fairness  and  have  seldom  met  with  re- 
versal at  the  hands  of  a  higher  tribunal.  Mr.  Hayes  has  long  been  a  loyal 
supporter  of  the  Democratic  party. 

On  November  14,  1869,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Andrew  J.  Hayes  with 
Emeline  Melissa  Wheeler,  who  was  born  in  McLean  county,  Illinois.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  John  Wheeler,  who  came  to  Jasper  county  in  1856  and  here 
Mrs.  Hayes  spent  her  girlhood  and  attended  the  early  schools  of  the  district 
in  which  the  familv  resided. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  713 

The  following  children  ha\e  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hayes:  Will  B. 
and  Artemissia  are  deceased;  Lee  B.  is  living  in  Newton;  Mrs.  Nellie  Zander- 
man,  Arthur,  Agnes  O. ;  Mrs.  Myrtle  Blacklidge  (of  Waterloo,  Iowa)  and 
Maud,  who  is  now  deceased,  were  twins;  Nina  was  the  voungest  in  order  of 
birth 


JOHN  W.  LUST 


One  of  the  worthiest  young  farmers  and  enterprising  citizens  of  Elk 
Creek  township,  Jasper  county,  is  John  W.  Lust,  who,  never  lured  away  from 
the  pleasant  prairies  of  the  Hawkeye  state  by  the  wanderlust  spirit,  has  been 
content  to  spend  his  life  here  at  home,  and  he  has  succeeded  because  he  early 
grew  familiar  with  the  local  conditions  governing  soils,  crops  and  the  various 
phases  of  the  calling  which  he  has  been  pleased  to  follow.  It  would  seem  that 
he  has  been  thus  wiser  than  so  many  of  his  contemporaries  who  have  in  their 
boyhood  left  the  old  home  and  gone  out  into  other  states  to  seek  their  for- 
tunes where  conditions  and  peoples  are  alike  strange  and  where  so  many  for- 
tunes assume  the  marsh-light  aspect — alluring  to  the  sight,  but  hard  to  grasp 
in  tangible  form. 

Mr.  Lust  was  born  in  this  township  on  June  20,  1878,  and  here  he  grew 
up.  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools,  and  worked  on  the  home 
place  during  his  boyhood  days,  in  fact  he  has  ever  been  identified  with  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  this  vicinity. 

The  subject  is  the  son  of  Riley  and  Amanda  (Pentlerj  Lust,  his  father 
being  a  native  of  Ohio  and  his  mother  of  Indiana.  His  father,  whose  parents 
w^ere  natives  of  Germany,  is  one  of  the  best  known  men  in  all  Jasper  county, 
besides  being  one  of  its  largest  land  owners.  He  is  a  man  who  is  extremely 
modest  regarding  his  achievements  and  he  has  the  respect  of  all  who  know 
him  because  of  the  sturdiness  and  true  worth  of  his  character.  He  is  largely 
interested  in  a  great  number  of  investments  and  enterprises  aside  from  his 
extensive  farm  holdings,  among  others  being  the  implement  business  in  the 
little  city  of  Reasnor.  He  is  also  a  stockholder  and  director  of  the  Reasnor 
Savings  Bank.  He  is  a  man  who  does  not  seek  public  praise,  but  has  always 
stood  ready  to  assist  in  any  way  the  upbuilding  of  his  community  and  to  ser\  e 
his  fellows  in  whatever  capacity  they  called  him.  At  present  he  is  leading  a 
more  or  less  retired  life  in  his  beautiful  and  modern  residence  in  Reasnor. 

Ten  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Riley  Lust,  namely:  Fred  E., 
born  July  22,  1874;  Alfred  T.,  born  March  30,  1876;  John  W.,  of  this  review, 
being  third  in  order  of  birth:  Arthur  J.,  born  September  21,  1880:  Elmer  B., 


714  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

born  February  18,  1883;  Roy  R.,  born  July  4,  1885  ;  Minnie  J.,  born  Septem- 
ber 19,  1887,  is  the  wife  of  Elmer  Mercer,  a  farmer  of  Jasper  county;  Kather- 
ine  S..  born  March  5,  1890,  is  the  wife  of  Carl  Trout,  a  banker  living  in  West 
Grove,  iowa;  Myrtle  M.,  who  is  at  home,  single,  was  born  August  19,  1893; 
Carl  M.,  born  Alay  31,  1896,  is  with  his  parents. 

John  VV.  Lust  attended  the  Sand  Point  district  school  and  the  Newton 
Normal  College  three  winters.  In  1899  he  began  renting  on  the  same  place 
where  he  now  lives,  which  belongs  to  his  father.  He  is  now  successfully  en- 
"aiied  in  farmino'  one  hundred  and  twentv-five  acres. 

Politically,  Air.  Lust  is  a  Republican  and  he  belongs  to  the  blue  lodge  of 
Masons. 

Mr.  Lust  was  married  on  March  3,  1904,  to  Grace  Romans,  who  was 
born  in  Fairview  township,  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  July  16,  1882,  the  daughter 
of  James  M.  Romans,  now  a  resident  of  Grinnell,  Iowa.  He  was  born  in 
Fairview  township,  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  on  July  i,  1855.  He  married  Mary 
Eleanor  McCuen,  who  was  born  in  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  August  23,  1857. 
William  Green  Romans,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Lust,  came  to  Jasper 
county  in  1843,  locating  as  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  on  the  wild  Iowa  prai- 
ries. Mrs.  Lust's  folks  lived  on  the  old  Highland  farm,  on  which  place  the 
first  white  child  was  born  in  Jasper  county,  as  the  Highlands  were  the  first 
settlers  here,  and  Airs.  Lust  grew  to  womanhood  and  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  this  county. 

Air.  Lust  is  a  young  man  of  engaging  personality  and  is  a  man  whom  a 
large  circle  of  acquaintances  delight  to  call  friend. 


JOHN  H.  TOOL. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  worthy  representative  of  one  of  the  oldest 
and  best  known  families  in  Jasper  county  and  since  his  childhood,  which  was 
passed  amid  the  stem  experiences  of  the  pioneer  period,  he  has  been  acti\ely 
identified  with  the  growth  and  development  of  this  locality.  He  has  not  only 
worthily  upheld  an  honored  family  name,  but  has  won  ^  reputation  for  public 
spirit,  honesty  in  politics  and  the  home  and  liis  material  success  is  well  de- 
ser\cfl.  lie  is  tlie  grandson  of  Adam  Tool,  tlie  first  white  settler  in  Jasper 
county. 

John  H.  Tool,  farmer  of  Elk  Creek  township,  was  born  in  Fair\iew 
township,  this  county,  on  Alay  23,  1854.  He  is  the  son  of  James  A.  and 
Sarah  (Fouch)  Tool,  the  father  born  on  June  12,   1825,  in  Virginia,  and  the 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  715 

mother  was  a  native  of  Indiana.  In  an  early  day  the  father  came  to  Fairfield, 
Iowa,  and  from  there  to  Jasper  county.  For  a  complete  history  of  the  Tool 
family  the  reader  is  directed  to  the  sketch  of  Quinn  H.  Tool,  brother  of  the 
subject,  which  appears  in  another  part  of  this  volume 

John  H.  Tool,  of  this  sketch,  grew  to  manhood  on  the  home  farm  and 
when  but  a  boy  he  assisted  with  the  general  work  in  the  fields  and  about  the 
place.  In  the  winter  months  he  attended  school  in  the  Oak  Grove  district, 
and  one  winter  in  the  Monroe  high  school.  He  remained  under  his  parental 
roof-tree  until  he  was  twenty -one  years  of  age,  when  he  bought  sixty  acres, 
where  he  still  resides.  He  has  made  a  good  living  here,  keeping  his  place  well 
cultivated  and  well  impro\ed  and  he  has  a  cozy  home  and  excellent  outbuild- 
ings. By  good  management  and  close  application  to  his  affairs  he  has  jjros- 
pered  and  added  to  his  place  from  time  to  time  until  he  now  owns  four  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  in  Elk  Creek  and  I-^airview  townships.  Good  live  stock 
are  always  to  be  found  in  his  fields  and  everything  about  him  indicates  good 
management. 

Mr.  Tool  was  first  a  Greenbacker  in  his  political  Ix^lief,  and  he  now  votes 
the  Democratic  ticket.  In  religious  matters  lie  belongs  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  takes  much  interest.  He  believes  in  carrying 
his  religion  into  his  every-day  life  and  is  therefore  known  as  a  mild-mannered, 
honorable,  straightforward  gentleman,  eminenth-  deser\ing  of  the  confidence 
and  respect  which  all  freely  accord  him. 

Mr.  Tool  was  married  on  November  6.  1875,  ^^  Rebecca  Wood,  who  was 
born  near  \\'arsaw.  Indiana.  December  2.  1855.  the  daughter  of  Weslev  Wood, 
who  came  to  Jasper  county.  Iowa,  in  1855  and  who  is  now  living  at  Monroe. 
Four  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tool,  namely:  George  A.. 
who  married  Marie  Broderson :  Bernice ;  Clarence  C.  who  married  Dora 
Trout,  and  Lillian. 


ALFRED  T.  LUST. 


Without  searching  for  lineage  in  musty  tomes  or  the  less  satisfactory 
authority  of  tradition,  it  suffices  to  state  in  writing  this  brief  sketch  of  a  prac- 
tical man  and  a  master  of  his  craft,  that  his  progenitors  were  in  the  broadest 
sense  high  and  their  infiuence  salutary  and  whose  characters  and  sterling 
worth  have  been  reproduced  on  their  descendants.  Alfred  Lust,  farmer  of 
Elk  Creek  township.  Jasper  county,  has  shown  himself  to  be  ready  at  all  times 
to  encourage  and  aid  all  laudable  measures  and  enterprises  for  the  general 


yi6  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

good.  By  a  life  consistent  in  motive  and  because  of  his  many  good  qualities 
he  has  earned  the  sincere  regard  of  all  who  know  him,  and  his  success  wdiile 
vet  a  young  man  bespeaks  for  him  continued  advancements  and  a  higher  sphere 
of  usefulness. 

Mr  Lust  was  born  on  the  place  where  he  still  resides  in  this  township,  on 
March  30.  1876,  and  here  he  has  been  content  to  spend  his  life.  He  is  the  son 
of  Riley  and  Amanda  (Pender)  Lust,  a  well  know-n  pioneer  family  of  this 
locality.  The  father  was  born  in  Ohio  and  the  mother  in  Indiana.  The  pa- 
ternal grandparents  were  natives  of  Germany.  Riley  Lust  is  one  of  the  best 
known  and  most  substantial  farmers  in  Jasper  county,  besides  being  one  of  our 
most  extensive  land  owners.  He  is  deserving  of  a  great  deal  of  credit  for 
what  he  ha?  accomplished,  having  hewn  out  his  own  fortune  wdthout  depend- 
ing on  anyone  for  aid ;  however,  he  is  very  modest  regarding  his  achievements, 
being  a  plain,  unassuming  gentleman,  content  to  be  an  unobtrusive  citizen  of 
what  he  considers  one  of  the  very  foremost  localities  of  our  great  sisterhood 
of  states.  He  is  largely  interested  in  a  great  number  of  investments  and  en- 
terprises aside  from  his  extensive  farm  holdings,  among  others  being  the  im- 
plement business  in  the  town  of  Reasnor,  in  which  his  son,  Elmer,  is  a  part- 
ner. He  is  also  a  stockholder  and  director  in  the  Reasnor  Savings  Bank,  and 
has  at  all  times  stood  ready  to  serve  his  township  in  any  capacity.  At  the 
present  writing  he  is  leading  a  practically  retired  life  in  his  beautiful  and 
modernlv  furnished  residence  in  Reasnor.  He  has  the  confidence  and  esteem 
of  all  who  know  him  and  his  character  has  ever  been  above  cavil. 

To  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Riley  Lust  ten  children  have  been  born,  all  still  living, 
namely:  Fred  E  ,  born  July  22,  1874;  Alfred  T.,  subject  of  this  sketch;  John 
W..  born  June  20,  1878;  Arthur  J.,  born  July  4,  1885;  Mamie  J.,  born  Sep- 
tember 19,  1887,  is  the  wife  of  Elmer  Mercer,  a  farmer  of  Jasper  county; 
Katherine  S.,  born  March  5,  1890,  is  the  wife  of  Carl  Trout,  a  banker  residing 
in  West  drove,  Iowa:  Myrtle  M..  born  August  19,  1893,  is  living  at  home; 
Carl  M.,  born  May  31,  1896,  also  lives  at  home;  Elmer  B.,  born  February  18, 
1883,  is  engaged  in  the  implement  business  at  Reasnor,  this  county. 

Alfred  Lust  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and  assisted  with  the  general 
work  about  the  place,  attending  the  Sand  Point  district  schools  in  the  winter 
months.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  began  renting  land  of  his  father,  of 
whom  he  has  been  renting  four  hundred  acres  ever  since  and  operating  the 
same  in  a  most  successful  manner.  In  connection  with  general  farming  he 
carries  on  stock  raising.  He  feeds  cattle  every  year,  making  a  specialty  of 
raisins:  Herefords. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  717 

Politically,  Mr.  Lust  is  a  Republican  and  fraternally  he  belongs  to  the 
Woodmen  of  the  World  and  the  blue  lodge  of  Masons.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Reasnor. 

Mr.  Lust  was  married  on  June  2y,  1900,  to  ^L'lrtha  Earp.  who  was  born 
in  Elk  Creek  township,  this  county,  and  here  she  grew  up  and  was  educated. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  Walter  Earp,  an  early  settler  in  Jasper  countv.  A 
sketch  of  Mr.  Earp  appears  on  another  page  of  this  work. 

To  the  subject  and  wife  three  children  have  been  born,  Edith.  MiJdrerl 
and  Lester  R. 


HENRY  WILLEMSEN. 

Henry  Willemsen,  a  prominent  farmer  and  stock  raiser  residing  in  sec- 
tion 14,  Buena  Vista  township,  is  a  native  of  Holland,  having  been  born  in 
that  country  on  July  6,  1877.  He  is  the  oldest  in  a  family  of  seven  children 
born  to  John  and  Jennette  (Van  Ooigen)  Willemsen,  both  natives  of  the 
province  of  Golderland,  Holland.  The  family  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
eighteen  years  ago  and  located  on  a  farm  four  miles  south  of  Sully,  this  county. 
They  bought  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  that  vicinity,  and  there 
they  have  ever  since  made  their  home.  Air.  Willemsen,  Sr.,  owned  a  tobacco 
plantation  in  Holland.  He  was  born  in  1854  and  his  wife  in  1850.  The 
family  came  to  the  United  States  on  the  vessel  "Rhinedam."  Their  children, 
all  of  whom  were  born  in  Holland,  ar^e  as  follows :  Henry,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Neil,  who  married  Fanny  Emmert  (deceased),  lives  near  Sully;  Ed., 
who  married  Ella  Dykens,  lives  on  his  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  two  miles 
north  of  Lynnville,  this  county;  Jeff  J.,  who  married  Jennie  Vanderwilt. 
lives  on  his  farm  of  eighty  acres  two  miles  northwest  of  Tainter:  Arie.  un- 
married, is  a  telegraph  operator  at  \\'interset ;  Diene  lives  at  home  with  her 
parents;  Joanna,  deceased. 

Henry  Willemsen  was  about  fifteen  years  of  age  when  the  family  came 
to  America,  and  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  lived  at  home  and 
helped  on  his  father's  farm,  after  which  time  he  started  out  working  for  him- 
self. After  laboring  as  a  farm  hand  for  about  four  years,  he  rented  a  farm, 
and  began  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  for  himself.  A  year  later,  h.  June.  1903. 
he  married  Sarah  Van  Rees,  daughter  of  Laurence  and  Sarah  (De  Veries) 
Van  Rees.  Her  father  is  a  native  of  Iowa,  having  been  born  near  Sully,  in 
Lynn  Grove  township,  this  county.  He  was  a  prominent  stock  buyer  and  wa? 
well  known  all  over  the  county.  He  was  an  outspoken,  old-fashioned,  "dye<}- 
in-the-wool"  Democrat.     He  died  at  his  home  near  Sully  in  March.  1907.  at 


7l8  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

the  age  of  fifty-three.  Mrs.  Willemsen's  mother,  who  is  Hving  in  Pella,  iowa, 
is  also  a  native  of  Holland,  but  came  with  her  mother  to  this  country  at  the  age 
of  three  years,  the  father  having  died  in  Holland.  Three  days  after  landing 
in  America  the  mother  died,  and  the  baby  was  raised  by  an  aunt.  To  the 
V^an  Reeses  were  born  eight  children,  the  seven  besides  Mrs.  Willemsen  being 
as  follows:  Leonard,  the  eldest,  living  three  miles  southwest  of  Sully,  mar- 
ried Tosie  Faust;  Andrew.  li\ing  near  Sully,  married  Xettie  De  ^'oung: 
Laurence,  unmarried,  who  has  no  fixed  home,,  was  formerly  a  butcher  in 
Newton;  Eddie  died  in  infancy;  Joe  died  at  the  age  of  ten;  David  and  Agnes, 
who  are  still  at  home  with  their  mother. 

That  Henrv  Willemsen  is  a  man  of  rare  judgment  and  good  manage- 
ment is  sliown  by  the  fact  that  four  years  after  he  began  farming  for  himself 
he  was  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  fine  land,  formerly  owned 
bv  Ira  Elscott.  Here  they  have  lived  ever  since  To  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Willemsen 
have  been  born  three  children,  namely :  Joe  Raymond,  born  December  28. 
1904:  Laura  Hilda,  born  October  18,  1006;  Jeannette  Wilma,  born  Septem- 
ber 5.  1908;  Sarah  Hendrena.  born  December  3.  1910. 

Besides  general  farming,  Mr.  Wellemsen  raises  stock  quite  extensively 
for  the  markets.  He  is  a  genial  gentleman,  public  spirited  and  of  progressive 
ideas.     In  politics,  he  is  independent,  but  of  Democratic  sympathies. 


HARTWELL  ZACHARY. 

In  placing  the  subject  of  this  review  before  the  reader  as  one  standing  in 
the  front  rank  of  Washington  township's  young  farmers,  we  are  doing  justice 
to  a  fact,  recognized  by  all  who  are  familiar  with  his  history.  His  career  pre- 
sents a  worthy  example  of  the  exercise  of  those  qualities  of  mind  and  charac- 
ter which  overcome  obstacles  and  win  success  and  his  example  might  be  imi- 
tated wath  profit  by  those  dissatisfied  with  present  attainments  who  would 
aspire  to  wider  fields  of  usefulness. 

Hartwell  Zachary  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Washington  town- 
ship, this  county,  on  March  31,  1871,  and  here  he  has  spent  his  life.  He  is  the 
son  of  James  and  Sarah  .\nn  (Eenton)  Zachary,  the  father  born  in  Ohio  in 
1846  and  the  mother  a  native  of  Iowa.  The  paternal  grandfather,  Larkin  E. 
Zachary.  was  born  in  Virginia.  November  20,  1818,  and  there  grew  up,  mov- 
ing with  his  family  to  Ohio  in  1839.  He  learned  the  painter's  trade  in  his 
native  state,  which  he  followed  during  the  summer  months  after  he  came  to 
Ohio,  but  worked  in  a  furniture  factorv  in  the  winter  time.     In  18^1  he  drove 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  jig 

overland  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  from  Ohio.  l)rin<,nng  his  family  and  all  his 
worldly  effects  in  a  one-horse  wagon.  He  arrived  here  with  a  cash  capital  of 
eighty  dollars,  fifty  of  which  he  paid  for  forty  acres  of  land  in  Des  Moines 
township.  He  began  life  on  the  wild  prairie  in  typical  pioneer  fashion  and 
soon  had  a  good  farm  and  a  comfortable  home.  He  became  an  extensive 
cattle  feeder  on  the  open  prairies  and  by  hard  work  and  good  management 
prospered  far  beyond  the  average  man  in  a  new  country,  finally  becoming  the 
owner  of  twenty-four  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Jasper  county,  mostlv  in 
\\'ashington  township.  For  many  years  he  was  one  of  the  best  known,  most 
influential  and  substantial  men  in  the  county.  In  1876  he  became  interested 
in  a  bank  in  Prairie  City,  later  buying  full  control  of  the  same,  and  it  was 
known  as  the  Zachary  bank  and  was  one  of  the  popular  banks  of  this  section 
of  Iowa.  Larkin  E.  Zachary  was  married  on  January  29.  1840.  to  Elizabeth 
Biee.  a  nntive  of  Ohio,  and  to  their  union  eight  children  were  l)orn.  six  of 
whom  are  living.  His  wife  lived  to  an  advanced  age.  dying  on  Mav  2j.  1890. 
but  he  survived  her  twelve  years,  dying  in  1902.  He  was  a  grand  old  man, 
whom  everybody  admired  and  respected.  Politically,  he  was  a  strong  Demo- 
crat and  pronounced  in  his  convictions  on  any  subject. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  John  Eelton. 
who  came  to  Jasper  county  from  Ohio  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  an  early  day, 
wlierc  he  became  v.ell  established  and  \\ell  liked 

James  Zachary,  father  of  Hartwell.  of  this  sketch,  worked  on  his  father's 
farms  until  his  death,  in  1899.  What  little  education  he  received  was  in  the 
old  log  school  houses,  but  he  was  a  man  of  energy  and  a  good  observer  and 
succeeded. 

Hartwell  Zacharv  grew  up  on  the  farm  and  Ind  little  chance  to  secure  an 
education.  \\'hen  a  small  boy  he  herded  cattle  on  his  grandfather's  farm. 
\\'hen  he  was  onlv  fifteen  years  of  age  he  began  the  management  of  one  of  the 
farms  and  after  both  his  grandfather  and  father  had  passed  away,  he  bought 
eightv  acres  around  the  old  home  place  in  Washington  township.  He  re- 
modeled the  house  and  improved  the  place  and  has  been  very  successful  as  both 
a  general  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  He  keeps  full  blooded  short  horn  cattle. 
shipping  several  loads  each  year  as  well  as  many  hogs  to  market.  Politically, 
he  is  a  Democrat  and  he  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and 
the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

The  subject's  mother  died  when  he  was  small  and  the  father  remarried, 
his  last  wife  being  Mary  A.  Shaw,  a  native  of  Indiana,  and  she  still  lives  in 
Des  Moines.  The  subject  has  the  following  brothers  and  sisters:  Robert, 
deceased;  Mrs.  Lida  C.  Stoner.  Mrs.  Cormia  Belle  George:  and  a  half-sister. 
Imo  Zacharv. 


720  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Hartwell  Zachaiy  was  married  on  March  14.  1897,  to  Nettie  May  Tur- 
ner, born  in  Prairie  City,  Iowa,  the  daughter  of  J.  P.  and  Elizabeth  Turner. 
The  following  children  have  been  born  to  the  subject  and  wife:  Harry  Le- 
land.  Loren  Gerald,  Ravmond  Fenton  and  Helen  Grace. 


ED  P.  MALMBERG. 


One  of  the  most  deserving  young  men  in  Iowa,  a  man  who  has  earned 
the  rewards  that  come  as  a  result  of  carefully  regulated  lives  and  unflagging 
zeal  in  whatever  is  undertaken,  working  his  way  unaided  from  none  too  fa- 
ydrable  environments  at  the  start  to  a  conspicuous  position  in  one  of  the  most 
exacting  of  professions,  is  Ed.  P.  Malmberg,  of  Newton,  Jasper  county. 

Mr.  Malmberg  is  a  native  of  the  city  where  he  now  resides,  having  been 
born  here  on  January  14,  1878,  the  scion  of  a  worthy  and  highly  respected 
family,  being  the  son  of  N.  K.  and  Nellie  (Stinson)  Malmberg,  both  natives 
of  Sweden,  where  they  grew  to  maturity  and  were  educated.  They  emigrated 
to  America  in  1867  and  w-ere  married  at  Knoxville,  Illinois,  where  they  re- 
mained until  1875,  when  they  came  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa.  After  living  a 
few  months  at  Kellogg  they  moved  to  Newton,  where  they  have  since  re- 
sided, the  father  being  now  seventy-six  years  of  age.  He  has  been  a  tailor  for 
sixty-six  years  and  is  a  very  skilled  workman  in  this  line.  He  is  a  quiet,  un- 
assuming man,  whose  life,  though  uneventful,  has  been  useful  and  highly  hon- 
orable. His  wife  is  also  living,  having  reached  an  advanced  age.  Six  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them,  those  living  besides  Ed  P.  of  this  review,  being 
]\Irs.  Ida  E.  Day  of  Chicago;  J.  O.  and  C.  A.  of  Newton. 

Ed  P.  Malmberg  grew  to  maturity  in  Newton  and  received  his  early 
training  in  the  local  schools,  graduating  from  the  Newton  high  school  in  1895 
when  seventeen  years  of  age,  having  made  an  excellent  record,  and  in  1897 
he  was  graduated  from  the  Newton  Normal  College.  During  these  school 
days  he  worked  at  odd  jobs  and  after  graduation  he  began  to  learn  the  cigar- 
maker's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  until  he  earned  enough  money  to  warrant 
his  entering  the  State  University  at  Iowa  City.  Having  for  some  time  fos- 
tered the  laudable  ambition  to  enter  the  legal  profession,  he  had  been  bending 
every  effort  to  that  end,  consecjuently  he  entered  the  law  department  of  the 
last  mentioned  institution,  made  a  brilliant  record  and  was  graduated  from 
the  same  in  1905.  and  at  once  he  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  New- 
ton, having  been  admitted  to  the  bar  immediately  after  graduation.  He  did 
not  have  to  wait  long  for  clients,  his  abilities  being  recognized  from  the  start 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  72  I 

and  he  made  friends  easily  who  were  glad  to  assist  him.  His  abilities  l>cing 
quickly  recognized  by  party  leaders,  he  was  nominated  in  1906  by  the  Re- 
publican party  for  county  attorney.  This  was  an  exceptionally  hard- fought 
contest  as  there  were  three  tickets  in  the  field,  but  Mr.  Malmberg  was  elected. 
Something  of  his  popularity  is  gained  from  the  fact  that  he  was  the  only  Re- 
publican elected  on  the  county  ticket.  Useless  to  add  that  his  selection  proved 
the  wisdom  of  his  constituents,  for  his  record  was  indeed  a  splendid  one, 
eliciting  the  hearty  approval  of  all  concerned,  irrespective  of  party  alignment, 
and  he  was  re-elected  to  the  same  office  in  1908,  leading  his  ticket.  In  1910 
he  was  chosen  as  the  Republican  nominee  for  state  senator,  his  nomination 
being  regarded  l)y  every  one  at  all  conversant  with  his  career  as  a  most  for- 
tunate one.  He  was  duly  elected  at  the  ensuing  election  and  was  a  conspicuous 
member  of  the  thirty-fourth  General  Assembly. 

Mr.  Malmberg  is  regarded  as  a  painstaking,  accurate  and  conscentious 
attorney,  well  grounded  in  the  principles  of  jurisprudence,  and  as  a  speaker 
he  is  logical,  forceful  and  often  eloquent,  having  great  power  over  a  jury. 
He  believes  in  thorough  preparation  in  the  trial  of  cases  and  overlooks  noth- 
ing of  benefit  to  his  clients.  Judging  his  future  by  his  past  excellent  record, 
there  seems  to  be  much  in  store  for  him.  Mr.  Malmberg  has  remained  un- 
married.    Fraternally,  he  is  a  Mason  and  Odd  I^ellow. 


IRA  ZWANK. 


There  is  a  great  deal  in  being  born  under  a  good  eye,  one  that  watches 
and  guards  off  the  error  and  folly  that  overtake  so  many  young  men.  The 
father  and  the  mother  who  are  able  to  infuse  into  their  children  the  spirit 
of  the  Spartans — the  spirit  that  can  meet  any  fate  and  make  the  most  of  the 
xvorld — will  see  their  children  grow  to  years  of  maturity  with  excellent 
habits  and  splendid  principles  and  see  them  become  exemplary  citizens.  The 
subject  of  this  brief  notice  was  fortunate  in  having  so  able  and  clean  a  father 
and  so  solicitous  and  gentle  a  mother.  He  was  taught  from  the  start  the 
duties  of  life — not  ordinary  instruction,  but  the  highest  duties  which  all  owe 
to  each  other  and  to  society.  The  result  has  been  to  give  him  broad  ideas 
of  life  and  its  responsibilities  and  to  fit  him  for  good  citizenship.  This  he 
no  doubt  has  fully  appreciated  and  has  sought  to  be  a  worthy  representative 
of  an  honored  old  family  in  all  walks  of  life  and  has  therefore  won  and 
retained  the  good  will  and  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  has  come  into  contact. 

(46) 


'J22  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Ira  Zwank,  farmer,  of  Elk  Creek  township,  Jasper  county,  was  born  in 
Marion  county,  Iowa,  on  January  i,  1872.  He  is  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Anna 
(DeBruyn)  Zwank,  the  father  born  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  in  1847,  and 
the  mother  in  Marion  county,  Iowa,  in  1852,  their  home  being  now  in  New- 
ton, Iowa.  The  father  came  to  Marion  county  when  a  boy  and  there  he 
and  Anna  DeBruyn  grew  up,  attended  the  common  schools  of  their  neigh- 
borhood and  were  married.  They  were  both  of  Hollander  descent  and  the 
sturdy  stock  of  their  progenitors  has  outcropped  in  them,  enabling  them  to 
make  a  good  living  and  establish  a  comfortable  home.  They  moved  to  Jasper 
county  soon  after  their  marriage  and  bought  forty  acres  of  land  in  Elk  Creek 
township.  This  they  later  sold  and  purchased  eighty  acres  and  at  the  time 
of  the  elder  Zwank's  death  he  owned  a  well  improved  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty  acres. 

Jacob  Zwank  endeavored  to  enlist  for  service  in  the  Union  army  during 
the  Civil  war,  but  was  too  young.  However,  he  ran  away  from  home  and 
started  to  the  front,  but  was  brought  back.  PoHtically,  he  was  a  Democrat 
and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  His  death  occurred  on 
August  19,  1897.  The  mother  subsequently  re-married,  her  last  husband 
being  Henry  Efnor.     They  have  a  comfortable  home  in  Newton. 

Ira  Zwank,  of  this  sketch,  had  two  brothers  and  five  sisters,  named  as 
follows :  Mrs.  Anna  Carpenter ;  Ira  was  the  second  in  order  of  birth ;  Peter, 
Mrs.  Kate  Efnor,  Harmon,  Mrs.  Bessie  Landmesser,  Mrs.  Lilly  Cary,  Ollie 
(deceased). 

The  subject  attended  the  Rose  Hill  district  school  and  when  but  a  boy 
he  had  to  assist  with  the  general  work  about  the  home  place,  he  being  the 
eldest  of  the  family.  He  began  plowing  when  but  nine  years  of  age  and 
made  a  hand  in  the  fields  when  most  boys  are  spending  their  time  fishing  with 
a  pin  hook  and  making  flutter  mills ;  but  this  early  experience  was  good  for 
him  in  the  long  run.  When  a  young  man  he  began  farming  for  himself, 
renting  land  of  the  neighbors  and  staying  at  home.  In  1901  he  bought  eighty 
acres  which  he  sold  a  year  later  and  then  bought  one  hundred  acres  and  he 
has  since  added  forty  acres  more  where  he  now  resides,  making  one  of  the 
choice  farms  of  the  community,  which  he  has  kept  well  improved  and  well 
cultivated.     He  keeps  good  live  stock  and  has  a  pleasant  home. 

Mr.  Zwank  is  a  Democrat  politically,  having  followed  in  the  footsteps 
of  his  father,  and  he  has  always  taken  a  good  citizen's  interest  in  the  affairs 
of  his  community.     He  has  served  as  township  trustee. 

Mr.  Zwank  was  married  on  March  18,  1900,  to  Edna  Winters,  who 
was  born  in  Elk  Creek  township.  Jasper  county,  June  -30,    1880,  and  here 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  723 

she  grew  to  womanhood  and  received  her  education  in  the  local  schools. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  John  Winters,  a  farmer  of  Elk  Creek  township. 
who  was  born  on  April  23,  1849,  in  Ohio  and  who  died  on  June  5,  1905.  He 
married  Phoebe  Jane  Shroyer.  who  was  bom  on  February  10,  1852.  and  who 
is  now  living  at  Galesburg.  Iowa.  The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zwank  has 
been  without  issue.  Personal!) .  Mr.  Zwank  is  a  man  of  fine  physique, 
pleasant  mannered  and  industrious. 


ALVA  A.  HIGHLEY 


For  a  number  of  years  Alva  A.  Highley,  of  Washington  township,  Jasper 
county,  has  directed  his  efforts  toward  the  goal  of  success  and  by  patient  con- 
tinuance has  been  amply  rewarded,  having  made  the  rough  path  of  life  smooth 
by  untiring  perseverance.  When  one  thus  wins  in  the  battles  of  life,  whether 
it  be  by  calm,  consecutive  endeavor  or  by  sudden  meteoric  accomplishments, 
his  example  must  abound  in  both  lesson  and  incentive  and  prove  a  guide  to  the 
young  men  whose  fortunes  are  still  matters  for  the  future  to  determine. 

]\Ir.  Highley  was  born  in  Hocking  county.  Ohio,  September  21,  1862, 
and  he  is  the  son  of  Thomas  Jackson  Highley  and  Mary  Jane  (  Walsh) 
Highley,  the  father  born  in  Pennsylvania,  February  4,  1830,  and  the  mother 
was  born  in  Ireland,  of  Scotch  descent,  on  May  26,  1829.  She  came  to 
America  when  a  voung  girl  and  she  and  Mr.  Highley  were  married  in  Penn- 
sylvania, in  which  state  he  grew  up,  and  there  he  was  engaged  in  the  salt 
works  for  some  time.  In  1858  he  moved  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Hocking  county, 
where  he  became  the  owner  of  an  eighty-acre  farm.  Remaining  there  until 
about  1865,  he  moved  to  Barton  county.  Missouri,  and  settled  at  LeMars, 
then  a  new  town,  and  in  that  vicinity  he  bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  and  there  he  remained  until  1870.  then  moved  to  near  Fort  Scott. 
Kansas,  where  he  owned  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  In  1873  he  moved 
to  Warren  countv.  Iowa,  where  he  rented  land,  later  moving  to  Black  Hawk 
county,  this  state,  renting  farms  near  Waterloo.  In  1896  he  moved  to  Pali- 
sades, Colorado,  and  became  the  owner  of  a  fruit  farm  there.  He  was  very 
successful  as  a  farmer  and  was  favorably  known  in  the  various  localities  in 
which  he  lived.  His  death  occurred  on  February  4.  1909.  Politically,  he  was  a 
Republican  and.  religiously,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
His  family  consisted  of  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  namely:  Frank  is  living 
in  Idaho:  Alva  A.,  of  this  review,  was  second  in  order  of  birth:  Theodore  W. 
is  living  in  Minneapolis,  Minnesota:  Mrs.  Mettie  Hampton  was  next  in 
order:  and  Grant,  who  makes  his  homo  in  Idaho,  was  the  youngest. 


724  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Aha  A.  Highley  grew  up  on  the  farm  and  he  attended  school  in  Ohio 
and  in  Pleasant  Hill.  Missouri.  When  thirteen  years  of  age  he  began  working 
out  by  the  month  on  farms  in  Warren  county.  Iowa,  and  after  his  marriage 
he  began  renting  land  in  Jasper  county,  having  come  here  in  1881.  He  bought 
a  farm  in  Calhoun  county,  this  state,  which  he  sold,  and  six  months  later 
bought  eighty  acres  in  Jasper  county,  southeast  of  Mitchellville.  In  1892  he 
bought  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  acres  in  Washington  township,  known  as 
the  old  Evans  farm,  and  here  he  still  lives,  haxing  improved  the  place  in  every 
way.  including  the  building  of  a  good  barn.  He  has  prospered  by  reason  of 
close  application  and  good  management  and  since  the  purchase  of  this  place 
he  has  bought  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  more.  He  raises  good  stock, 
anfl  feeds  quite  a  number  of  cattle  each  year. 

Politically,  Mr.  Highley  is  a  Republican,  and  he  has  been  school  director 
and  road  supervisor.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, and  he  belongs  to  the  Methodist  church  of  Colfax. 

Mr.  Highley  was  married  on  March  4,  1885,  to  Carrie  M.  Hibbs,  w^ho 
was  born  in  Polk  county,  Iowa,  May  27,  1866.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
George  H.  Hibbs,  a  very  early  settler  of  Polk  county,  having  taken  up  his 
home  there  in  1852.  Six  children  have  been  born  to  the  subject  and  wife, 
namely :  Edwin  A.  died  at  nine  years  of  age ;  Rachel  J.  died  at  the  age  of 
seven  years;  Oscar  G.  died  in  infancy;  Rosa,  born  November  6,  1895  '-  Edna, 
born  June  30,  1899;  May,  born  March  27,  1908. 


WILLIAM  CARL  HEXRY  SCHULTZ. 

One  of  the  best  known  and  most  painstaking  of  our  younger  generation 
of  Elk  Creek  township  farmers  and  one  of  the  worthy  representatives  of 
one  of  the  leading  German  families  of  Jasper  county  is  William  Carl  Henry 
Schultz,  a  man  who  could  hardly  help  succeeding  at  whatever  he  turned  his 
attention  to  in  view  of  his  thrifty  ancestral  blood  and  his  excellent  early 
training. 

Mr.  Schultz  was  born  in  the  township  where  he  still  resides  on  January 
4,  1875.  He  is  the  son  of  Lewis  F.  and  Christie  L.  (  Rohrdanz)  Schultz,  he 
a  native  of  Germany.  Their  parents  came  to  this  country  in  an  early  day, 
and  although  they  found  a  strange  language,  strange  customs  and  conditions 
in  general,  yet  they  were  tactful  and  hard-working  and  in  due  time  had  es- 
tablished a  good  home  and  had  an  excellent  farm  under  cultivation,  at  the 
same  time  winning  the  friendship  and  good  will  of  all  with  whom  they  came 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  725 

into  contact.  The  father  was  born  in  Pommerania,  kingdom  of  Prussia, 
later  a  part  of  Germany,  on  April  2.  1849.  and  he  was  the  son  of  Christopher 
C.  and  Caroline  (Severt)  Schultz.  both  natives  of  the  same  place.  After 
long  planning,  the  Schultz  family  set  sail  for  the  shores  of  the  New  World 
m  October.  1854.  when  the  subject  of  this  review  was  six  years  old.  After 
the  usual  prolix  voyage  of  those  early  sailing  vessel  days,  they  landed  at 
New  York  and  they  proceeded  at  once  to  Bruce  county,  Illinois,  where  two 
other  members  of  the  family  had  previously  settled  and  there  they  engaged 
in  farming  and  carpentering,  building  many  barns  for  the  earlv  settlers. 
Remaining  there  until  1858,  they  came  to  Poweshiek  county.  Iowa,  and  here 
worked  for  some  of  the  large  land  holders  of  the  county  for  two  vears.  In 
i860  Chris.  C.  Schultz  started  in  life  for  himself,  buying  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  there.  His  wife  had  died  in  the  spring  of  1855  and  thus  the 
subject's  father  was  reared  by  his  grandmother.  It  was  in  the  fall  of  1873 
that  he  came  to  Jasper  county  and  began  farming.  W^ith  some  assistance 
from  his  father  and  father-in-law  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  ten  acres 
which  he  still  owns,  and,  having  met  with  a  large  measure  of  success,  he 
has  added  to  his  original  holdings  until  he  is  now  -the  owner  of  a  large 
amount  of  the  county's  richest  land,  in  fact,  Lewis  F.  Schultz  has  long  been 
regarded  as  one  of  our  largest  land  owners  and  most  enterprising  agri- 
culturists, his  holdings  now  aggregating  si.x  hundred  and  eighty-seven  acres, 
besides  other  property.  He  has  devoted  his  life  to  husbandry,  having  the 
inherent  love  of  his  race  for  the  soil  and  growing  things,  and  he  has  also 
devoted  much  attention  to  the  raising  of  live  stock,  in  connection  with  his 
extensive  farming. 

Christie  L.  Rohrdanz,  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the 
daughter  of  John  J.  and  Marie  (Price)  Rohrdanz,  both  natives  of  Germany, 
who  emigrated  to  America  in  1853.  locating  at  Niagara-  Falls,  New  York, 
and  there  the  father  was  employed  in  the  construction  of  the  first  great 
suspension  bridge  ever  built  across  the  great  gorge  near  the  falls.  There 
Mrs.  Schultz  w^as  born  on  November  26,  1854,  she  being  one  of  three  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  are  living,  the  other  two  being  Marie,  born  April  9,  1857, 
is  the  wife  of  Carl  Birkenholtz.  a  Jasper  county  farmer;  and  Freda,  born 
in  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  February  13.  1858,  is  still  living  in  this  county. 
Mrs.  Schultz's  parents  came  to  this  county  in  1855.  after  the  completion  of 
the  big  Niagara  bridge.  They  reached  here  without  much  of  this  world's 
goods,  their  sole  capital  being  two  and  one-half  dollars.  The  country  was 
new  and  they  were  compelled  to  undergo  the  hardships  and  privations  in- 
cident to  the  times,  but  being  people  of  courage  and  thrift  they  did  not  per- 


726  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

mit  anything  to  discourage  them  and  each  year  found  them  further  advanced 
than  the  preceding  until  they  finally  had  a  pleasant  home  and  a  good  farm 
of  three  hundred  acres.  The  father  of  Airs.  Schultz  served  in  the  Prussian 
army,  as  did  the  father  of  Lewis  F.  Schultz.  During  the  rebellion  of  the 
provinces  of  Holstein  and  Schleswig,  Mr.  Rohrdan'/  was  awarded  a  medal  by 
the  German  government  for  signal  bra\ery. 

Lewis  F.  Schultz  was  one  of  a  family  of  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  two 
of  whom  are  living:  Augusta  Brooknew,  wife  of  George  Brooknew,  a  farmer, 
was  born  in  1851  and  died  in  1895  while  residing  in  Poweshiek  county,  Iowa; 
Carl  A.,  born  in  1853,  lives  on  a  farm  near  Grinnell,  this  state,  and  Henry  H., 
born  in  1854.  died  in  Poweshiek  county  in  1883. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewis  F.  Schultz  were  married  on  January  i,  1874,  and  to 
this  union  six  children  have  been  born,  namely :  Joseph  Christopher  died  in 
infancy;  William  C.  H.,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch;  Walter  Albert 
Lewis,  born  March  8,  1876,  died  November  9,  1905,  leaving  a  widow  and  one 
child,  a  daughter,  who  died  the  following  year ;  Lewis  Martin,  born  June  24, 
1878,  is  a  farmer  and  resides  in  this  county;  Henry  Fred  Lewis,  born  April 
12,  1882.  is  also  a  Jasper  county  farmer:  John  C,  born  May  9,  1885,  resides 
in  this  county  and  is  engaged  in  farming. 

Lewis  F.  Schultz  is  a  public  spirited  man  and  has  held  a  number  of  local 
offices,  covering  many  years,  such  as  township  clerk,  trustee,  assessor  and 
justice  of  the  peace,  also  supervisor  of  roads.  He  retired  from  active  life  in 
the  spring  of  19 10,  moving  at  that  time  to  his  commodious  residence  in 
Reasoner.  He  is  prominent  in  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  and  he  and  his 
wife  belong  to  the  German  Lutheran  church.  They  are  both  held  in  high 
esteem  bv  all  who  know  them   for  their  man}-  commendable  personal  traits. 

William  C.  H.  Schultz,  of  this  review,  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and 
assisted  with  the  general  work  about  the  place  during  his  boyhood  days. 
During  the  winter  months  he  attended  the  McKinney  district  school.  When 
only  seven  years  of  age  he  w^as  found  following  a  plow,  driving  a  team.  He 
assisted  his  parents  on  the  homestead  during  his  early  youth  and  when 
twenty-one  years  old  he  farmed  for  his  father  on  the  halves  for  a  year,  then 
bought  one  hundred  and  thirty-three  acres  in  1907  and  has  impro\ed  the 
place  in  an  up-to-date  manner,  keeping  it  well  tilled  and  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation  and  he  is  making  a  success  as  a  general  farmer  and  stock  raiser. 

Mr.  Schultz  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  relations,  but  he  has  not  sought 
to  be  a  public  leader.     Religiously,  he  belongs  to  the  German  Lutheran  church. 

Mr.  Schultz  was  married  on  December  22,  1905,  to  Minnie  Castorf,  who 
was  born  near  Sully.  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  in  1887      She  is  the  daughter  of 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  727 

William  Castor f,  an  early  settler  of  this  county  and  a  highly  respected  citi/:en. 
Here  Mrs.  Schultz  grew  to  womanliood  and  received  her  education  in  the 
common  schools. 

To  the  subject  and  wife  have  been  born  two  children,  namely:  Lawrence 
Kenneth,  born  August  lo,  1907,  and  Raymond  Elmo   born  January  25,  191 1. 

The  subject  is  a  tall,  strong  young  man,  a  hard  worker  and  a  genial 
fellow  to  meet,  having  an  easy  manner  and  a  straightforwardness  that  im- 
presses the  stranger. 


WALTER  M.  EARP. 


The  descendants  of  the  old  settlers,  those  who  cleared  the  land  and  first 
upturned  the  wild  sod  to  the  sun,  should  see  that  the  doings  of  those  early 
years  are  fittingly  remembered  and  recorded.  It  was  once  remarked  bv  a 
great  writer  that  those  who  take  no  interest  in  the  deeds  of  their  ancestors  are 
not  likely  to  do  anything  worthy  to  be  remembered  by  their  descendants. 
Could  the  lives  of  the  first  settlers  be  fully  and  truthfullv  written  what  an  in- 
teresting, thrilling  and  wonderful  tale  it  would  be.  Think  of  the  journey  to 
the  west  over  the  roughest  of  roads,  of  the  hardships  of  clearing  the  soil  and 
the  trials  in  establishing  a  home  in  a  wild  country  and  rearing  a  family.  Think 
of  the  pioneer  gatherings,  of  the  shooting  matches,  the  old  subscription  schools, 
the  first  churches  under  the  branches  of  the  trees  the  camp  meetings,  the 
famous  old  circuit  riders,  the  husking  matches,  the  quilting  bees,  the  coon, 
wolf,  fox  and  deer  hunts,  with  many  another  form  of  diversion,  and  then 
presume  to  say  that  the  old  settlers  did  not  live  happy  lives.  Such  were  the 
experiences  of  \A'alter  M.  Earp.  a  highly  respected  citizen  of  Elk  Creek  town- 
ship, now  living  retired. 

Mr.  Earp  is  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  having  first  opened  his  eyes  in  the 
country  of  "the  dark  and  bloody  ground."'  in  Ohio  county,  on  November  8, 
1836.  He  is  the  son  of  Laranzo  Dow  Earp  and  Nancy  Earp.  He  spent  his 
early  boyhood  in  his  native  state  and  received  such  education  as  he  could  in 
the  pioneer  log-cabin  schools.  In  1845  he  accompanied  the  family  to  Warren 
county,  Illinois,  where  they  lived  until  1853,  when,  with  on  ox  team  and  an 
old-fashioned  covered  wagon,  they  set  out  on  the  slow  journey  to  Warren 
county,  Iowa,  where  they  spent  the  summer,  then  moved  to  Marion  county, 
this  state,  and  wintered  there,  coming  to  Jasper  county  in  the  spring  of  1854. 
Here  the  father  of  the  subject  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Elk 
Creek  township,  and  on  this  Walter  M.  Earp  spent  his  young  manhood,  help- 


728  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

inj^'  his  father  develop  the  place  from  the  wild,  helping  split  the  rails  with 
which  to  fence  the  farm.  They  had  few  neighbors  and  they  endured  the 
usual  privations  of  first  settlers,  but  in  time  had  a  good  farm  and  a  comfort- 
able home 

The  subject  began  life  for  himself  by  renting  land,  which  he  continued  to 
operate  for  six  years  and  thereby  got  a  start.  He  then  bought  forty  acres, 
which  he  sold  the  following  year  and  purchased  eighty  acres,  to  which  he  later 
added  fiftv-five  acres  more  in  Elk  Creek  township,  which  he  improved  into  an 
excellent  farm.  This  he  sold  in  188 1  and  moved  to  Plymouth  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  remained  two  years  on  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  Then 
he  came  back  to  Galesburg.  Jasper  county,  where  he  has  since  spent  most  of 
his  time.  He  is  now  making  his  home  with  his  son-in-law,  Alfred  Lust,  a 
farmer  of  Elk  Creek  township,  whose  sketch  appears  on  another  page  of  this 
work. 


BENSON  STARR. 


The  gentleman  to  whom  the  reader's  attention  is  respectfully  called  in 
the  following  paragraphs  is  an  honored  veteran  of  our  great  civil  conflict. 
Thev  are  getting  fewer  and  fewer  in  numbers,  their  annual  reunions  are  sadly 
lacking  when  the  lists  of  regiments-  and  companies  are  gone  o\er.  and  their 
march  is  not  as  quick  and  full  of  meaning  and  fire  as  it  was  a  half  century 
ago.  when,  as  sturdy  boys,  they  left,  most  of  them,  the  plow  and  assembled 
at  the  front,  eager  to  hurl  themselves  in  in\inciljle  legions  against  the  foes  of 
the  Union.  But,  nevertheless,  it  thrills  one  to  see  them  in  their  old  uniforms, 
with  their  tattered  flags  flying  and  their  forms  bent  as  they  keep  step,  assisted, 
most  of  them.  Avith  their  canes,  at  their  gatherings  on  Memorial  day  or  the 
Fourth  of  July.  And  how  interesting  it  is  to  hear  them  tell  the  story  of  the 
dreadful  hardships  they  endured  in  the  hospitals,  prisons,  on  the  harassing 
marches,  or  in  the  skirmishes  and  battles.  But  their  time  is  short  now.  so  all 
persons  should  join  in  honoring  them  for  the  sacrifices  they  made  when  they 
were  young  and  full  of  the  love  of  life,  but  which  was  offered  freely  on  the 
altar  of  their  country.  One  of  these  honored  old  soldiers  is  Benton  Starr, 
who  is  also  eminently  entitled  to  a  place  in  his  country's  history  because  he 
is  one  of  our  pioneers,  a  member  of  that  hard-working  band  who  willingly 
underwent  hardships  in  the  county's  first  period  of  development  that  succeed- 
ing generati*  n^  might  be  happy  and  prosperous. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  729 

Air.  Starr  was  born  in  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  May  22.  1842.  and  he  was 
the  son  of  Jabez  and  Jane  (Gregory)  Starr,  who  spent  their  early  lives  in 
Ohio,  married  and  began  housekeeping  there.  About  1844  they  made  the  long 
overland  journey  to  Iowa,  locating  in  \'an  Buren  county,  being  among  the 
state's  early  settlers,  but  after  three  years  there,  during  which  thev  hardlv  gut 
well  located,  and  deciding  that  the  community  was  not  what  they  desired  as  a 
permanent  place  of  abode,  they  moved  to  Jasper  county,  locating  in  Lynn 
Grove  township.  First  Mr.  Starr  bought  a  claim,  but  a  year  later  moved  a 
little  to  the  north  and  entered  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  section  13. 
This  land  he  cleared,  broke,  improved,  and  in  time  had  a  splendid  farm  and  a 
comfortable  home  in  which  he  lived  until  he  reached  an  advanced  age.  then 
lived  around  with  his  children  for  the  greater  part  of  the  time,  although  alwavs 
claiming  this  as  his  home.  His  death  occurred  in  Madison  county,  this  state. 
in  1885.  his  wife  having  died  in  1878  on  their  farm.  Politically,  he  was  a 
Republican.  He  took  a  lively  interest  in  political  afifairs  and  for  many  vears 
was  justice  of  the  peace.  There  were  thirteen  children  in  their  family,  four 
of  whom  are  living  at  this  writing.  Eleven  of  them  grew  to  maturity  and 
were  married  The  father,  Jabez  Starr,  was  a  good  and  useful  man.  and  for 
years  he  did  considerable  preaching  in  the  Methodist  church,  as  did  several  of 
his  brothers.  He  assisted  in  organizing  the  early  Methodist  church  here  and 
helped  hold  the  first  election  ever  known  in  Lynn  Grove  township ;  he  was  also 
the  first  justice  of  the  peace  in  this  township.  He  gave  the  greatest  satisfac- 
tion in  this  important  ofifice,  for  in  that  early  day  it  was  important,  a  justice 
court  ranking  in  those  times  with  the  higher  tribunals  of  today.  He  was  a 
lover  of  justice  and  peace  and  often  settled  differences  and  difficulties  between 
parties  in  his  conmiunity  outside  of  court,  his  advice  being  frequently  sought 
in  personal  and  public  affairs.  Such  men  are  empire  builders  and  while  today 
they  are  certainly  not  noticeable  to  a  very  great  extent  in  our  so-called  ad- 
vanced civilization,  thev  were  to  be  found  in  almost  all  communities  of  new- 
comers in  the  early  days  when  the  frontier  was  ever  pushing  westward.  The 
memory  of  such  should  be  fondly  cherished  by  succeeding  generations,  for  it 
goes  without  saying  that  we  owe  them  a  great  debt  of  gratitude  rmd  that  they 
builded  wiser  than  they  knew. 

Benson  Starr,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch,  grew  to  manhood  on 
the  home  place  and  there  made  himself  useful  in  his  boyhood  days.  He  had 
little  opportunity  to  attend  school,  in  fact,  three  months  in  the  old  public 
school  house  in  this  vicinity  constituted  his  text-book  training:  however,  he 
has  become  a  well  informed  man  through  home  reading  and  careful  observa- 
tion. 


73©  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

On  August  7,  1862,  Mr.  Starr  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Twenty -eighth 
Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  in  which  he  served  very  gallantly  for  about  eighteen 
months,  during  which  time  he  took  part  in  the  great  siege  of  Vicksburg,  the 
battles  of  Port  Gibson,  Champion's  Hill  and  others,  being  under  fire  fifty-two 
days.  Receiving  an  honorable  discharge,  he  returned  home  and  resumed 
farming  and  soon  had  a  good  start,  and  in  1S79  he  bought  his  father's  home- 
stead, later  adding  to  the  same  until  he  is  now  the  owner  of  a  finely  improved 
and  productive  farm  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-one  acres  in  Lynn  Grove 
township,  which  adjoins  the  first  purchase.  Here  he  erected  a  substantial 
dwelling  and  good  outbuildings  and  made  such  other  up-to-date  improvements 
as  his  needs  required.  He  made  a  great  success  as  a  general  farmer  and  stock 
man.     He  still  manages  the  farm,  though  he  keeps  it  rented  out. 

Politically,  i\Ir.  Starr  is  a  Republican  and  has  ever  been  a  loyal  supporter 
of  the  same,  taking  a  lively  interest  in  local  affair^,  and  he  has  held  several 
offices  within  the  gift  of  the  people,  including  that  of  township  trustee  and  con- 
stable. Fraternally,  he  belongs  to  the  Masonic  order  at  Lynnville,  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  encampment,  also  the  Order  of  the  Eastern 
Star  and  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  in  all  of  which  he  takes  an  abiding 
interest. 

Mr.  Starr  was  married  in  1865  to  Ellen  Squires,  a  native  of  \'irginia 
and  the  daughter  of  Nehemiah  and  Olive  Squires,  who  came  to  Jasper  county 
after  the  close  of  the  Civil  war  and  later  moved  to  Missouri.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Starr  five  children  have  been  born,  namely  :  Perry,  who  was  killed  by 
lightning:  Dora  and  Nora,  twins,  the  latter  dying  when  four  years  of  age; 
Lee  and  Frank 


LOGAN  PENDLETON. 

To  the  person  traveling  by  railw  ay  across  the  state  at  this  day  it  seems 
almost  incredible  that  only  a  little  more  than  a  half  century  ago  the  major 
part  of  the  Hawkeye  state  was  a  wild,  sparsely  settled  stretch  of  plains  over- 
run Ijy  Indians  and  all  manner  of  wild  animals  ;  but  such  was  the  case.  During 
the  last  half  century,  the  wild  grass  has  been  trampled  down,  the  root-wo\en, 
tenacious  sod  has  been  upturned  to  the  life-giving  sun  and  the  forests  have 
been  removed,  almost  entirely,  stick  by  stick,  by  innumerable  hands, — in  fact, 
most  of  the  timber  was  removed  in  considerably  less  than  a  half  century.  All 
this  would  never  have  been  done  were  it  not  for  the  rich  soil  beneath  and  the 
comfortable  homes  that  awaited  the  efiforts  of  the  settlers.   The  task  was  a  long 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA,  '  731 

one,  but  well  repaid  the  early  comers  for  the  trials  and  hardships.  One  of  the 
farmers  of  Elk  Creek  township,  Jasper  county,  who  has  contributed  to  the 
development  of  this  wonderfully  favored  section  during  what  might  be 
termed  the  second  period  of  its  growth  is  Logan  Pendleton,  for  his  advent 
here  was  not  so  early  as  the  band  of  early  pioneers  who  attacked  the  raw  land 
in  the  fifties. 

Air.  Pendleton  was  born  in  the  Blue  Grass  state,  having  first  opened  his 
eyes  on  earthly  scenes  in  Adair  county,  Kentucky,  on  September  20,  1865 
He  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Margaret  (Gadbury)  Pendleton,  the  father  Ijorn 
in  West  \'irginia  in  1810  and  the  mother  in  Kentucky  in  1816,  and  there  they 
spent  their  later  years,  the  father  being  a  prominent  farmer,  owning  over 
eight  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land,  on  which  he  farmed  on  a  large  scale, 
conducting  one  of  the  large  tobacco  plantations  of  Adair  county;  however, 
he  kept  no  slaves.  He  was  one  of  the  substantial  and  influential  men  of  his 
part  of  the  state  and  a  gentleman  of  fine  personal  qualities.  Politically,  he 
was  a  Republican  and  he  and  his  wife  belonged  to  the  old  Campbellite  church. 
Their  family  consisted  of  eight  children,  of  whom  Logan,  of  this  review,  was 
the  youngest  in  order  of  birth.  They  were  named  as  follows:  John,  de- 
ceased :  Green ;  Granville,  deceased :  James  lives  in  Kentucky ;  Mrs.  Sarah 
Napier  lives  in  that  state ;  Mrs.  Mollie  Hudson  is  still  a  resident  of  the  Blue 
Grass  county ;   Parker  was  next  to  the  youngest  child. 

Logan  Pendleton  was  eight  years  of  age  when  his  father  died  in  1873. 
He  recei\ed  his  education  in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  community  and 
there  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  spent  his  summer  months,  when  old  enough, 
at  work  on  the  home  plantation ;  however,  as  he  grew  up  he  worked  con- 
siderably by  the  month.  It  was  in  October.  1882.  that  he  bade  adieu  to  his 
"old  Kentucky  home*'  and  directed  his  course  to  Jasper  county.  Iowa,  and 
here  begnn  working  by  the  month  for  Preston  Chambers  in  Elk  Creek  town- 
ship, with  whom  he  remained  for  a  period  of  seven  years.  Then  he  purchased 
a  complete  well-drilling  outfit  and  followed  drilling  wells  in  this  locality  for 
two  vears.  then  he  began  renting  land,  farming  thus  for  a  period  of  six  years. 
Then  he  was  married  and  his  father-in-law,  Preston  Chambers,  gave  the  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  an  excellent  farm  of  one  hundred  and  three  acres  in  Elk 
Creek  township,  on  which  they  still  reside.  Besides  this  Mr.  Pendleton  owns 
five  acres  of  timber.  He  has  been  very  successful  as  a  general  farmer  and 
stock  raiser,  making  a  specialty  of  full-blood  jacks,  and  he  has  quite  a  reputa- 
tion in  this  locality  as  a  breeder,  keeping  such  superior  stock  that  they  have 
been  a  great  asset  in  his  annual  income.  He  also  keeps  full-blood  Poland- 
China  hogs.  He  had  the  largest  hog  at  the  Iowa  state  fair  in  191 1,  the  much- 
admired  animal  weighing  over  one  thousand  pounds. 


732  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Politically,  -Mr.  Pendleton  is  a  Democrat  and  while  he  takes  more  or 
less  interest  in  local  affairs  he  is  not  a  public  man.  On  July  i,  1900,  oc- 
curred the  ceremony  which  united  in  the  bonds  of  wedlock  Logan  Pendleton 
and  Allie  Chambers.  The  latter  was  born  in  Elk  Creek  township,  this  county, 
on  September  6.  i860.  She  is  the  daui^hter  of  Preston  Chambers,  one  of  the 
substantial  and  influential  early  citizens  of  this  county  a  sketch  of  whom  is  to 
be  found  on  another  page  of  this  work.  Air.  and  Mrs.  Pendleton  have  no 
children 


ALEXANDER  SMITH. 

I-'rom  the  far-awa}-  land  of  Bruce  and  Burns,  the  bonn}  heaths  of  ijlue- 
bell  and  thistle, — the  rugged  north  "countree"  that  has  for  centuries  sent  its 
hardy,  honest.  liberty-lo\ing  sons  to  help  build  the  great  republic  of  the  West. 
- — has  come  to  us  one  of  our  most  highly  esteemed  and  useful  citizens,  Alex- 
ander Smith,  one  of  Jasper's  county's  most  extensi\-e  land  owners,  a  man  w  hom 
to  know  is  to  admire  and  respect,  for,  without  other  aid  than  a  strong  heart 
and  willing  hands,  guided  and  controlled  by  right  principles  and  a  sound  brain, 
he  has  fought  his  way  from  an  obscure  environment  to  the  top  of  the  material 
ladfler  and  has  long  been  one  of  the  influential  men  of  this  locality. 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  the  village  of  Forres,  Scotland,  on  September  26. 
1830.  and  he  is  the  son  of  Robert  and  Jeannette  (Lysle)  Smith,  both  born  in 
Scotland.  The  paternal  grandfather  was  Alexander  Smith,  a  farmer,  and 
the  maternal  grandmother  was  of  noble  blood,  being  a  sister  of  the  Duke  of 
Southerland  in  England. 

Robert  Smith  came  to  America  with  his  family  in  1834  and  located  in 
Delaware  county.  New  York,  and  there  established  a  good  home,  and  in  that 
vicinity  the  son,  Alexander  Smith  of  this  review,  grew  to  manhood  and  he  re- 
ceived his  education  at  Roxbury..  New  York,  having  the  honor  of  being  a 
schoolmate  of  the  famous  financier,  Jay  Gould,  and  the  scarcely  less  noted 
author  and  naturalist,  John  Burroughs,  the  former  having  sat  on  the  left  of 
the  subject  for  a  year  and  the  latter  just  in  front  of  him  for  three  vears. 
After  leaving  .school  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  Mr.  Smith  engaged  in  teach- 
ing for  eight  or  ten  years,  during  which  time  he  met  with  great  success  and 
his  services  were  in  demand  wherever  he  was  known.  He  also  clerked  for 
some  time  in  a  general  merchandise  store.  In  1865  he  moved  to  Pella.  Iowa, 
and  rented  a  farm  that  fall  in  Jasper  county.  The  country  was  \vild  and 
imnrovemcnts  had  been  made  here  and  there,  but  he  had  the  foresi»ht  to  see 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  JT^^ 

a  great  future  for  so  rich  a  region  and  in  clue  course  of  time  he  had  l>econie 
one  of  the  leading  farmers  here.  Not  long  after  his  arrival  he  bought  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres, 'partly  in  Lynn  (hove  township  and  partly  in  lilk 
Creek  township.  Prospering  through  close  applic-ition  and  good  manage- 
ment, he  added  to  his  original  holdings  until  he  now  owns  eight  hundred  acres 
of  as  choice  land  as  the  county  affords.  He  also  owns  four  hundred  acres  in 
Lake  county,  Iowa,  and  two  sections  of  land  in  North  Dakota,  all  valuable  and 
well  located  land.  While  general  farming  has  been  Air.  Smith's  principal  life 
work,  no  small  part  of  his  large  competency  has  been  derived  from  the  li\e 
stock  business;  he  has  fed  cattle  annually  for  forty  vears.  and  he  has  met  with 
a  larger  degree  of  success  in  this  line  than  the  average  person.  He  has  kept 
his  land  under  excellent  improvements  and  has  a  modern,  convenient  and  well 
furnished  home,  in  the  midst  of  pleasant  surroundings. 

Politically,  Mr.  Smith  is  a  Republican  and  while  he  has  ne\er  sought 
leadership  he  has  always  stood  ready  to  serve  the  public  when  necessary.  He 
was  treasurer  of  the  school  board  of  his  district  for  a  period  of  hfteen  years. 

Mr.  Smith  was  married  on  June  12,  1864,  to  Sarah  Voss,  who  was  born 
in  New  Jersey,  the  daughter  of  John  Voss  and  wife,  and  to  this  union  seven 
children  have  been  born,  of  whom  three  are  deceased,  the  living  being  named 
as  follows:  Mrs.  Amy  Jeanette  Sherman,  who  lives  in  Pasadena,  California; 
Mrs.  Emily  Francisco,  who  is  li\ing  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa;  Mrs.  Mamie 
Nicholson,  who  lives  in  New  Sharon,  Iowa;  Alexander  Lyle. 

The  last  named  son  was  born  on  the  farm  he  now  operates  in  Lynn  Grove 
township,  Jasper  county,  on  October  6,  1876.  There  he  grew  to  maturity 
and  assisted  with  the  general  work  on  the  place  during  the  crop  seasons,  at- 
tending the  public  schools  during  the  winter  months  near  his  home,  later  the 
high  school  at  Lynnville,  and  the  Iowa  State  College  at  Ames,  spending  two 
years  in  the  agricultural  course  there ;  he  also  attended  the  Gem  City  Business 
College  at  Quincy,  Illinois.  Thus  well  equipped  for  his  life  work  from  a 
standpoint  of  text-book  training,  he  returned  home  to  assist  his  father  man- 
age some  of  his  farms  and  he  has  met  with  a  large  degree  of  success;  l>eing 
regarded  as  one  of  the  most  modern  and  scientific  farmers  in  the  county.  He 
took  charge  of  about  six  hundred  acres  two  miles  south  of  the  town  of  Sully, 
where  he  has  carried  on  general  farming  and  cattle  raising  on  an  extensive 
scale,  preparing  for  market  and  shipping  from  two  to  four  car  loads  of  cattle 
and  two  hundred  hogs  annually.  Although  he  rents  some  of  the  land,  he 
has  general  supervision  over  it  all.  Politically,  he  is  a  Republican  and  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Sully. 


734  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Alexander  L.  Smith  was  united  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Jean  \'aughn 
on  May  2"],  1903.  She  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  but  was  living  at  Bur- 
lingame,  Kansas,  at  the  time  of  her  marriage.  She  is  the  daughter  of  W.  J. 
and  Emily  K.  (Brown)  V'aughn,  who  moved  with  their  daughter  to  Kansas 
when  she  was  two  years  old.  and  the  parents  still  reside  in  the  Sunflower  state. 

Three  children  have  graced  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alexander  L. 
Smith:  Donald  Lyle.  born  December  29,  1907;  Vernon  Eugene,  born  July 
27,  1909;  Robert  Vaughn,  born  November  4,  191 1.  No  family  in  the  county 
is  better  or  more  favorably  known. 


JOHN  KELLY. 

It  is  no  doubt  true  that  Ireland,  of  all  countries  of  the  world,  has  sent 
more  emigrants  in  proportion  to  population  to  the  United  States  than  any 
other  country,  and  the  reason  is  well  known.  For  hundreds  of  years  the 
Emerald  Isle  has  been  denied  many  valuable  rights  and  privileges  by  Great 
Britain,  and  the  pride  and  honor  of  the  people  were  ground  into  the  dust. 
They  could  avoid  all  this  by  leaving  the  island,  much  as  they  loved  it,  and 
accordingly  thousands  of  them,  as  the  years  rolled  around,  have  crossed  the 
great  Atlantic  to  find  a  home  of  greater  freedom  in  America.  They  began  to 
come  in  large  numbers  soon  after  the  Revolution  and  have  continued  to  come 
until  the  present  time.  In  every  state  they  settled  and  built  up  comfortable 
homes.  They  were  among  our  first  teachers  and  business  men,  and  today  they 
occupy  many  of  the  proudest  positions  within  the  gift  of  the  inhabitants.  In 
that  country  was  born  John  Kelly,  farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  Rock  Creek 
township,  Jasper  county.  He  grew  up  and  received  what  education  he  could 
in  his  native  county  of  Roscommon.  He  is  the  son  of  George  and  Ann 
(Grady)  Kelly,  both  natives  of  Ireland,  and  there  the)-  lived  and  died,  the 
father  being  a  shepherd,  and  consequently  led  a  c[uiet  life,  close  to  nature  and 
ever  unobtrusive,  his  wants  being  simple.  His  family  consisted  of  six  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  are  living,  two  in  Ireland,  Charles  and  Maria  Burn. 

John  Kelly,  of  this  sketch,  spent  his  boyhood  days  as  a  shepherd,  but  not 
being  content  with  conditions  at  home,  and  having  heard  of  the  great  oppor- 
tunities that  existed  in  the  new  world,  he  set  sail  on  the  "City  of  Antwerp," 
October  6,  1869,  for  New  York  City.  He  came  on  to  Richmond,  Indiana, 
and  remained  there  three  years,  working  on  the  Vandalia  railroad,  then  went 
to  Indianapolis  and  during  one  winter  worked  in  the  railroad  rolling  mills. 
In  1893  ^i*^  mo\cd  to  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  and  there  resumed  railroad  work,  in 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  jt^z^ 

which  he  remained  four  years,  then  went  to  :\Iontana  and  worked  in  the  placer 
mines  at  A^irginia  City  for  a  few  months;  then  went  to  Glendale  City  and  did 
the  work  of  a  roaster  in  the  silver  mines,  remaining  there  three  years,  during 
which  he  was  on  one  furnace.  Then  returninj^  to  Des  Moines,  he  worked 
there  until  his  marriage,  then  mo\ed  to  Poweshiek  county  where  he  b(jught 
eighty  acres  of  land  at  Oak  (irove.  Washington  township,  and  remained  there 
four  years.  He  then  moved  to  Palo  Alto  county,  and  a  year  later  located  in 
Rock  Creek  township,  Jasper  county,  where  he  bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres.  This  he  has  improved  in  an  up-to-date  manner  and  has 
been  very  successful  as  a  general  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  and  he  is  a  breeder 
of  short  horn  cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs.  Politically,  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church. 

In  1880  Mr.  Kelly  was  united  in  marriage  with  Martha  Hotchkin,  who 
was  born  in  Xew  York  City,  the  daughter  of  John  Hotchkin,  of  England,  and 
one  of  the  honored  old  settlers  of  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  where  he  died  Decem- 
ber 12.  191 1,  being  advanced  in  years.  He  married  Rose  Gaughran,  a  native 
of  Ireland.  She  and  Mr.  Hotchkin  came  to  New  York  City  single  and  there 
married.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade.  He  came  west  and  located  in 
Illinois,  three  years  after  his  marriage,  and  in  1870  he  came  on  to  Jasper 
county,  Iowa,  where  he  lived  until  his  death.  His  wife  passed  to  her  rest  on 
June  6.  1909.  Six  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kelly,  nameh  : 
Mary.  George.  John  (deceased).  Martha.  Charles  and  Lucy. 


MARCE   TURNER. 


Success  could  not  fail  to  attend  the  efforts  of  such  a  persistent  and 
energetic  worker  as  Marce  Turner,  of  Kellogg  township,  for  his  motto  seems 
to  have  always  been  that  what  is  worth  doing  at  all  is  worth  doing  well.  He 
was  born  in  Ralls  county,  Missouri,  June  5.  1870.  and  he  is  the  son  of  George 
and  Malinda  (Seeley)  Turner,  the  father  born  also  in  Ralls  county,  that 
state,  on  June  i,  1840.  The  father  followed  farming  during  the  earlier 
years  of  his  life,  later  taking  up  carpentering,  painting,  blacksmithing  and 
carriage  making,  following  these  until  his  death,  on  March  10.  1890:  his 
widow  survives,  making  her  home  in  Cherokee  county,  Kansas. 

Marce  Turner  grew  to  maturity  in  his  native  county  and  in  Kansas, 
spending  his  boyhood  days  assisting  his  father  and  attending  the  public 
schools.  He  started  in  life  for  himself  by  driving  a  stage,  later  took  up 
freighting,  then  turned  his  attention  to  painting  and  carpentry.     He  came  to 


736  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Kellogg  township,  Jasper  county,  in  1900  and  here  worked  on  the  farm  by 
the  month  until  in  March,  1909,  when  he  rented  eighty  acres. 

Mr.  Turner  was  married  October  22,  1899.  to  Maggie  Watson,  who 
was  born  in  Michigan,  f>bruary  14.  1883.  the  daughter  of  Lynn  B.  and 
Mar}^  (Roach)  Watson,  the  father  having  been  born  in  Kansas  in  1856,  and 
the  mother's  birth  occurred  in  Iowa  in  1855.  Mrs.  Turner  received  a  good 
education  in  the  common  schools  and  she  came  to  Iov\"a  when  young. 

Marce  Turner  is  one  of  a  family  of  ten  children,  five  sons  and  five 
daughters,  namely:  Molly  is  deceased;  George  is  deceased;  Elija  is 
deceased;  Laura,  Lucy,  Cordelia  and  Cornelius  (twins),  Eugene,  Joseph, 
Mandy  and  Marce. 

Two  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Turner,  a  son  and  a 
daughter,  namely:  Virginia  F.,  whose  birth  occurred  November  20,  1900, 
and  Virgil  Eugene,  who  was  born  December  9,  1903. 

Politically,  Mr.  Turner  is  a  Republican,  and,  fraternally,  he  belongs  to 
the  \\'oodmen.    He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church. 


ISAL^H  W.  BLACK. 


A  representative  Io^^a  farmer,  one  of  that  great  class  of  able  men  who 
have  made  Iowa  a  great  state,  is  Isaiah  W.  Black.  For  Iowa  is  preeminently 
a  farming  state,  and  her  farmers  are  more  progressive  and  efficient  than  the 
average  of  American  farmers,  and  demonstrate  this  every  year  by  their 
excellent  showing.  Mr.  Black  has  spent  the  years  of  his  active  life  on  the 
farm  in  honest  and  healthful  toil,  intelligently  directed,  which  have  brought 
to  him  peace  and  plenty  in  his  later  years,  and  a  consciousness  of  duty  done. 

Isaiah  W.  Black  was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  December 
28,  1850,  the  son  of  Robert  and  Eliza  (Hanna)  Black.  His  father  came  to 
Jackson  county,  Iowa,  from  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1853.  His 
mother  had  died  at  an  early  age  in  Jackson  county.  Robert  Black  farmed  in 
Jackson  county  until  his  death,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one,  and  was  a  man  of 
local  influence,  filling  many  offices  in  the  township  in  which  he  resided.  David 
M.  Black,  of  Maquoketa,  Iowa,  is  a  half-brother,  and  Mrs.  Emma  Ward,  of 
Newton,  a  half-sister  of  the  subject. 

Isaiah  W.  Black  farmed  for  many  years  in  Jackson  county,  in  South 
Dakota,  and  in  Jasper  county,  meeting  with  uniform  success.  In  all  the  com- 
munities in  which  he  has  lived  he  has  taken  an  active  and  prominent  part  in 


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JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  737 

affairs  of  general  interest  and  has  filled  local  offices,  lie  was  married  in 
Jones  county,  Iowa,  to  Anna  C.  Deischer,  the  daughter  of  Daniel  Diescher,  a 
pioneer  of  Jones  county,  to  which  he  had  moved  from  Lancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania.  To  this  marriage  were  born  three  children.  Charles  C.  Black 
is  in  the  lumber  business  at  Mingo,  Jasper  county,  and  is  thriving  successfully. 
Clarence  A.  Black  of  Mingo,  Jasper  county,  is  a  partner  with  his  brother, 
Charles  C,  in  the  lumber  business.  Dr.  Elmer  E.  Black,  of  Colfax,  is  a  veter- 
inary surgeon,  a  graduate  of  the  State  Agricultural  College  of  Ames,  Iowa,  in 
1909.  He  began  practice  at  Colfax,  and  is  building  np  a  good  reputation  by 
his  efficiency. 

The  Black  family  is  an  old  and  honored  one.  and  all  its  Iowa  members 
have  lived  up  to  the  family  name.  Isaiah  W.  Black  possesses  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  all  who  know  him,  and  has  in  his  lifetime  made  many  friends. 


LYMAX  C.  CLARK. 


Washington  township,  jasper  county  has  ne\er  had  a  better  farmer  or  a 
more  honorable  citizen  than  the  late  Lyman  C.  Clark,  and  all  who  knew  him 
well  will  readily  admit  that  he  was  ever  a  gentleman  of  high  standing  to  whom 
was  not  denied  a  full  measure  of  success,  although  he  was  compelled  to  carve 
out  his  ow'n  fortune  with  the  assistance  of  no  one  but  his  faithful  life  com- 
panion. He  was  long  a  recognized  factor  of  importance  in  connection  with 
the  agricultural  interests  of  this  localit}-,  being  identified  with  its  material 
growth  and  prosperity  from  the  pioneer  days,  his  life  being  very  closely  inter- 
woven with  its  history.  His  early  life  was  beset  with  such  obstacles  as  would 
have  discouraged  a  man  of  less  sterling  mettle,  but  he  persevered  in  the  face 
of  all  adversity  and  won.  not  only  material  success,  but  also  the  good  will  and 
esteem  of  all  who  knew  him,  for  he  was  public-spirited.  •l)road-min(leil,  liberal 
and  scrupulously  honest. 

Mr.  Clark  was  born  of  an  excellent  Xew  England  family  on  January  4, 
1846,  in  Worcester,  Massachusetts.  He  was  the  son  of  John  and  Lucy 
(Bond)  Clark,  lx)th  natives  of  Massachusetts,  where  they  grew  up  and  were 
married  and  there  the  father  spent  his  life  After  his  death  the  mother  mar- 
ried a  Mr.  Stone  and  they  came  west. 

Lyman  C.  Clark  was  educated  in  the  .schools  of  Massachusetts  and  in 
about  1853,  after  having  made  his  home  in  \'ermont  for  some  time,  he  came 
to  Knox  countv,  Illinois,  and  there  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and 

(47) 


738  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

later  his  mother  and  step-father  joined  him  there,  having  driven  overland  from 
\'ermont.  He  found  there  a  new  and  sparsely  settled  country  and  he  tried 
to  develop  a  farm  from  the  wild  sod,  but  he  found  it  a  hard  task,  one  of  his 
chief  annoyances  being  the  frequent  destruction  of  his  fences  by  prairie  fires. 
While  living  in  Illinois  he  was  married  at  Galva,  and  in  1869  he  and  his  family 
emigrated  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  where  he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Washington  township,  and  he  later  bought  forty  acres  of  timber  in 
Mound  Prairie  township.  He  succeeded  in  developing  a  good  farm  and 
in  gaining  a  competence,  but  not  without  great  toil  and  much  sacrifice  on  his 
part  and  that  of  his  wife,  to  whose  sympathy  and  judicious  counsel  was  due  in 
no  small  measure  his  large  success.  Here  they  found  a  new  country  and 
they  underwent  the  usual  hardships  and  privations  incident  to  pioneer  life. 
Some  of  their  land  has  been  undermined  for  coal  from  shafts  from  the  east. 
He  was  an  extensive  stock  feeder  and  no  small  part  of  his  income  was  derived 
from  handling  live  stock  of  various  grades. 

Mr.  Clark  was  married  on  June  16,  1859,  to  Cordelia  R.  Stearns,  who 
was  born  in  Rockingham,  Windham  county,  Vermont,  on  February  13,  1836. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Samuel  E.  Stearns  and  wife,  a  highly  respected  fam- 
ily who  spent  their  lives  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  moving  to  Union 
county,  Iowa,  in  the  late  fifties.     Mrs.  Clark  died  December  25,  191 1. 

To  Mr.  and  Airs.  Clark  the  following  children  were  born :  Mrs.  Alice  M. 
Fry;  Mrs.  Anna  L.  Jones;  Mrs.  Abbey  Green,  of  Luceland,  Canada;  Norris 
J.  runs  the  home  farm;  Mrs.  Mary  B.  Clement;  Cyrus  L  lives  in  Polk  county. 
Iowa;  Martha  S.  is  deceased;  Louis  O.,  Jesse  A.  and  Mrs.  Gracia  Haldefer. 

The  death  of  Lyman  C.  Clark  occurred  on  May  20.  1908.  loved  and  hon- 
ored by  all  who  intimately  knew* him,  for  he  was  a  man  whom  to  know  was  to 
admire. 


SAMUEL  DECATUR. 


Among  the  successful  farmers  of  Jasper  county  who  have  forged  their 
way  to  the  front  by  sheer  force  of  will  and  individual  merit  rather  than  by 
the  infiuence  and  material  assistance  of  others,  no  worthier  example  could  be 
found  than  that  of  Samuel  Decatur,  of  Rock  Creek  township.  He  is  a  man 
of  excellent  judgment,  which  accounts  for  his  uniform  success  as  an  agricul- 
turist and  stock  raiser.  Being  careful  in  his  calculations,  resourceful  in  his 
dealings  and  eminently  honorable  in  his  relations  with  others,  people  have 
always  reposed  confidence  in  his  word,  as  his  integrity  has  ever  been  above 
criticism.     He  is  one  of  the  best  examples  of  the  truly  self-made  American 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  739 

this  county  can  produce,  for  he  started  at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder  and  his  rise 
to  a  topmost  rung  has  been  by  hard  work,  close  application  and  the  exercise  of 
great  patience,  making  stepping-stones  out  of  the  obstacles  encountered  on 
tiie  highway  of  life. 

Air.  Decatur  was  born  in  Tioga  county.  New  York,  October  15,  1850, 
the  son  of  William  and  Julia  Ann  (Cortwrightj  Uecatur,  both  natives  of  Xew 
York,  he  of  Binghamton  and  she  of  Tioga  county,  and  there  they  grew  up 
and  were  married.  Mr.  Decatur  worked  by  the  month  until  the  commence- 
ment of  the  Civil  war  w  lien  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  One  Hundred  and  Ninth 
Xew  York  X'olunteer  Infantry.  For  there  months  he  was  sick  in  the  hospital 
and  was  finally  discharged  on  account  of  disability,  lie  brought  his  wife  to 
Poweshiek  county,  Iowa,  in  1869  and  located  in  Griiinell,  their  son.  Samuel, 
of  this  review,  having  preceded  the  parents  there  the  year  previous.  The 
father  remained  in  that  city  until  his  death,  in  1882;  however,  he  spent  his  last 
days  on  the  farm  with  the  subject.  His  family  consisted  of  sc\cn  cnildren, 
five  of  whom  are  living.  Mrs.  William  Decatur  survived  her  husband  a  short 
time. 

Samuel  Decatur,  of  this  sketch,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
New  York,  and  when  but  ele\en  years  of  age  he  was  compelled  to  work  to 
help  support  the  family  while  the  father  was  in  the  war.  When  eighteen 
years  of  age  he  came  to  Poweshiek  count}',  Iowa,  and  worked  by  the  month 
until  the  spring  of  1881.  When  a  boy  he  worked  many  a  day  for  fifty  cents, 
cutting  wood,  and  boarded  himself,  and  later  he  worked  for  two  seasons  on  the 
Iowa  Central  railroad,  using  his  own  team.  He  was  economical  and  thereby 
got  a  start,  these  hard  experiences  tloing  him  gcjod  and  insuring  his  success 
later  in  life  In  1881  he  bought  a  farm  of  thirty  acres  in  Rock  Creek  town- 
ship; this  being  timbered,  he  did  a  great  deal  of  hard  work  developing  it.  but 
this  was  his  start  toward  a  large  and  valuable  farm,  he  having  added  to  his 
original  purchase  from  time  to  time,  as  he  prospered,  until  he  is  now  the  owner 
of  one  of  the  best  improved  and  most  productixe  farms  in  his  township,  con- 
sisting of  three  hundred  and  fifty  acres;  he  has  all  modern  conveniences,  in- 
cluding a  good  silo,  substantial  outbuildings  and  a  large  and  neatly  furnished 
residence.  In  1904  he  bought  the  Perry  Madison  place  of  two  hundred  seven- 
teen and  one-half  acres  which  joined  his  original  farm  on  the  south.  It  is 
one  of  the  oldest  farms  in  the  vicinity,  but  is  still  rich  and  productive,  having 
been  carefully  tilled.  Mr.  Madison  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  here  and  took 
up  this  farm  from  the  government  when  this  part  of  the  state  was  yet  a  wild 
prairie.  He  was  the  first  school  teacher  in  Rock  Creek  township  and  wa-  w  ell 
known  to  the  earlv  settlers. 


740  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

In  politics  r^Ir.  Decatur  is  a  Republican  and  he  has  held  a  number  of  local 
offices,  always  with  credit  to  himself  and  with  satisfaction  to  the  people. 

In  1876  Mr.  Decatur  was  united  in  marriage  to  Orilla  Clapp,  a  native  of 
Walworth  county,  Wisconsin,  and  the  daughter  of  Alvin  and  Martha  Clapp, 
old  settlers  of  that  county,  having  come  from  Xew  England  when  Wisconsin 
was  a  territory.  They  began  life  as  typical  pioneers,  erecting  a  log  house  and 
clearing  a  small  patch,  and  in  time  had  a  good  home,  and  there  they  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  lives,  both  being  now  deceased.  Their  family  consisted  of 
three  children:  Eli,  who  died  in  the  army;  Orilla,  wife  of  Mr.  Decatur; 
Marida.  who  married  E.  M.  Wafifle. 

Eight  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Decatur,  namely: 
Clarence  is  married  and  is  living  in  Poweshiek  county:  George;  Mable.  who 
married  William  Tesser,  lives  in  Grinnell ;  Herbert ;  Delphina  married  Arthur 
Durr  and  lives  in  Rock  Creek  township;  Lawrence;  William  AIcKinley ;  one 
child  died  in  in  fane  v. 


JACOB  SCHiMITT. 

Among  the  enterprising  Germans  who  have  found  homes  within  our  bor- 
ders and  to  whom  the  country  has  always  been  ready  to  extend  a  hearty  wel- 
come, Jacob  Schmitt,  farmer  of  Washington  township.  Jasper  county,  is  de- 
ser\-ing  of  specific  mention  in  the  list  of  worthy  citizens  of  Jasper  county. 
He  is  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Iowa  and  has  spent  most  of  his  long  and  useful 
life  in  the  Hawkeye  state,  having  come  here  when  a  boy  sixty- four  years  ago, 
so  he  has  lived  to  see  and  take  part  in  the  de\"elopment  of  the  state  from  the 
epoch  of  the  wild  [)lains,  when  wild  beasts  and  painted-faced  Indians  roamed 
at  will,  and  it  is  interesting  indeed  to  hear  him  tell  of  the  early  days.  He  has 
won  a  good  home  and  valuable  farmstead  through  his  own  indomitable  efforts 
and  while  he  has  been  laboring  for  his  own  ad\ancement  he  has  never  let  a 
good  opportunity  pass  whereby  he  could  contribute  in  some  way  to  the  progress 
of  his  locality,  having  ever  had  the  general  good  of  his  adopted  country  at 
heart.  He  has  led  a  life  of  honesty  and  he  has  ever  commanded  the  respect 
and  good  will  of  his  neighbors  and  many  friends. 

Mr.  Schmitt  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  September  10.  1831,  the  son 
of  Jacob,  Sr.,  and  Elizabeth  (Beebinger)  Schmitt,  both  born  in  Bavaria,  he  in 
1799  and  she  in  1805.  The  paternal  grandfather  was  also  named  Jacob. 
The  father  of  the  subject  was  a  weaver  by  trade  and  worked  his  own  loom 
for  linen  weaving.     Tn  July,  1847,  ^^^  brought  his  family  to  America,  landing 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  y^i 

at  Xew  Orleans  alter  a  tedi(jus  and  trying  \oyage  of  sixty-two  days.  They 
found  It  so  hot  in  the  Louisiana  nietropoHs  that  the  family  decided  to  ascend 
the  Mississippi  to  Iowa,  so  they  came  to  Fort  Madison  and  there  located,  the 
father  securing  employment  in  a  hrick  yard.  Later  he  rented  a  farm  in  Lee 
county  and  lived  there  until  his  death,  in  1863.  liis  familv  consisted  of  seven 
children,  of  whom  Jacob,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  second 
in  order  of  birth.  He  attended  school  in  Germany  until  lie  was  fourteen  years 
of  age.  Although  but  sixteen  years  of  age  when  the  family  came  to  America, 
he  left  them  and  started  out  in  life  for  himself.  For  some  time  he  worked  in 
Keokuk,  Iowa,  and  he  was  in  the  employ  of  a  steamboat'  pilot,  receiving  dur- 
ing the  first  year  only  three  dollars  per  month.  Later  he  began  learning  the 
blacksmith's  trade,  which  he  followed  for  a  time  in  Mis.souri.  later  locating  in 
Franklin,  Iowa,  where  he  conducted  a  blacksmith  shop  of  his  own.  He 
worked  two  years  in  Louisa  county  and  in  1874  he  moved  to  Prairie  City. 
Jasper  county,  where  he  established  a  blacksmith  and  repair  shop  and  made 
wagons  which  were  of  such  superior  quality  that  they  were  eagerly  sought 
for.  He  was  in  business  with  his  brother  Philip  for  some  time,  .\lthough 
he  had  been  very  successful  as  a  blacksmith  and  wagon  maker,  the  subject 
finally  turned  his  attention  to  farming  and  rented  land  for  three  years,  then 
bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Washington  township,  in  1881,  and 
here  he  has  continued  to  reside,  having  enjoyed  a  very  comfortable  income 
from  his  well  tilled  land. 

Mr.  Schmitt  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  though  in  his  earlier  life  he  voted 
the  Democratic  ticket.  He  has  ])een  road  supervisor  for  five  vears.  Reli- 
giously, he  belongs  to  the  (jerman  Lutheran  church. 

On  October  26,  1856,  Mr.  Schmitt  was  united  in  marriage  with  Henrietta 
Rauscher,  who  was  born  on  the  ocean  while  her  parents  were  emigrating  to 
America.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Henry  Rauscher.  who  came  to  Ohio  in  1833 
and  in  1848  moved  on  to  Lee  county,  Iowa,  thus  starting  life  twice  in  the  new 
world  as  a  pioneer.  To  the  subject  and  wife  the  following  children  have 
been  born:  Philip.  Henry.  Mrs.  Anna  Anderson,  Lizzie  and  George,  who 
died  in  infancy. 


MRS.  JOA.N.VA  \ALI-:XTIXI-:-F\A\S. 

The  name  of  this  estimable  lady  is  a  familiar  sound  to  the  people  in  Wash- 
ington and  surrounding  townships,  and  the  brief  record  of  her  life  outlined 
in  the  following  paragraphs  will  doubtless  be  read  with  interest  by  manv 
friends  and  acquaintances  who  have  learned  to  prize  her  for  her  beautiful 


74-'  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

character  and  useful  life,  which  has  been  as  an  open  book  in  which  there  are 
no  pages  marred  or  soiled  by  conduct  unbecoming  true  womanhood,  and  whose 
influence  has  always  made  for  the  good  of  the  large  circle  of  friends  with 
whom  she  has  associated. 

Airs.  Evans  was  born  on  January  _\S.  1839.  in  Warren  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, the  daughter  of  Edmund  and  Hannah  \'alentine,  her  father  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  her  mother  of  New  York.  Air.  X'alentine  grew  up  in  Penn- 
svlvania  and  there  engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  working  in  the  timber 
many  vears,  cutting,  rafting  and  sawing.      He  is  now  deceased. 

The  daughter  Joanna  grew  up  and  was  educated  in  Pennsylvania  and 
she  was  married  in  Warren  county,  that  state,  on  June  3,  1855,  at  Enterprise, 
to  George.  Evans,  who  was  born  Alarch  21,  1828.  in  Eranklin  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  there  he  grew  to  manhood  and  when  young  followed  teaming  in 
the  town  of  Franklin.  The  week  after  his  marriage  he  and  his  bride  moved 
to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  locating  in  the  town  of  Cambridge  and  there  farmed 
in  the  edge  of  town  for  three  years;  then  Air.  Evans  managed  a  hotel  in  the 
town  of  Atkinson,  Illinois,  for  several  years.  Later  he  teamed  for  different 
companies  in  Geneseo,  that  state.  He  hauled  telegraph  poles  for  the  Rock 
Island  Railroad  Company  when  they  built  through  Iowa.  In  1875  he  and  his 
wife  came  to  Polk  county,  Iowa,  and  conducted  a  hotel  in  the  town  of  Alitchell- 
ville  for  a  year,  and  also  followed  teaming  there.  The  next  year  he  bought 
one  hundred  and  fifty-three  acres  in  Washington  towaiship,  Jasper  county,  and 
moved  to  the  same.  Although  he  had  to  pay  seventeen  per  cent,  interest  on  the 
money  with  which  he  paid  for  the  land  and  met  with  \  arious  drawbacks,  he 
persevered  and  succeeded,  living  on  the  place  ten  years.  Then  he  bought  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Washington  township,  just  west  of  the  city  of 
Colfax,  for  which  he  paid  twenty-six  dollars  per  acre.  It  is  now  worth  one 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per  acre.  He  met  with  increasing  success  as  a  gen- 
eral farmer  and  stock  raiser.  He  always  kept  a  great  number  of  dairy  cows 
and  made  large  quantities  of  butter.  He  established  a  pleasant  home  and  left 
a  comfortable  competency. 

Air.  Evans  was  a  Democrat,  Ijut  he  was  not  an  aspirant  for  public  oftice. 
He  was  a  man  whom  everybody  liked,  being  sociable,  honorable  and  neigh- 
borly.     His  death  occurred  on  Alarch  4,  1905. 

Seven  children  were  born  to  Air.  and  Airs,  (ieorge  E\ans,  named  as  fol- 
lows:  Airs.  Alary  DeLong,  Airs.  Georgia  Rose,  Airs.  Mattie  Rose,  Airs.  Lou 
Stonehawker,  Mrs.  Ida  Stamper,  John  and  Ered. 

The  youngest  son,  Fred,  lives  with  his  mother  on  the  home  place  and  has 
the  active  management  of  the  entire  farm,  successfully  carrying  out  the  plans 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  743 

inaugurated  there  by  his  father.  They  have  gone  extensively  into  butter 
making  during  the  past  few  years.  During  the  year  1910  they  made  two  tons 
and  eight  hundred  pounds  from  tlieir  cows.  They  have  a  separator  and  churn 
run  by  gasoHne  engine,  in  fact,  have  every  m(jdern  convenience  about  the 
place. 

Fred  Evans  is  a  progressive,  energetic  and  capable  young  farmer,  for 
whom  the  future  promises  mucli.  lie  attended  school  in  Colfax,  but  has  been 
managing  the  home  place  since  1901.  He  is  a  Democrat,  a  member  of  the 
Eagles  lodge  and  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men.  He  was  married  on  May 
24.  1905,  to  Mary  Carroll,  who  was  born  at  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa,  the  daughter 
of  John  Carroll,  a  railroader. 


HENRY  SCHMITT 


The  family  name  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  familiar  throughout  the 
county  of  Jasper  and  as  highly  esteemed  as  any  other  in  this  locality,  and 
Henry  Schmitt  is  recognized  as  one  of  its  creditable  representatives,  a  true 
type  of  a  broad-minded,  straightforward  agriculturist  who  has  not  been 
afraid  of  hard  work  and  who  has  succeeded  because  he  has  diligently  and  per- 
sistently followed  a  legitimate  course,  and  while  he  has  l^een  laboring  for  his 
own  advancement  he  has  not  been  neglectful  of  his  general  duties  to  the  com- 
munity at  large. 

Mr.  Schmitt  was  born  in  Lee  county,  Iowa,  on  May  6,  i860,  the  son  of 
Jacob  and  Henrietta  (Rauscher)  Schmitt,  the  father  born  in  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many, on  September  10,  1831,  and  the  mother  was  born  on  the  ocean  while 
her  parents  were  emigrating  to  this  country  from  Germany.  The  father  of  the 
subject  was  brought  to  b'ort  Madison.  Iowa,  by  his  parents  in  1847.  He 
learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  which  he  followed  successfully  for  many  years 
in  Missouri  and  Iowa,  later  in  life  turning  his  attention  to  farming,  becoming 
the  owner  of  a  good  farm  in  Washington  township,  Jasper  county,  in  1881, 
where  he  has  since  resided,  being  now  advanced  in  years.  His  family  con- 
sisted of  five  children,  namely:  Philip;  Henry  of  this  sketch;  Mrs.  .Anna 
Anderson,  Lizzie  and  George,  the  latter  dying  in  infancy. 

Henry  Schmitt  attended  school  first  in  Lee  county,  then  in  Louisa  county, 
later  in  lasper  county,  his  parents  moving  to  various  places  when  he  was  a  boy. 
While  they  were  living  in  Louisa  count},  Hemw  went  back  to  the  town  of 
Franklin  in  Lee  countv  to  attend  a  German  school  and  while  there  his  father 
moved  to  Prairie  Citv,  lasper  county,  and  there,  in  connection  with  blacksmith- 


^44  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

iiii;'.  conducted  a  waj^oii  shop,  in  which  the  sul)iect  assisted,  doing  the  painting". 
Three  vears  later  the  faniilv  moved  south  of  that  town  on  a  farm  where  they 
remained  four  years,  then  moved  to  the  home  farm  in  Washington  township. 
in  1881,  as  before  stated. 

When  Henr\-  was  married  he  hegan  renting  hmd  in  order  to  get  a  start, 
continuing  tlnis  for  two  years  on  the  farm  which  he  now  owns.  It  was  in  1893 
that  he  purchased  his  farm  of  eight  acres  and  this  he  has  greatly  improved 
and  made  a  good  living  from  the  same.  He  has  remodeled  the  buildings  and 
has  a  comfortable  home. 

Mr.  Schmitt  is  school  director  in  his  district,  and.  politically,  he  votes  for 
the  best  man,  irrespective  of  politics.  He  was  born  and  reared  in  the  faith 
of  the  German  Lutheran  church,  from  w  hich  he  has  not  departed. 

Mr.  Schmitt  was  married  on  September  23,  1891,  to  Anna  A\'arner,  a 
native  of  Jasper  county,  and  the  daughter  of  Mathew  Warner,  who  came  from 
Indiana  to  Des  Moines  township,  in  a  v^ery  early  day.  Three  children  have 
been  born  to  the  subject  and  wife,  nameh' :  Edwin  Lyle,  Clififord  Vernon  and 
^lildred.     Thev  are  being  \ery  carefully  reared  Ijy  their  parents. 


DAVID  W.  STRAIN. 


The  record  of  David  W.  Strain,  farmer  of  Washington  township,  Jasper 
county,  is  that  of  an  er.ierprieing  gentleman  who  worthily  upholds  an  honored 
family  name  and  whose  life  has  been  \ery  intimately  associated  with  the  ma- 
terial prosperity  and  general  advancement  of  \arious  communities  of  this  part 
of  Iowa  during  the  most  progressi\'e  period  of  its  history,  and  he  has  always 
been  found  on  the  right  side  of  (juestions  looking  to  the  'development  of  his 
community  in  any  way.  \A'"hile  he  has  been  prominent  in  industrial  affairs, 
he  has  at  the  same  time  won  a  reputation  for  honesty  and  wholesome  living. 
He  is  a  worthy  representati\-e  of  one  of  the  count}''s  sterling  pioneer  families. 

Mr.  Strain  was  born  in  Highland  county,  Ohio,  Jime  12,  1845,  ^he  son 
of  Thomas  and  Xancy  A.  (Winegar)  Strain,  the  father  l)orn  in  Virginia  in 
1819,  but  he  spent  his  l;(j}'hood  in  South  Carolina.  When  a  \  oung  man  he 
went  to  Highland  county,  ( )hio.  and  there  became  owner  of  a  farm.  He  was 
a  typical  frontiersman,  and  in  1850  he  drove  a  team  overland  to  Jasper  county, 
Iowa,  buying  a  farm  here.  There  were  few  settlers  and  the  country  was  a 
wild  prairie.  He  took  some  land  from  the  government  and  bought  some 
from  those  who  had  entered  land  at  an  earlier  period.  He  became  the  owner 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  good  land  in  Des  Moines  township  and  here 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  745 

he  went  to  work  with  a  will  and  developed  a  good  farm  which  he  later  sold 
and  bought  two  hundred  acres  in  Polk  county,  Iowa.  Suhse<|uently  trading 
that  farm  for  one  in  Alahaska  county,  he  lived  there  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  February.  1877.  Politically,  he  was  first  a  Whig,  later  a  Reiniblican. 
His  wife  survived  until  1895.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  an 
equal  number  of  sons  and  daughters,  and  it  is  somewiiat  remarkable  that  so 
large  a  family  should  all  be  living  at  their  ages,  the  eldest  being  now  seventy, 
the  Psalmist's  allotted  three  score  and  ten ;  they  are  Ellen  J. ;  John  A.,  of 
Nebraska;  Mrs.  Elvira  A.  Woods,  also  of  Nebraska;  David  W.,  of  this  sketch, 
who  was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  ;  Libby ;  Doctor  W. ;  Richard  P.  li\  <*>«  n.-ar 
Altoona.  Iowa;  Sarah  B.,  Delilah  Emma  and  Albert  Ross. 

David  W.  Strain,  of  this  sketch,  spent  his  boyhood  for  the  most  part  in 
Camp  township.  Polk  county,  having  been  five  years  of  age  when  his  parents 
brought  him  from  Ohio.  He  attended  the  pioneer  schools  of  this  vicinity. 
He  lived  at  home  until  he  was  married,  having  helped  his  father  transform 
raw  land  into  productive  fields.  He  became  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and 
forty  acres  in  Mahaska  county  which  he  continued  to  operate  until  1891,  when 
he  sold  out  and  bought  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Polk  county,  which  he 
still  owns.  He  lived  there,  carrying  on  general  farming  with  his  usual  suc- 
cess until  1900.  in  which  vear  he  bought  eighty  acres  in  Washington  township. 
Jasper  county,  and  moved  to  the  same,  since  adding  eighty  acres  more  to  it. 
Under  his  management  this  pkice  has  taken  rank  among  th.e  l)est  farms  of  the 
township. 

Mr.  Strain  was  married  on  March  t.  1877.  to  Mrs.  Eliza  (Myers) 
Block,  who  was  born  in  Posey  county.  Indiana,  the  daughter  of  Isaac  Myers, 
who  came  to  Mahaska  county.  Iowa,  in  1849.  thus  being  an  early  settler.  The 
following  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  Strain  and  wife:  Mrs.  Edna  R. 
Freel.  Mrs.  Mayme  F.  ^^'ilson.  Mrs.  Lilly  M.  Schlo.s.ser  and  Mrs.  Abl)ie  R. 
Ward.  Personally.  Mr.  Strain  is  a  man  of  splendid  physique  and  of  a  genial. 
jovial  nature  which  makes  him  a  favorite  in  any  crowd. 


HEXRV  WELLE. 


In  the  constant  and  laborious  struggle  for  an  honorable  comi)etence  and 
a  creditable  name  on  the  part  of  business  or  professional  men  there  is  little  to 
attract  the  reader  in  search  of  a  sensational  chapter,  but  to  a  mind  thoroughly 
awake  to  the  true  meaning  of  life  and  its  responsibilities  there  are  noble  and 
imperishable  lessons  in  the  career  of  an  individual  who.  early  tlirown  upon 


J46  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

hi^  uwn  rcs.ourcc>  and  without  other  means  than  a  sound  mind,  fertile  per- 
ceptive facult)-  and  a  true  heart,  conquers  ad\ersity  and  wins  not  only  a  position 
in  the  industrial  world,  but  what  is  equally  as  great,  the  deserved  esteem  and 
confidence  of  his  fellow  men.  Such  a  man  is  the  prominent  business  man  of 
Sully,  Jasper  county,  whom  the  biographer  treats  in  this  connection,  and  whose 
name  is  so  intimately  associated  with  the  material  and  civic  interests  of  Lynn 
Grove  township  as  to  reflect  much  credit  upon  the  town  and  vicinity,  at  the 
same  time  gaining  the  undi\ided  respect  of  all  who  know  him  for  his  well 
directed  life,  which  has  been  along  paths  of  honor. 

Henry  Welle  was  born  in  Marion  county,  Iowa.  June  24,  1867,  the  son 
of  Cornelius  and  Sarah  (Nollen)  Welle,  both  natives  of  Holland,  the  father 
having  emigrated  to  America  in  1847  ^^'ith  his  parents,  Peter  and  Dirkie  Welle, 
and  located  in  ]^larion  county,  Iowa,  two  and  one-half  miles  from  Pella,  and 
there  they  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives,  having  established  a  very  pleasant  home 
in  the  new  world,  and  there  the  father  of  our  subject  was  reared,  he  having 
been  but  a  boy  when  he  was  brought  to  this  state.  The  maternal  grandparents, 
Henrv  and  Sarah  Xollen.  also  natives  of  Holland  who  emigrated  to  America 
in  1854,  located  in  Marion  county,  Iowa,  also  and  there  the  mother  of  the  sub- 
ject was  reared. 

Cornelius  Welle  devoted  his  life  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  became  the 
owner  of  about  two  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land.  His  death  occurred  on 
September  20.  1907;  his  widow  is  still  lixing  at  the  town  of  Pella,  being  now 
about  seventy-five  years  of  age.  Their  family  consisted  of  two  sons  and  two 
daughters,  all  living.  Mr.  Welle  w^as  a  quiet,  home  man,  a  member  of  the 
Dutch  Reformed  church,  to  which  his  widow  .also  belongs. 

Henry  Welle  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Marion  count}'  and 
reared  on  the  farm,  and  he  engaged  in  the  various  phases  of  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  he  was  twenty-eight  years  of  age,  then  he  spent  a  year  in  Pella  and 
in  1895  came  to  Sully,  Jasper  county,  and  entered  the  general  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  partnership  with  B.  H.  Van  Spanckeren,  which  continued  successfully 
for  a  period  of  five  years,  during  w hich  time  they  built  up  an  extensixe  trade 
with  the  town  and  surrounding  country.  At  the  end  of  that  time  Mr.  Welle 
bought  out  his  partner  and  conducted  the  business  alone  for  ten  years,  enjoying 
a  liberal  and  growing  patronage  all  the  while,  then  sold  out  in  the  fall  of  19 10 
to  Mr.  Haan,  and  soon  entered  a  partnership  with  Frank  Sherman  in  the 
automobile  and  garage  business,  in  which  they  are  .^till  engaged,  having  been 
successful  from  the  first.  They  built  a  modern,  substantial  cement  building, 
thirty  by  sixty  feet,  on  Main  street.  They  handle  the  popular  Ford,  Hudson 
and  Mitchell  cars  and  their  business  is  constantlv  growing. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  747 

Mr.  Welle  is  a  Democrat  in  i^olitics  and  while  lie  has  never  sought  public 
leadership  he  has  always  stood  ready  to  do  his  part  in  furthering  anv  laudable 
undertaking  having  for  its  object  the  upbuilding  of  the  communitv  in  anv  wav. 
Religiously,  he  belongs  to  the  Congregational  church. 

Mr.  Welle  was  married  on  September  2.  1896.  to  Dora  \'an  Spanckeren. 
daughter  of  P..  H.  \'anSpanckeren,  Sr..  who  located  in  Marion  county.  Iowa, 
in  1847.  He  now  lives  in  Pella  and  is  eighty-four  years  of  age.  One  son 
has  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Welle,  named  Cornelius. 


JOHN  G.  HORSFORD. 

This  sterling  farmer,  who  lias  come  to  us  from  the  great  and  powerful 
British  empire,  but  who,  nevertheless,  reveres  our  flag  and  gladly  supports  our 
institutions,  is  one  of  the  progressive  and  highly  honored  citizens  of  Washing- 
ton township,  Jasper  count) ,  owning  there  a  valuable  and  well  kept  farm- 
stead. Since  coming  here  he  has  won  a  reputation  for  both  industry  and  in- 
tegrity, his  character  standing  out  unblemished,  so  that  to  him  is  accorded 
the  fullest  measure  of  popular  confidence  and  esteem.  He  is  eminently  en- 
titled to  representation  in  this  work,  which  aims  to  give  all  worthy  citizens  of 
this  locality  due  credit  for  their  praiseworthy  lives. 

Mr.  Horsford  was  born  in  Devonshire,  England.  July  26,  i860,  and  he 
is  the  son  of  George  and  Charlotte  (  Gritiin)  Horsford.  both  natives  of  Devon- 
shire, England.  There  they  grew  up,  were  educated  and  married,  devoted 
their  lives  to  farming,  and  there  they  died,  the  father  in  the  same  house  in 
which  he  was  born.  Their  family  consisted  of  four  sons,  namely :  John  G., 
of  this  sketch;  William  lives  in  England;  Harry  died  in  his  native  country; 
and  Fred,  who  is  still  living  in  England. 

John  G.  Horsford  grew  up  in  his  native  community  and  was  educated 
there,  emigrating  to  America  when  twenty-one  years  of  age  and  located  in 
Winnebago  county,  Illinois,  where  he  worked  a  few  months,  then  returned  to 
England,  where  he  remained  until  the  spring  of  the  next  year,  then  returned  to 
Illinois  and  located  in  La  Salle  county  where  he  worked  out  as  a  farm  hand. 
In  the  fall  of  1883  he  came  to  Jasper  county  and  located  in  Richland  town- 
ship, buying  one  hundred  acres  there,  which  he  improved  into  a  good  farm 
and  there  made  his  home  for  a  period  of  sixteen  years,  then  sold  out  and 
bought  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  near  Bethel  church.  Selling  that  farm 
in  March,  1909.  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Washington 
township  and  this  place  he  has  impro\ed  and  is  \ery  comfortably  situated. 


748  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

ha\ing  a  pleasant  home  and  convenient  barns  and  other  builcHngs;  in  connec- 
tion with  general  farming,  he  raises  a  good  grade  of  hve  stock  of  various 
kimls.  Having  been  a  man  of  thrift,  he  has  met  with  a  hirge  measure  of 
success  in  his  adopted  country. 

Mr.  Horsford  is  a  man  of  decided  views,  and  he  votes  for  tlie  man  who, 
in  his  estimation,  is  best  (pudihed  for  the  ofiice  sought,  irrespective  of  poHtics. 
Rehgiouslv,  he  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  cluirch.  He  has  been 
school  director  in  his  district. 

On  July  24,  1884,  Mr.  Hosford  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  Black, 
who  was  born  in  Grinnell.  Iowa.  Alay  18,  1864,  the  daughter  of  O.  W.  Black 
and  wife,  early  settlers  of  this  portion  of  Iowa.  Two  children  ha\e  been  born 
to  the  subject  and  wife.  Mrs.  Fannie  Hoover  and  Charlotte. 


HIRAM  C.  LIBOLT. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  holds  worthy  prestige  among  the  enterprising 
farmers  and  representative  citizens  of  Jasper  county  and  it  is  with  no  small 
degree  of  satisfaction  that  the  biographer  gives  to  the  public  the  following 
brief  outline  of  his  life  and  achievements,  for  he  has  always  stood  for  upright 
manhood  and  progressixe  citizenship,  his  intiuence  in  every  relation  of  lite 
making  for  the  luaterial  advancement  of  his  community,  while  he  has  led  a 
life  of  honesty  and  established  a  reputation  for  fairness  in  all  his  relations 
with  the  world. 

Hfram  C.  Libolt  was  ]x)rn  in  Washington  township,  this  count}',  Septem- 
ber 7.  1868,  the  son  of  one  of  our  worthy  pioneer  families,  John  L.  and  Eliza 
(Corwin)  Liljolt,  the  fatlier  Ixjrn  in  the  state  of  Xew  York  in  1829  and  died 
in  1907;  the  mother  was  born  on  the  Isle  of  Man  and  her  death  occurred  in 
1869  when  her  son,  Hiram  C,  of  this  sketch,  was  six  months  old.  The  father 
subsequently  married  Mrs.  Jennie  (Robinson)  Allen.  John  L.  Libolt,  the 
father,  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Cedar  county.  Iowa,  w  hither  he  came 
about  1854  and  there  he  was  married  some  time  afterwards  to  the  subject's 
mother.  Aljout  1865  he  moved  to  Jasper  county  and  bought  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  in  Washington  township  and  here  he  continued  farming.  He 
was  a  (Jreenbacker,  later  a  Democrat  and  lie  served  his  community  as  road 
supervisor.  His  family  consisted  of  two  children  by  his  first  wife,  William, 
deceased,  and  Hiram  C,  of  this  review.  Three  children  were  born  of  his 
second  union,  Ada.  deceased:  Mrs.  Delia  Smith,  and  Cieorge,  wlio  is  li\ing  in 
Salt  Lake  Citv. 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  749 

Jrlirani  L".  Liboll  was  educated  in  Washington  township,  district  Xo.  6. 
When  t(jurteen  years  of  age  he  left  home  and  worked  out  by  the  month  and 
while  still  thus  employed,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three,  he  bought  eighty  acres 
of  the  home  place  and  there  he  still  resides,  having  kept  the  same  well  improved 
and  well  tilled,  in  1907  he  built  a  commodious  new  dwelling,  and  he  has 
always  kept  good  live  stock. 

Tolitically,  Mr.  Libolt  is  a  Democrat  and  he  is  now  serving  as  school 
director  in  Washington  township.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men lodge  and  of  the  Christian  church  at  Colfax. 

On  February  27,  1901,  Mr.  Libolt  was  married  to  Anna  Stineman,  who 
was  born  in  Polk  county,  Iowa,  the  daugliter  of  John  Stineman.  This  union 
has  been  without  issue. 

Mr.  Libolt  is  a  pleasant  man  to  meet,  genial,  hospitable  and  Inroad-minded. 
Such  a  man  is  to  be  congratulated  for  working  his  way  from  an  humble  begin- 
ning to  the  position  which  he  now  occupies  In  the  community,  and  he  is  a 
fine  example  of  the  self-reliant,  courageous  and  self-made  American,  his  ex- 
ample proving  that  the  boy  who  is  ambitious  and  earnest  may  succeed  in  the 
face  of  obstacles,  without  the  help  of  family  or  influential  friends.  By  hon- 
est methods,  economy,  industry,  the  exercise  of  sound  judgment  and  keen 
foresight  he  has  pushed  his  way  to  the  front.  Being  a  close  observer,  he 
l)rofited  bv  the  failures  and  faults  of  others. 


JOHN  H.  SHERMAN. 


What  characterizes  the  present  age  of  in(lu;-try  in  contrast  with  all  that 
ha\-e  gone  before  is  the  great  and  wonderful  di\ersity  of  pursuits.  One 
merchant  of  today  will  handle  nothing  but  hats,  another  nothing  but  stationery, 
another  nothing  but  confectionery,  and  so  on;  few  manufacturers  nowadavs 
turn  out  more  than  one  product,  and  in  nearly  e\ery  line  of  endeavor  in  this 
rushing,  specializing,  industrial  age.  this  fact  is  traceable.  To  a  considerable 
extent  this  holds  good  on  the  farm  as  well  as  in  the  city :  the  modern  agricul- 
turist is  turning  his  attention  to  some  specific  branch  of  farming,  and  onlv 
pursues  the  others  so  far  as  they  will  aid  him  in  making  a  success  of  the  one. 
In  following  the  one  he  but  observes  the  tendency  of  the  times  to  concentrate 
most  of  his  attention  on  certain  lines  which  are  thus  sure  to  be  vastiv  more  suc- 
cessful tlian  if  liis  efforts  were  scattered  o\er  man\-  occupations.  Thus  it  is 
found  that  .some  farmers  make  a  specialty  of  raising  certain  grades  of  stock, 
to  the  exclusion  of  general  farming  except  as  the  latter  will  aid  him  with  his 


750  JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

Stock.  A  good  exponent  of  both  general  and  special  farming  is  to  be  found 
in  John  H.  Sherman,  one  of  the  best  known  citizens  of  the  southeastern  part 
of  Jasper  county,  and  the  son  of  one  of  the  honored  and  most  intiuential  of  the 
pioneers  of  L)  nn  Grove  township,  in  the  development  of  which  the  Shermans 
have  been  among  the  most  active  during  the  past  half  century  or  more,  and 
in  which  township  occurred  the  birth  of  the  subject  on  March  23,  i(Sr)i,  and 
here  he  has  been  content  to  spend  his  life.  He  is  the  son  of  Thomas  and 
Peninah  (Sparks)  Sherman.  Th.e  paternal  grandfather.  Harris  Sherman, 
was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  in  1831  this  family  moved  to  Portage 
county,  Ohio,  and  settled  among  the  pioneers  there.  Mr.  Sherman  engaging  in 
farming  there  until  his  death,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven  years,  his 
wife  also  reaching  a  ripe  old  age. 

The  Sparks  family  originated  in  Wales,  from  which  country  they  emi- 
grated to  America  and  settled  in  Mar}land  in  the  early  history  of  this  countrx . 
later  making  their  home  in  North  Carolina,  and  still  later  in  Kentucky.  The 
maternal  grandparents,  John  R.  and  Elizal)eth  Sparks,  were  born  in  Adair 
county,  Kentucky,  he  on  March  16,  1806,  and  she  on  January  7.  i8o5.  and 
there  they  grew  up  and  were  married,  and  moved  to  Illinois  in  the  early  set- 
tlement of  that  state,  and  from  there  came  on  to  Lee  county,  Iowa,  in  1836. 
making  their  home  there  until  1845,  ^^h^ri  they  moved  to  Jasper  county,  locat- 
ing in  section  10,  Lynn  Grove  township,  entering  about  three  hundred  and 
twent}'  acres  from  the  government.  Mr.'  Sparks  had  little  of  this  world's 
goods  when  he  arrived  here;  he  had  twent}'-live  dollars  in  money,  a  span  of 
horses,  three  yoke  of  oxen  and  two  plows.  But  he  liked  nothing  better  than 
to  begin  life  in  a  new  country,  and  he  made  a  clearing,  built- a  rude  hut  and 
went  to  work  witli  his  usual  courage,  and  soon  had  a  good  farm  and  comfort- 
able home  in  which  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  on  August  17. 
1886,  his  wife  having  preceded  him  to  the  grave  only  a  short  time,  her  death 
having  occurred  on  June  7th  of  that  year.  Their  lives  were  remarkable  in 
that  they  began  and  closed,  each  within  a  few  days  of  the  other  and  during  a 
long  flight  of  years  they  traversed  the  pathway  side  bv  side.  They  were  among 
the  first  settlers  of  Iowa  and  their  like  are  not  frequently  met  with  nowadays. 
John  R.  Sparks  built  the  first  saw-mill  in  Lynn  Grove  township,  choosing  for 
the  site  the  present  village  of  Lynnville,  on  the  Skunk  river,  and  he  also  estab- 
lished the  first  grist-mill  here,  in  fact,  this  antedated  the  saw-mill  some  time, 
he  having  est''blished  these  mills  at  Lynnville  before  he  began  farming  in  this 
vicinity. 

Thomas  Sherman,  father  of  John  H.,  of  this  review,  was  born  in  Massa- 
chusetts, on  September  C^.   1828.  and  in  1831  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 


JASPER    COUNTY,    IOWA.  75 1 

Portage  county,  Ohio,  and  tliere  grew  to  maturity  (jn  the  home  farm,  receiving 
such  education  as  those  early  times  afforded  in  the  pubHc  schools.  Early  in 
life  he  manifested  an  unusual  ability  as  a  financier.  In  1854  he  came  to  Jas- 
per county,  Iowa,  reaching  here  with  absolutely  nothing,  and  he  began  w(jrK- 
ing  for  John  R.  Sparks,  for  two  years  at  twelve  dollars  per  month.  On  April 
10.  1856,  he  married  his  employer's  daughter.  Peninah.  She  was  born  in 
Morgan  county,  Illinois,  on  December  3,  1835.  He  had  been  economical, 
saved  his  money  and  after  his  marriage  bought  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
of  land  in  Lynn  Grove  township,  not  far  from  the  Sparks  homestead,  for  which 
he  paid  only  one  dollar  and  twenty-fi\e  cents  per  acre,  when  this  township  had 
a  population  of  less  than  two  hundred.  He  built  a  frame  house  of  a  native 
walnut  tree.  Being  a  man  of  keen  business  discernment  .md  good  judgment, 
he  prospered  from  the  first,  and  added  t(^  his  (jriginal  purchase  from  time  to 
time  until  he  ouned  one  thousand  and  sixtv  acres  of  valuable  Jasper  county 
land  which  he  dix'ided  mostly  among  his  seven  children  before  his  de'ith.  His 
home  farm  was  a  model  in  e\er}-  respect,  and  he  became  one  of  the  county's 
leading"  agriculturists  and  substantial  citizens,  prominent  and  influential  and  a 
man  whom  everybody  trusted  and  esteemed.  He  retained  the  old  homestead 
until  his  death,  on  April  10,  1909,  his  widow  sur\  iving  until  January  27.  191 1, 
both  having  reached  ad\anced  ages.  He  was  a  great  reader,  kept  well  ad\ised 
on  current  topics  and  was  an  intelligent  and  progressive  citizen.  He  dealt 
exclusively  in  land,  never  refusing  to  sell  when  offered  a  reasonable  profit. 
When  the  Iowa  Central  railroad  built  through  this  country  he  aided  in  organ- 
izing and  founding  the  town  of  Sully.  ?Te  gave  his  children  good  educations 
and  thev  are  all  doing  well  in  life's  aft'airs.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican 
and  he  and  his  wife  belonged  to  the  Methodist  Protestant  church,  to  which 
their  parents  before  them  also  belonged. 

fohn  H.  Sherman,  of  this  review,  grew-  up  on  his  father's  farm  and  when 
he  became  of  proper  age  assisted  in  the  general  work  on  the  same.  After 
passing  through  the  public  schools  of  his  community,  he  spent  four  years  in 
Iowa  College  at  Grinnell.  In  1886  he  returned  to  his  native  community  and 
took  up  his  life  work.  On  December  23,  1887,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Anna  L.  Shoop,  daughter  of  a  highly  respected  family.  They  .started 
housekeeping  on  the  farm  which  his  father  had  given  him.  Later  he  bought  a 
part  of  the  homestead  and  now  owns  a  valuable,  well  improved  and  productive 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  in  Lynn  Grove  township  and  has  met 
with  a  large  measure  of  success  as  a  general  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  He  has 
placed  manv  modern  improvements  on  this  land,  including  a  new  and  attractive 
dwelling  and  a  good  barn,  fencing,  etc.     He  has  dealt  in  st<x-k  raising  all  his 


JZ^2  JASPER   COUNTY.   IOWA. 

life,  and  for  some  time  specialized  in  breeding  Poland-China  hogs.  In  the 
fall  of  1908  he  moved  to  Sully  and  built  a  fine  modern  home  in  that  pleasant 
\illage,  in  the  southeast  part  of  town  where  he  now  lives  retired,  leaving  the 
operation  of  his  farm  to  his  sons,  though  he  still  maintains  general  supervision 
of  the  same. 

Politicallv,  Mr.  Sherman  is  a  Republican  and  he  and  his  wife  have  always 
been  members  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  church.  ]^Irs.  Sherman  was  born 
in  Ohio,  the  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Shoop,  the  father  a  soldier 
in  the  Civil  war,  dving  after  returning  from  the  army,  of  sickness  contracted 
in  line  of  service.  About  1867  his  widow  and  daughter  came  to  Iowa  and 
located  near  Kellogg".  Jasper  county.  Mrs.  Shoop  lived  until  1894.  Anna  L., 
wife  of  Mr.  Sherman,  was  her  only  child. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sherman  three  children  were  born,  namely:  Emerson, 
born  November  5.  1888;  Raymond,  born  September  9.  1890,  and  Florence  M., 
born  August  6,  1900. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

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